Applicator for applying a product to the eyelashes and/or eyebrows

Abstract

The invention concerns an applicator for applying a product to the eyelashes and/or eyebrows, comprising a molded application member which includes: a core with a longitudinal axis; teeth each extending outwards from the core in the direction of a free end of the tooth; at least one tooth, preferably a row of teeth, particularly preferably all the teeth, having, in elevation, a dissymmetrical shape and a convex edge, the tooth or teeth tapering both over at least part of the height thereof upwards and towards the convex edge.

Claims

1. An applicator for applying a product to the eyelashes and/or eyebrows, having a molded applicator member, this applicator member having: a core having a longitudinal axis, teeth that each extend outward from the core in the direction of a free end of the tooth, at least one tooth having, in front view along the longitudinal axis of the core, an asymmetrical shape and having a convex edge constituting a ridge, said tooth or teeth comprising two opposite longitudinal main faces that both directly connect the ridge to a face opposite to the ridge, the ridge being at least partially formed by the intersection of the two opposite longitudinal main faces, said tooth or teeth becoming thinner upward over at least a part of their height and the tooth or teeth becoming in cross section thinner along a median plane of the tooth or teeth from the face opposite to the ridge toward the convex edge.

2. An applicator as claimed in claim 1, the tooth or teeth having a flattened cross section in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the core.

3. An applicator as claimed in claim 1, a height h of the tooth being less than or equal to 5 mm.

4. An applicator as claimed in claim 1, a greatest width L of the tooth being less than or equal to 3 mm.

5. The applicator as claimed in claim 1, said tooth or teeth extending above the core over their entire height.

6. The applicator as claimed in claim 1, the tooth having, in front view, a concave edge extending over at least half the height of the tooth.

7. The applicator as claimed in claim 1, said tooth or teeth having a flattened cross section.

8. The applicator as claimed in claim 1, said tooth or teeth having a flat face.

9. The applicator as claimed in claim 8, said tooth or teeth becoming continuously thinner from the flat face to the convex edge.

10. The applicator as claimed in claim 1, said tooth or teeth each having two opposite main longitudinal faces that are flat and/or domed.

11. The applicator as claimed in claim 1, said tooth or teeth having an approximately triangular shape in cross section.

12. The applicator as claimed in claim 1, said tooth or teeth being molded together with at least a part of the core.

13. The applicator as claimed in claim 1, the applicator member having two adjacent teeth among said teeth, of which the convex edges are located away from one another.

14. The applicator as claimed in claim 13, the two teeth being offset on the core along and about the axis of the core.

15. The applicator as claimed in claim 13, the two teeth being partially superposed in front view over their entire height.

16. The applicator as claimed in claim 13, the ratio of the height h of one of the teeth to the other m/n being between 0.1 and 0.9, m being the height of the smallest tooth and n being the height of the largest tooth.

17. A packaging and application device having an applicator as defined in claim 1.

18. The applicator as claimed in claim 1, the tooth having, in front view, a rectilinear edge extending over at least half the height of the tooth.

19. An applicator for applying a product to the eyelashes and/or eyebrows, having a molded applicator member, this applicator member having: a core having a longitudinal axis, teeth that each extend outward from the core in the direction of a free end of the tooth, at least two adjacent teeth each having, in front view, an asymmetrical shape and a convex edge constituting a ridge, said two adjacent teeth each comprising two opposite longitudinal main faces that both directly connect the ridge to a face opposite to the ridge, the ridge being at least partially formed by the intersection of the two opposite longitudinal main faces, said two adjacent teeth becoming thinner both upward over at least a part of their height and toward the convex edge, the teeth having, in front view, a rectilinear edge extending over at least half the height of the teeth, the convex edges of the two adjacent teeth being of opposite orientation, the two adjacent teeth being partially superposed in front view at their base.

