APPLICATOR FOR APPLYING A PRODUCT TO THE EYELASHES AND/OR EYEBROWS

Abstract

Applicator for applying a product (F) to the eyelashes and/or eyebrows. The applicator includes an applicator member having a core extending along a longitudinal axis (Y), spikes that are carried by the core that have, in face-on view when viewed along the longitudinal axis (Y) of the core (10), a substantially triangular shape over at least 50% of their height (h), with a side that is oriented substantially radially, and have a cross section at the base of the spike taken perpendicularly to this side. satisfying the relationship e/L of between 0.4 and 0.6, where e denotes the thickness of the section measured in the direction of the longitudinal axis (Y) of the core and L denotes the width of the section measured in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (Y) of the core.

Claims

1. An applicator for applying a product to the eyelashes and/or eyebrows, having an applicator member having: a extending along a longitudinal axis, spikes that are carried by the core, have, in face-on view when viewed along the longitudinal axis of the core, a substantially triangular shape over at least 50% of their height, with a side that is oriented substantially radially, and have a cross section at the base of the spike taken perpendicularly to this side, satisfying the relationship e/L of between 0.4 and 0.6, where e denotes the thickness of the section measured in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the core and L denotes the width of the section measured in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the core.

2. The applicator according to claim 1, wherein said ratio e/L is between 0.45 and 0.55.

3. The applicator according to claim 1, wherein the thickness e is between 0.2 mm and 0.3 mm.

4. The applicator according to claim 1, wherein the width L is between 0.5 mm and 0.75 mm.

5. The applicator according to claim 1, wherein the spikes have, at their base, a cross section of convex shape around at least a part of their perimeter, with a planar side and an opposite side of convex shape.

6. The applicator according to claim 1, wherein the spikes have, at their base, a cross section of ogival shape.

7. The applicator according to claim 6, wherein the cross section has a straight base parallel to the longitudinal axis of the core.

8. The applicator according to claim 1 wherein the height of the spikes is between 2.5 mm and 4.5 mm.

9. The applicator according to claim 1, wherein said substantially triangular shape corresponds to at least 75%.

10. The applicator according to claim 1, wherein the spikes have a substantially planar face, parallel to the longitudinal axis of the core, which extends substantially radially, this face defining the side, extending radially in face-on view, of the spike.

11. The applicator according to claim 1 wherein the base of the spikes is at an angle of between 5° and 10° as seen from the tip thereof.

12. The applicator according claim 1, wherein said substantially triangular shape has an inclined side attached to the core by a portion with a steeper gradient.

13. The applicator according to claim 1, wherein the spikes have a triangular shape over at least 50% of their height in face-on view when viewed along the longitudinal axis of the core.

14. The applicator according to claim 1, wherein the spikes in one and the same row are at least partially superposed in face-on view.

15. The applicator according to claim 1, wherein, with the spikes being disposed in rows, the spikes in one row are disposed in a staggered manner with respect to those in the adjacent row.

16. The applicator according to claim 1 wherein the distance along the longitudinal axis of the core between two consecutive spikes in one and the same row is between 0.5 min and 0.7 mm.

17. The applicator according to claim 1, wherein the longitudinal axis of the core is rectilinear.

18. A packaging and application device having an applicator as defined in claim 1 and a container containing the product to be applied.

19. A method for making up and/or caring for the eyelashes and/or eyebrows, involving the application to the eyelashes and/or eyebrows of a product by means of the applicator of the device as defined in claim 18.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0043] The invention may be understood better from reading the following detailed description of non-limiting implementation examples thereof and from studying the appended drawing, in which:

[0044] FIG. 1 schematically shows, in partial longitudinal section, a packaging and application device according to the invention,

[0045] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of an example of an applicator member according to the invention, on its own,

[0046] FIG. 3 shows the applicator member in FIG. 2 in more detail,

[0047] FIG. 4 is a view with a cross section through the spikes in a plane perpendicular to a radius,

[0048] FIG. 5 is a face-on view along IV in FIG. 2,

[0049] FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5, which shows only the spikes that are of the same rank and occupy the same axial position in the different rows,

[0050] FIG. 7 is a side view along VI in FIG. 2,

[0051] FIG. 8 shows the envelope surface of the applicator member in FIG. 2,

[0052] FIG. 9 schematically shows a face-on view of a spike of the applicator member in FIG. 2, close to the distal end of the core,

