Cosmetic applicator

Abstract

A device for packaging and applying eyeliner including a container containing the eyeliner to be applied, and an applicator tip defining an application surface for applying the eyeliner contained in the container, having at least one cavity opening on the application surface and being elongate along a longitudinal axis, the cavity being bordered laterally by two walls, the free edges of which, on the application surface side, are convex in shape about an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the cavity.

Claims

1. A device for packaging and applying eyeliner, comprising: a container containing the eyeliner to be applied, and an applicator tip defining an application surface including a first region for applying the eyeliner contained in the container, the first region of said application surface having at least one cavity that opens onto the application surface, the cavity having an elongate shape extending along a longitudinal axis of the cavity, the cavity being bordered laterally by two walls having free edges on the application surface side which have a convex shape about an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the cavity, the first region of the application surface having the cavity being domed relative to a longitudinal axis of the applicator tip, a second region away from the first region having the cavity being concave about the axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the cavity, these two regions being connected on each side by two lateral regions that are each domed relative to the longitudinal axis of the applicator tip.

2. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cavity is not a through-cavity.

3. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cavity is a through-cavity.

4. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cavity extends along only a part of the length of the first region of the application surface onto which it opens.

5. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cavity extends along an entire length of the first region of the application surface onto which it opens.

6. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the longitudinal axis of the cavity is parallel to the longitudinal axis along which the applicator tip extends.

7. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first region of the application surface onto which the cavity opens is of variable width.

8. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cavity has a width, measured at its top perpendicularly to its longitudinal axis, which is variable, increasing notably from one of its ends in the direction of its other end, passing through a maximum, and then decreasing toward the other end.

9. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the applicator tip is symmetrical with respect to a first median plane of symmetry that passes through the longitudinal axis of the cavity.

10. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the applicator tip is made of felt.

11. A method for making up the eyelid, comprising the step of applying, with the aid of a device as defined in claim 1, a line of eyeliner that splits along the eyelid, during application.

12. A device for packaging and applying eyeliner, comprising: a container containing the eyeliner to be applied, and an applicator tip defining an application surface for applying the eyeliner contained in the container, a first region of said application surface having at least one cavity that opens onto the application surface, the cavity having an elongate shape extending along a longitudinal axis of the cavity, the cavity being bordered laterally by two walls having free edges, the free edges on a side of the application surface have a convex shape about an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the cavity, the cavity opening onto an application surface that is domed relative to a longitudinal axis of the applicator tip, the longitudinal axis of the cavity being perpendicular to the longitudinal axis along which the applicator tip extends.

13. The device as claimed in claim 12, wherein the applicator tip has at least two lateral facets that are situated on either side of a facet having the cavity, these different facets being delimited by edges.

14. The device as claimed in claim 12, wherein the cavity has a bottom and is defined by two oblique faces that diverge toward the outside of the applicator and meet at said bottom of the cavity.

15. The device as claimed in claim 12, wherein the applicator tip is symmetrical with respect to a second plane of symmetry that intersects the cavity transversely, halfway along its length.

16. The device as claimed in claim 12, wherein the first region of the application surface onto which the cavity opens is of constant width.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Further features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from reading the following detailed description of nonlimiting illustrative embodiments thereof and from examining the appended drawing, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a schematic elevation view of an example of a packaging and application device according to the invention, in the form of an applicator pen,

(3) FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the applicator tip of the pen from FIG. 1 on its own,

(4) FIG. 3 is a front view of the applicator tip from FIG. 2,

(5) FIG. 4 is a side view of the applicator tip from FIG. 2,

(6) FIG. 5 is a top view of the applicator tip from FIG. 2,

(7) FIG. 6 shows a variant applicator tip according to the invention, shown on its own and in perspective,

(8) FIG. 7 is a front view of the applicator tip from FIG. 6,

(9) FIG. 8 is a rear view of the applicator tip from FIG. 6,

(10) FIG. 9 shows a variant applicator tip according to the invention, shown on its own and in perspective,

(11) FIG. 10 is a front view of the applicator tip from FIG. 9,

(12) FIG. 11 is a side view of the applicator tip from FIG. 9,

(13) FIG. 12 is a top view of the applicator tip from FIG. 9,

(14) FIG. 13 shows a variant applicator tip according to the invention, shown on its own and in perspective,

(15) FIG. 14 is a front view of the applicator tip from FIG. 13,

(16) FIG. 15 is a side view of the applicator tip from FIG. 13,

(17) FIG. 16 is a top view of the applicator tip from FIG. 13,

(18) FIG. 17 shows a variant packaging and application device, and

(19) FIG. 18 illustrates an example of the makeup result that can be obtained with the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(20) The packaging and application device 10 shown in FIG. 1 is in the form of an applicator pen comprising a body 11 with an elongate shape along an axis X, which defines a reservoir containing the makeup product to be applied, in this case eyeliner. The latter contains for example water, one or more pigments, notably iron oxide, and/or one or more colorants, and polymers.

(21) The capacity of the reservoir is for example between 1 and 15 ml.

(22) The device 10 may also comprise, as illustrated, a closure cap 12 which is fixed on the body 11 for example by snap-fastening, screwing or friction.

(23) The body 11 bears an applicator tip 20 according to the invention, shown on its own in FIGS. 2 to 16, which may be fixed to the body 11 by any suitable means and which is for example force-fitted into a corresponding housing provided at the upper end of the body 11, communicating with the reservoir.

(24) This tip 20 is preferably made of felt.