Description

(1) The invention may be better understood on reading the following detailed description of nonlimiting illustrative examples thereof and on examining the appended drawing, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 is a schematic and partial view, in longitudinal section, of an example of a packaging and application device produced in accordance with the invention,

(3) FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of a brush according to one illustrative example of the invention,

(4) FIG. 3 is a schematic and partial view of a detail of the brush illustrated in FIG. 2,

(5) FIGS. 4 to 4B are schematic views of brushes according to the invention, in front view,

(6) FIG. 5 is a schematic view of a tooth according to the invention, seen in front view,

(7) FIGS. 6 to 6D are examples of possible tooth configurations, seen from above in the direction VI in FIG. 5,

(8) FIG. 7 is a schematic view of the tooth, seen from the side in the direction VII in FIG. 5,

(9) FIGS. 5A to 5E and 8A to 8D are views similar to FIG. 5 of variant embodiments of teeth,

(10) FIGS. 9A to 9C are views similar to FIG. 6 of variant embodiments of teeth,

(11) FIG. 10 is a schematic side view illustrating the relative positioning of successive teeth,

(12) FIG. 11 is a front view along XI in FIG. 10,

(13) FIGS. 12A and 12B are top views along XII in FIG. 10,

(14) FIGS. 13 and 14 are schematic side views of brushes according to further illustrative examples of the invention, and

(15) FIG. 15 is a schematic and isometric view of a tooth according to the invention.

(16) FIG. 1 shows a packaging and application device having a container 3 containing a product P to be applied to the eyelashes and/or eyebrows and an applicator 1 for applying said product P. The applicator 1 has an applicator member 8 according to the invention, which is connected by a stem 7 to a gripping member 5 which also constitutes a member for closing the container 3. This closure member 5 is, for example, as illustrated, a cap designed to be screwed onto a neck 9 of the container. The container 3 may have a wiping member 6 for wiping the applicator 1, fixed in the neck 9 of the container 3.

(17) The applicator member 8 has a core 10 bearing application elements 20, in particular teeth according to the invention, and spikes, if need be.

(18) If need be, the stem 7 may have an annular narrowing at its portion that is positioned opposite the lip of the wiping member 6, so as not to mechanically stress the latter unduly during storage.

(19) The applicator member 8 may be connected to the stem 7 in various ways and has for example, as illustrated, an end piece 4 designed to be fixed in a housing thereof. The applicator member 8 may be fixed to the stem 7 by any means, and in particular by force-fitting, stapling, snap-fastening, adhesive bonding, welding or crimping, in the corresponding housing provided at the end of the stem 7.

(20) As a variant, the stem 7 may be inserted into a housing provided in the core 10, or the stem and the core may be produced at least partly in one piece.

(21) Core

(22) As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, the core has an elongate shape along a longitudinal axis X, which may be rectilinear or curved, preferably being rectilinear.

(23) As illustrated in FIG. 4, the core 10 may have a polygonal, in particular hexagonal, cross section along the majority of its length, the sides of the core 10 defining longitudinal faces 40. The latter may all be provided with application elements 20, in particular teeth. The faces 40 may be curved or, as in the example illustrated, flat. In one variant, which is not illustrated, only a part of the faces of the core 10 bears application elements 20.

(24) As a variant, and as illustrated in FIG. 4B, the core 10 may have a circular cross section along the majority of its length.

(25) As illustrated, the longitudinal axis X may be central and the core 10 may be inscribed in cross section in a circle having a diameter less than or equal to 5 mm.

(26) As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, the cross section of the core 10 may widen in the direction of the end piece 4. As a variant, the cross section of the core 10 may become thinner in the direction of the end piece 4. As a variant, the core 10 may have a constant cross section, and in particular have a cylindrical shape.

(27) The core 10 may be hollow, the inside diameter of the core 10 preferably being between 1 mm and 2.5 mm.

(28) At its distal end, the core 10 may have a head which tapers toward the free end 42 so as to make it easier to return the applicator 1 into the container 3.

(29) The core 10 may be made of a thermoplastic material which is or is not relatively rigid, for example SEBS, a silicone, latex, butyl, EPDM, a nitrile, a thermoplastic elastomer, a polyester elastomer, a polyamide elastomer, a polyethylene elastomer or a vinyl elastomer, a polyolefin such as PE or PP, PVC, EVA, PS, PET, POM, PA or PMMA. It is possible in particular to use the materials known under the trade names Hytrel, Carifiex, Alixine, Santoprene, or Pebax, this list not being limiting.