[0053] FIG. 10 is a cross section on X-X in. FIG. 9,

[0054] FIG. 11 is a side view, from the left-hand side, along XI in FIG. 9,

[0055] FIG. 12 is a view similar to FIG. 8 of a spike further away from the distal end of the core, and

[0056] FIG. 13 is a view similar to FIG. 9, illustrating a spike variant of substantially triangular shape.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0057] FIG. 1 shows a packaging and application device 1 produced in accordance with the invention, having an applicator 2 and an associated container 3 containing a product F to be applied to the eyelashes and/or the eyebrows, for example mascara or a care product.

[0058] In the example in question, the container 3 has a threaded neck 4 and the applicator 2 has a gripping member 5, which also forms a closure cap for the container 3. Said cap is designed to be fastened to the neck 4 so as to close the container 3 in a sealed manner when not in use.

[0059] The applicator 2 has a stem 7 of longitudinal axis Y.sub.t, which is attached to the closure cap 5 at its upper end and to an applicator member 8 according to the invention at its lower end. The latter has a core 10 that carries spikes 18 that extend from the core 10 and, in the example in question, all around the latter.

[0060] The container 3 also has a wiping member 6, which is for example snap-fastened in the neck 4 or fastened in the latter by any other means.

[0061] In the example in question, this wiping member 6 has a lip designed to wipe the stem 7 and the applicator member 8 when the applicator 2 is withdrawn from the container 3. The lip defines a wiping orifice 6a having a diameter adapted to that of the stem 7.

[0062] The wiping member 6 may be made of an elastomer, in a conventional manner.

[0063] The wiping orifice 6a may have a circular shape, possibly with slits. The diameter of the wiping orifice 6a is, for example, between 2.5 and 6 mm, depending on the diameter of the stem 7. The lip of the wiping member 6 may optionally have waves, allowing the wiping orifice 6a to widen more easily when the applicator member 8 passes through.

[0064] The wiping member 6 may also be adjustable, if appropriate.

[0065] In the example illustrated, the stem 7 has a circular cross section, but it would not constitute a departure from the scope of the present invention if the stem 7 were to have a different section, it then being possible to fasten the cap S to the container 3 in some other way than by screwing.

[0066] Preferably, and as in the example in question, the longitudinal axis Y.sub.t of the stem 7 is rectilinear and coincident with the longitudinal axis of the container 3 when the applicator 2 is in place thereon, but it would not constitute a departure from the scope of the present invention if the stem 7 were not rectilinear, forming for example an elbow.

[0067] 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.

[0068] The applicator member 8 is fastened to the stem 7 by any means, and in particular by force-fitting, snap-fastening, adhesive bonding, welding, stapling or crimping, preferably in a corresponding housing provided at the end of the stem 7. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the applicator member 8 may have, at its proximal end, an end piece 9 for fastening it in this housing.

[0069] The applicator member 8 is made of thermoplastic material, preferably by injection moulding, but the invention is not limited to a particular way of producing the applicator member.

[0070] The spikes 18 may be moulded with the core 10, from the same material or from a different material.

[0071] As is illustrated in FIG. 2, the core 10 has an elongate shape along a longitudinal axis Y. The latter is rectilinear in the example in question but may, as a variant, have some other shape, in particular be curved. The longitudinal axis Y is preferably an axis of symmetry for the core, better still for the applicator member as a whole.

[0072] The core 10 may have a cross section that varies or does not vary along its longitudinal axis. In the example in FIG. 2, the part of the core 10 that carries the spikes has a conical overall shape with a diameter that decreases towards the distal end of the applicator member 8.

[0073] The length H is for example between 15 mm and 30 mm.

[0074] In the example described, as can be seen more clearly in FIG. 5, the spikes 18 are organized in sixteen rows 14, each row 14 having for example between 15 and 30 spikes. The number of rows 14 may be different, preferably being between 15 and 20.

[0075] The height h of a spike 18, measured from its base, is for example between 2.5 mm and 4.5 mm.

[0076] The distances along the longitudinal axis Y between the tips of two consecutive spikes 18 in one and the same row 14 is for example between 0.5 mm and 0.7 mm.