(25) The tip 20 has a mounting end piece 21 which serves to fix it in the body 11, and an applicator part 22 which serves for application by coming into contact with the skin in order to deposit thereon eyeliner which impregnates the felt.

(26) The end piece 21 may have a chamfered proximal part 70, as can be seen in FIGS. 9 to 11.

(27) The applicator tip 20 extends along a longitudinal axis Y which, in the examples described, is coincident with the longitudinal axis X of the body 11 of the device 10.

(28) The applicator tip 20 is fed with product through its proximal end 23 and the product can diffuse longitudinally therein, along the axis Y, until it reaches the applicator part 22 intended to come into contact with the skin.

(29) The end piece 21 has a rotationally symmetrical shape about the axis Y, with a circular section. The largest diameter of the end piece 21 is for example between 4 and 6 mm and is for example 5 mm.

(30) The applicator part 22 defines an application surface 25 having a cavity 31 of elongate shape along a longitudinal axis Z. As can be seen notably in FIG. 4, the cavity 31 is bordered laterally by two walls 32, the free edges 32a of which have a convex shape about an axis T perpendicular to the longitudinal axis Z of the cavity 31.

(31) Preferably, the region 30 of the application surface 25 onto which the cavity 31 opens is domed toward the outside.

(32) In the example in FIGS. 2 to 5, the cavity 31 is a through-cavity that opens onto the region 40 of the application surface 25 away from the abovementioned region 30.

(33) In a variant illustrated in FIGS. 6 to 8, the cavity 31 is not a through-cavity.

(34) In the two examples in FIGS. 2 to 8, the longitudinal axis Z of the cavity 31 is coplanar with the longitudinal axis Y of the applicator tip 20, notably substantially parallel.

(35) In these examples, the cavity 31 extends along only a part of the length L.sub.p of the region 30 of the application surface 25 onto which it opens.

(36) In the examples in FIGS. 2 to 8, the region 40 away from the region 30 having the cavity 31 is concave about the same axis T, these two regions 30, 40 being, in the example described, connected on each side by two lateral regions 50, 60 that are convex toward the outside.

(37) As shown notably in FIGS. 3 and 7, the width l.sub.c of the cavity 31, measured at its top 33, perpendicularly to its longitudinal axis Z, may be variable.

(38) In the example in FIGS. 2 to 5, the width l.sub.c of the cavity 31 increases in the direction of the distal end 35 of the applicator tip 20, passing through a maximum situated, in this example, at a distance from the proximal end of the cavity 31 of less than a quarter of the length L.sub.c of the cavity 31, and then decreases from this maximum toward the distal end 35 of the applicator tip 20. The cavity 31 thus has a droplet shape, as can be seen notably in FIG. 3.

(39) In the variant shown in FIGS. 6 to 8, the width l.sub.c of the cavity 31 decreases continuously in the direction of the distal end 35 of the applicator tip 20. In this example, the cavity 31 has a triangular shape.

(40) In the examples in FIGS. 2 to 8, the region 30 having the cavity 31 has a variable width, narrowing continuously in the direction of the distal end 35 of the applicator tip 20.

(41) In the variants represented by the two examples in FIGS. 9 to 16, the longitudinal axis Z of the cavity 31 is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis Y of the applicator tip 20.

(42) In the examples in FIGS. 9 to 16, the, variable, width l.sub.c of the cavity 31 increases from one of its ends 36 in the direction of its other end 37, passing through a maximum, situated halfway along its length, and then decreases toward this other end 37.

(43) In these two examples, the cavity 31 is defined by two oblique faces 38, 39 that diverge toward the outside and meet at the bottom 34 of the cavity.

(44) In the example in FIGS. 9 to 12, the applicator tip 20 has the overall shape of a ball, the application surface 25 being convex toward the outside.

(45) In the variant in FIGS. 13 to 16, the applicator part 22 has two flat lateral facets 50, 60 that are situated on either side of the facet 30 onto which the cavity 31 opens, these different facets being delimited by edges 50, 61. In this example, the facet 30 has a constant width.

(46) Generally, the applicator part 22 is, preferably, as can be seen notably in FIGS. 3 and 5, symmetrical with respect to a first median plane M.sub.1 passing through the longitudinal axis Z of the cavity 31.

(47) In the examples in FIGS. 9 to 16, the applicator part 22 is likewise symmetrical with respect to a second median plane M.sub.2, perpendicular to the first plane M.sub.1, intersecting the cavity 31 transversely, halfway along its length.

(48) Generally, the length L.sub.p of the applicator part 22 is for example between 2 and 10 mm, better still between 3 and 7 mm. The greatest transverse dimension w of the applicator part 22 is for example between 2 and 10 mm, better still between 3 and 6 mm.

(49) The applicator part 22 may, as illustrated in FIGS. 9 to 12, have a narrowing where it is joined to the end piece 21.

(50) The applicator tip is not necessarily fixed to a container body during application.

(51) It may be mounted, as illustrated in FIG. 17, at the end of a stem of an applicator which can be fixed to the body 11 of a container containing the product P.

(52) During use, the user can draw, during application, as illustrated in FIG. 18, a line E of eyeliner that splits along the eyelid, by choosing to apply the product with a surface interrupted by the cavity 31 or with a wider surface, away from the cavity. The choice of surface used for application is made by orienting and inclining the tip in a suitable manner relative to the skin.

(53) The invention is not limited to the examples that have just been described. Notably, it is possible to further modify the shape of the applicator tip without departing from the scope of the present invention. The applicator tip can be produced by molding an elastomer, and then covering it with a flocked coating.

(54) The expression “comprising a” should be understood as being synonymous with “comprising at least one”.