(30) The core 10 may be produced in one piece with the stem 7 by being molded together therewith.

(31) The core 10 may be twisted, the teeth 20 then following the twist produced by the core.

(32) Teeth

(33) The applicator member 8 has teeth 20 which each extend toward the outside from the core 10, in the direction of a free end 26.

(34) Shape of the Teeth

(35) As illustrated in the figures, at least one tooth 20, better still a row of teeth 20, even better still, as illustrated in FIG. 2, all of the teeth 20, has/have a convex edge 22 in front view. Said convex edge may, as illustrated in FIG. 5, be a curved portion, in particular a portion of a circle or of a parabola, and preferably a portion of an ellipse.

(36) The convex edge 22 may extend over more than half the height h of each of the teeth 20, better still over the entire height h of each of the teeth 20, as illustrated in FIG. 5.

(37) Each tooth 20 may become thinner, as illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 15, toward the convex edge 22 at, in particular, a vertex angle , in cross section through the tooth 20. The angle may be less than or equal to 40, better still less than or equal to 15. This thinning allows the eyelashes to be displaced as soon as they come into contact with the applicator 1. Preferably, the convex edge 22 defines a ridge.

(38) As illustrated in FIG. 5, each tooth 20 becomes thinner upward, in front view, over at least a part B of its height, better still at least half of its height. The part B may extend from the base 25. The major dimension of the base 25 is for example between 0.3 mm and 3 mm.

(39) Preferably, the free end 26 of each tooth is tapered in front view, as illustrated in FIG. 5, in particular forming a point which facilitates penetration into the eyelashes and the separation of the latter.

(40) As illustrated in FIG. 6, each tooth 20 preferably has a flattened cross section over a part of its height, better still over more than half of its height, even better still over its entire height.

(41) As illustrated in FIG. 12A more particularly, the flattening plane Z of the teeth 20 is preferably oriented perpendicularly to the core 10. The flattening plane Z is in particular a median plane of symmetry for the tooth 20.

(42) As illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, each tooth 20 may have, in front view, a rectilinear edge 24, which is in particular radial with respect to the longitudinal axis X of the core 10, and extends over more than half the height h of the tooth 20, preferably over the entire height h of the tooth 20.

(43) Preferably, as illustrated in FIGS. 5 to 5D, the tooth 20 is inscribed, in front view, in a rectangle with a width substantially equal to the greatest transverse dimension L of the tooth 20 in front view.

(44) In the variant illustrated in FIG. 5D, each tooth 20 has, in front view, a concave edge 24, which extends over more than half the height h of the tooth 20, preferably over the entire height h of the tooth 20.

(45) Each tooth 20 preferably has, as illustrated in particular in FIG. 6, a flat face 24 which defines this rectilinear edge. The flat face 24 is away from the convex edge 22 of the tooth 20. Preferably, each tooth 20 becomes thinner from the flat face 24 to the convex edge 22.

(46) As illustrated in FIG. 15, each tooth 20 may have two opposite main longitudinal faces 31 and 32 which are flat or curved, being concave or preferably, as illustrated in FIG. 6, convex toward the outside. As illustrated in FIG. 6, the faces 31 and 32 are preferably portions of an ellipsoid.

(47) Preferably, each tooth 20 has an angular extent which is equal to the angular extent of the base 25 of the tooth.

(48) As illustrated in FIGS. 6 to 6C, the faces 31 and 32 are preferably the same shape. In the examples illustrated, the faces 31 and 32 connect the flat face 24 to the convex edge 22.

(49) The greatest width L of each tooth 20, defined as the largest dimension of the tooth 20 on the flattening plane Z, may be between 0.3 mm and 2 mm, better still between 0.5 mm and 1.5 mm. This greatest width L is preferably measured from the base of the teeth 20, as illustrated in FIG. 5.

(50) The height h of each tooth 20 may be between 0.5 mm and 1 cm, better still between 1 mm and 5 mm. The maximum thickness 1 of each tooth 20 may be between 0.2 mm and 2 mm, better still between 0.4 mm and 1.5 mm. This maximum thickness 1 may be measured at the base of the teeth 20. The thickness of each tooth 20 at its free end 26 may be less than or equal to 0.5 mm.