[0077] The free ends 19 of the spikes 18 define an envelope surface E that has a rectilinear longitudinal axis coincident with the longitudinal axis Y of the core 10. As illustrated in. FIG. 7, the envelope surface E may exhibit symmetry of revolution about said axis Y, with an elongate shape, with a circular cross section.

[0078] In the example illustrated, the envelope surface E has a front frustoconical portion Ef and a rear frustoconical portion Eb and a main portion Ei between the two, the section of which is substantially constant.

[0079] When the envelope surface E has some other shape, for example an ovoid shape, this does not constitute a departure from the scope of the invention.

[0080] The spikes 18 in one and the same row 14 are aligned at their base on one side along an axis of alignment of the spikes which is parallel to the longitudinal axis Y of the core, as can be seen in FIG. 3 in particular, in which it can also be seen that the spikes 18 in one row 14 are disposed in a staggered manner with respect to those in the adjacent row, the spikes in one row being situated substantially half way, along the axis Y, between the spikes in the adjacent rows.

[0081] In this example, the spikes 18 have a height which can vary along the row, but they maintain the same planar-convex overall shape in cross section, as illustrated in FIG. 4.

[0082] When seen in face-on view, along the longitudinal axis Y, as can be seen in FIGS. 5, 6, 9, 12 and 13 in particular, the spikes 18 have a triangular shape over virtually their entire height. Each spike 18 has a planar face 23 that defines, in face-on view, a radially extending rectilinear side 22 and a convex opposite surface that defines an opposite side 26 in face-on view.

[0083] The side 22 is attached preferably perpendicularly to the core, as illustrated in FIGS. 9, 11, 12 and 13.

[0084] The side 26 has a rectilinear portion 28 that makes an acute angle b with the side 22, which is attached to the latter at the tip of the spike 19, forming a rounded portion 24. The angle b is preferably between 5 and 10°.

[0085] For the spikes 18 situated closest to the distal end of the core, the rectilinear side is attached at the bottom, at 29, to a steeper segment 27, which leads to the core and is oriented substantially perpendicularly thereto, as illustrated in FIG. 9. The presence of the segment 27 makes it possible to increase the gap between the spikes at their base, in the region where the diameter of the core is smallest given. its conical shape.

[0086] For the spikes 18 further away from the distal end of the core, the rectilinear portion 28 is attached directly to the core, as illustrated in FIG. 12.

[0087] In the example in question, all the spikes 18 in one and the same row 14 are aligned on one and the same radial plane R containing the longitudinal axis Y of the core 10 and the planar faces 23 of the spikes.

[0088] The rectilinear portion 28 defines, with the rectilinear side 22, a part 28c with a triangular shape, extending over a height hi that is equal, in the example in question, to at least 90% of the total height h of the spike 18.

[0089] As shown in FIG. 10, the spike 18 has, in cross section taken at its base perpendicularly to the radial plane R, an ogival shape, with a straight base, having a minor axis S parallel to the longitudinal axis Y of the core 10 and a major axis G that is perpendicular thereto.

[0090] The thickness e of the spike is measured in the direction of the longitudinal axis Y of the core, and the width L is measured in the perpendicular direction. In accordance with the invention, the ratio e/L is between 0.4 and 0.6 and, for example, equal to 0.5.

[0091] The face 23 has a width w which decreases very slightly along the spike towards its free end, being for example at least 65% of the width measured at the base at a distance c from the tip equal to 0.3 mm.

[0092] In FIGS. 10 and 11, it can be seen that the spike has a shape that is symmetric with respect to a median plane M perpendicular to the face 23.

[0093] FIG. 13 is a view similar to FIG. 12 of a spike variant having an approximately triangular shape.

[0094] The side 26 has a slightly convex shape and differs from the rectilinear side 25 of a reference imaginary triangle shown by way of dashed lines by a distance f. The relative difference, defined by the ratio f/d, remains less than 10%, where d denotes the length of the rectilinear side 25.

[0095] In order to use the device 1, the user withdraws the applicator 2 from the container 3. During this operation, the spikes 18 can bend easily on account of the shape and the orientation of the section, and the wiping member can be passed through easily in a very gentle manner to the user.

[0096] During application, the spikes have sufficient mechanical integrity in the transverse direction to separate the eyelashes effectively.

[0097] The invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments described above.

[0098] The applicator member may be manufactured with a different disposition of the spikes within. the rows, for example.