(51) The ratio L/h of the greatest width L of the tooth 20 to the height h of the tooth 20 may be between 0.5 and 2.

(52) Preferably, the teeth 20 are solid. As a variant, the teeth 20 may have an orifice which is or is not a through-orifice.

(53) The teeth 20 may extend from a single base 25 with a closed contour. The circumferential extension of the teeth 20 on the core may be less than or equal to 180, better still less than or equal to 90.

(54) The teeth 20 are preferably made of the same material as at least a part of the core 10, better still all of the core 10. The teeth 20 are preferably produced in one piece with the core 10 by molding of thermoplastic material.

(55) Preferably, as illustrated in FIG. 5E, the teeth 20 taper at their distal ends so as to form a point. Preferably, the tangents t.sub.1 and t.sub.2 to the surface of the tooth, taken, in front view, at a height h equal to 90% of the height h of the tooth 20, form an angle less than or equal to 90.

(56) As a variant, and as illustrated in FIGS. 5B and 5C, each tooth 20 does not become thinner over its entire height. Each tooth 20 may then have, over a part A of its height, a region with a constant width or a width that increases upward. This part A has a height which is preferably less than half the height h of the tooth 20.

(57) In the variant illustrated in FIG. 5A, the free end 26 forms a flat. As a variant, as illustrated in FIG. 7, the end 26 may be rounded.

(58) As illustrated in FIG. 6B, the faces 31 and 32 may be concave and are then for example portions of a hyperboloid or of a paraboloid. The faces 31 and 32 may also be flat, as illustrated in the example in FIG. 6A.

(59) The faces 31 and 32 may also have different shapes, as illustrated in FIG. 6D.

(60) As a variant, as illustrated in FIG. 12B, the flattening plane Z is oriented obliquely with respect to the longitudinal axis X of the core 10 at an angle of between 45 and 90.

(61) According to the variant illustrated in FIG. 5B, each tooth 20 has a narrowed base 25. The major dimension b of the base 25 is then for example between 0.1 mm and 1.5 mm.

(62) In a variant that is not illustrated, the median axis of the flat face 24 does not extend perpendicularly to the axis X but obliquely with respect thereto, toward the front, that is to say the distal end of the applicator, or toward the rear.

(63) As illustrated in FIGS. 8A to 9C, each tooth 20 may have a relief 33 such as an indentation, a recess and/or a notch in its surface. This relief 33 may be situated on the convex edge 22 and/or on the opposite face 24 of the tooth 20 and/or on the core and/or on the other of the opposite main faces 31 and 32. Each tooth 20 may also have an opening 35 passing through it, for example an opening with an axis perpendicular to the flattening plane Z.

(64) The teeth 20 and the core 10 may be made of different materials, if need by, by bi-injection-molding. The teeth 20 are for example molded through openings in the core 10. The teeth 20 may be produced from a material softer than the core or, as a variant, harder than the core.

(65) Arrangement of Two Successive Adjacent Teeth

(66) As illustrated in FIGS. 2 to 4B and 10 to 12B, the core 10 may have on its surface at least one pair 15 of adjacent teeth, better still at least one row of pairs 15 of adjacent teeth, even better still, as illustrated in FIG. 2, a plurality of rows of pairs 15 of adjacent teeth, such as the teeth 20 described above.

(67) The two teeth 20a and 20b of a pair can be the same height, as illustrated in FIG. 4A, or have different heights, as illustrated in particular in FIG. 4. This latter figure shows that the tooth 20a is slightly higher than the adjacent tooth 20b, which is situated in front of it, that is to say is closer to the distal end of the applicator.

(68) As illustrated in FIG. 11, the convex edge 22 of the first tooth 20a can be oriented to the right in front view, while the convex edge 22 of the second tooth 20b can be oriented to the left, or vice versa. This opposite orientation of the convex edges 22 makes it possible for the brush to be used in either direction while producing the same effect.

(69) The teeth 20a and 20b are preferably offset axially by a distance D, the latter being the distance between the flattening planes Z of the two teeth 20a and 20b. The distance D may be between 0.5 mm and 3 mm, better still between 0.5 mm and 1.5 mm.

(70) The teeth 20a and 20b are preferably offset about the longitudinal axis X of the core. The angular spacing between the two teeth 20a and 20b, which is defined, in front view, by the angle between the radius of the core 10 passing through the middle X.sub.a of the arc of intersection of the first tooth 20a with the core 10 and the radius of the core 10 passing through the middle X.sub.b of the arc of intersection of the second tooth 20b with the core 10, is preferably between 15 and 60.

(71) The teeth 20a and 20b can be superposed at least partially over at least a part of the height h of the two teeth 20a and 20b, better still, as can be seen in FIG. 11, over the entire height of at least one of the teeth 20a or 20b. The angular spacing between the two teeth 20a and 20b is less than the angular extents taken up by each of the teeth 20a and 20b, the latter being defined by the angle taken up by the tooth at its base. As illustrated in FIG. 11, the angle of overlap , defined, in front view, as the angle taken up by the area of superposition Sab between the two teeth 20a and 20b with respect to the longitudinal axis X, i.e. -, may be less than or equal to 30.

(72) As illustrated in FIGS. 4, 4B and 13, the first tooth 20a may be larger than the second tooth 20b, or vice versa. The ratio of the heights m/n is preferably between 0.1 and 0.9, 111 being the height of the small tooth and n being the height of the large tooth.

(73) As illustrated in FIGS. 11 and 4A, the teeth 20a and 20b may be the same height, the first tooth 20a preferably being, in front view, the mirror image of the second tooth 20b with respect to a plane of symmetry M parallel to the longitudinal axis X of the core 10.

(74) Rows of Teeth

(75) As illustrated in FIGS. 2, 4B and 14, the applicator member 8 may have at least one row 50 of pairs 15 of teeth, better still a plurality of rows 50 of pairs 15 of teeth, the pairs 15 of teeth having teeth 20a and 20b as described above. The rows 50 preferably extend along the longitudinal axis X of the core 10.

(76) The applicator member 8 may have at least two rows 50 of pairs 15 of teeth, better still at least four rows 50, even better still at least six rows 50 disposed around the longitudinal axis X of the core 10.

(77) All the rows 50 of the applicator member 8 are preferably identical.

(78) The teeth of each of the rows 50 preferably have the same abscissa, along the longitudinal axis X, as the teeth of the same rank in the adjacent rows 50. Thus, the teeth of the same rank appear to be aligned when the applicator member is seen from the side.

(79) The rows 50 are preferably spaced apart regularly around the longitudinal axis X of the core 10.

(80) As illustrated in FIGS. 4 to 4B, the angular spacing between two consecutive rows 50, around the longitudinal axis X of the core 10, is preferably constant, the angular spacing being defined, in front view, by the angle between the radii of the core 10 which pass through the centers of mass of said rows. The angular spacing is preferably between 15 and 95, better still between 45 and 75, even better still equal to 60.

(81) Such rows 50 can be referred to as double rows on account of the presence of two distinct alignments 50a and 50b of respective teeth 20a and 20b.

(82) As illustrated in FIG. 14, the axial distance q between two consecutive pairs 15 of teeth in the row 50 is preferably constant and between 0.8 mm and 4 mm, the axial distance q being defined by the distance, in side view, between the flattening planes Z of the first teeth 20a within the alignment 50a of teeth 20a.

(83) The core preferably has a hexagonal cross section, as illustrated. The applicator member 8 preferably has six double rows 50, each double row 50 having its longitudinal axis disposed along a ridge of the core 10. The teeth 20a extend, over almost all of their base 25, over one of the flat faces 40 of the core 10, being attached to said ridge. The teeth 20b extend, over almost all of their base 25, over the other flat face 40, being attached to said ridge.

(84) The envelope surface S of the teeth, defined by the free end 26 of the teeth 20, may be a surface of revolution, in particular a conical surface.

(85) The radius r.sub.S of the envelope surface S preferably increases substantially in the direction of the end piece 4 along almost the entire length q.sub.max of the row 50.

(86) Preferably, each alignment 50a and 50b has large teeth which alternate with small teeth, which are less high than the large teeth. The teeth of even rank of each alignment 50a and 50b are for example smaller than the teeth of odd rank, or vice versa. The ratio of the heights m/n is preferably between 0.1 and 0.9, m being the height of the small tooth and n being the height of the large tooth.

(87) Each tooth of odd rank in the first alignment 50a is preferably the same height h as the adjacent tooth of even rank in the second alignment 50b. Each tooth of even rank in the first alignment 50a is preferably the same height h as the adjacent tooth of odd rank in the second alignment 50b. The teeth 20a and 20b are thus the same size for each pair of adjacent teeth in the double row 50.

(88) Preferably, for each double row 50, the first alignment 50a is superposed at 54, as illustrated in FIG. 4, with the second alignment 50b of an adjacent double row 50. It is possible for this superposition to have only a small extent. The width of overlap defined, in front view, as the width at the base 25 of the region of overlap between the teeth, is for example less than or equal to 0.5 mm. As a variant, in front view, the teeth in adjacent rows 50 are not superposed.

(89) The angular spacing between two consecutive rows 50, around the longitudinal axis X of the applicator member 8, may also, in one variant, vary around the core 10.

(90) As illustrated in FIG. 13, the pairs 15 of teeth may have an increasing height with respect to one another along the longitudinal axis of the core along almost the entire length q.sub.max of the row 50. The height h of the teeth 20a and 20b in one row 50, better still in each of the rows 50 of teeth, may vary in an alternating manner along almost the entire length q.sub.max of the row 50. Each of the teeth 20b of even rank may be larger than the immediately adjacent teeth 20a of odd rank, or vice versa. The ratio m/n between two adjacent teeth is preferably between 0.1 and 0.9, m being the height of one of the small teeth and n being the height of one of the adjacent large teeth.

(91) The teeth 20a and 20b in each alignment 50a and 50b may have an increasing height h with increasing distance from the distal end of the application, the teeth 20a in the first alignment 50a being smaller than the teeth 20b in the second alignment 50b of the same rank, or vice versa.

(92) The distance D between two adjacent teeth 20a and 20b in one row 50 may be variable along at least half the length q.sub.max of the row 50.

(93) The rows 50 of the applicator member 8 may differ from one another. The shape of the teeth 20a and 20b in two adjacent rows 50 may vary substantially, in particular by the height h of the corresponding teeth 20a and 20b. The teeth in one row 50 may all be larger than the teeth of the same rank in one of the adjacent rows 50.

(94) As a variant, the teeth 20a and 20b of the same rank in adjacent rows 50 are not aligned about the longitudinal axis X. The teeth 20a and 20b of the same rank in adjacent rows 50 may be offset along the longitudinal axis X.

(95) The invention is not limited to the case of double rows. The rows may be single and have one alignment of teeth 20 as described above or pairs 15 of aligned teeth 20a and 20b.

(96) The invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments which have just been described, the characteristics of which may be combined with one another as parts of variants which are not illustrated.

(97) The applicator member may have spikes which can in particular be placed between the teeth, better still rows of spikes which can be placed between the rows of teeth.

(98) The applicator member may be able to vibrate, that is to say that vibrations may be applied to it during application, combing or picking up of the product.

(99) As a variant, the applicator member may be able to rotate, that is to say that it may be made to carry out a rotational movement about the longitudinal axis of the core, for example during application, combing of the eyelashes or the picking up of the product.

(100) As a further variant, the applicator member is heated, that is to say it may have a heating element for heating the eyelashes and/or eyebrows, and/or the teeth and/or the core of the applicator member.

(101) The applicator member may also be able to vibrate and/or be able to rotate and/or be heated.

(102) The teeth may be flocked and as a result have a roughness or may undergo a chemical or mechanical treatment that promotes sliding on the eyelashes or eyebrows.

(103) The expression having a should be understood as being synonymous with having at least one, and between is understood as including the limits, unless specified to the contrary.