COSMETIC APPLICATOR

Abstract

A cosmetic applicator for applying a composition, the cosmetic applicator includes a molded applicator head. The applicator head comprises a molded support, at least two application elements made of a cosmetic product and wherein free ends or a portion of the at least two application elements protrudes above a level of the molded support. The support is produced by a first injection of a first material and the cosmetic product is loaded onto the support by a second injection for forming the at least two application elements. The applicator head may be used for applying cosmetic, makeup, or personal care composition to keratin materials chosen from the skin, the lips and the eyelashes, or hair of the human. The cosmetic or care product includes viscous cosmetics, powder cosmetics such as for mascara, lip stick, hair color, skin care and like products.

Claims

1. A cosmetic applicator comprising an applicator head, the applicator head comprises: a molded support; at least two protruding application elements on the molded support; wherein the at least two protruding application elements are injection molded on the molded support from a mass of a cosmetic product; and wherein the molded support is molded from a material other than the cosmetic product.

2. A cosmetic applicator according to claim 1, wherein the cosmetic applicator includes a rod and wherein a proximal end of the rod is connected to a closure cap while a distal end of the rod is connected to the applicator head.

3. A cosmetic applicator according to claim 2, wherein the rod and the molded support are integrally molded as a single part.

4. A cosmetic applicator according to claim 1, wherein the at least two protruding application elements are selected from a group consisting of bristles, discs, furrows, disk segments, tooth segments, teeth, prongs, and combinations thereof.

5. A cosmetic applicator according to claim 1, wherein the applicator head further comprises at least one application element made from a material other than the cosmetic product.

6. A cosmetic applicator according to claim 5, wherein the at least one application element is molded from a material selected from a group consisting of metal, plastic silicon, alloy and combinations thereof.

7. A cosmetic applicator according to claim 5, wherein the at least one application element is selected from a group consisting of bristles, discs, furrows, disk segments, tooth segments, teeth, prongs, and combinations thereof.

8. A cosmetic applicator according to claim 1, wherein the at least two protruding application elements are discs that are arranged one after another in a longitudinal direction of the molded support and are separated from one another by the molded support.

9. A cosmetic applicator according to claim 1, wherein the at least two protruding applicator elements are oriented transversely to a longitudinal axis of the applicator head.

10. A cosmetic applicator according to claim 1, wherein the at least two protruding applicator elements form an angle more or less than 90 degree with a longitudinal axis of the applicator head.

11. A cosmetic applicator according to claim 1, wherein the at least two protruding applicator elements are oriented parallel to a longitudinal axis of the applicator head.

12. A cosmetic applicator according to claim 1, wherein the molded support comprises at least two grooves and wherein each of the at least two grooves form an anchoring compartment that is able to receive the cosmetic product during injection molding to form the at least two protruding application elements.

13. A cosmetic applicator according to claim 12, wherein the at least two grooves in the molded support extend more or less than half a revolution around a central longitudinal axis of the applicator head.

14. A cosmetic applicator according to claim 1, wherein the at least two application elements have a height in range of 0.1-5.0 mm above level of the molded support.

15. A cosmetic applicator according to claim 1, wherein each of the at least two application elements is molded from a different cosmetic product on the support.

16. A cosmetic applicator according to claim 1, wherein the molded support includes a single groove and wherein the single groove forms an anchoring compartment that is able to receive the cosmetic product during injection molding to form the at least two protruding application elements.

17. A cosmetic applicator according to claim 5, wherein the at least one application element is integrally molded with the molded support.

18. A cosmetic applicator according to claim 1, wherein the applicator head is formed by bi-injection molding process and wherein a thermoplastic or thermosetting polymer and the cosmetic product are injection-molded together to form the applicator head.

19. A cosmetic applicator comprising an applicator head, the applicator head comprises: a molded support; at least two protruding application elements on the molded support; at least one additional application element on the molded support; wherein the at least two protruding application elements are injection molded on the molded support from a mass of a cosmetic product; and wherein the molded support and the at least one additional application element are molded from a material other than the cosmetic product.

20. A cosmetic applicator according to claim 19, wherein the molded support may have a cross-section having a shape selected from a group consisting of circular, oval, non-circular and polygonal shape.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0041] So that the manner in which the above recited features of the present disclosure can be understood in detail, a more particular description of the disclosure, briefly summarized above, may be had by reference to embodiments, some of which are illustrated in the appended drawings. It is to be noted, however, that the appended drawings illustrate only typical embodiments of this disclosure and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope, for the disclosure may admit to other equally effective embodiments.

[0042] FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a cosmetic applicator of the present disclosure as used within a cosmetic package;

[0043] FIG. 2A is a front view of the cosmetic applicator of FIG. 1;

[0044] FIG. 2B is an enlarged view of a portion of the cosmetic applicator of FIG. 2A;

[0045] FIG. 3 is a rear view of the cosmetic applicator of FIG. 1;

[0046] FIG. 4A is a cross-sectional view of the applicator head of the cosmetic applicator along axis A-A of FIG. 3; and

[0047] FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional view of the applicator head of the cosmetic applicator along axis B-B of FIG. 3.

[0048] To facilitate understanding, identical reference numerals have been used, where possible, to designate identical elements that are common to the figures. It is to be noted, however, that the appended drawings illustrate only typical embodiments of this disclosure and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope, for the disclosure may admit to other equally effective embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0049] With reference to the figures, in particular to FIG. 1, a cosmetic applicator 100 according to a first implementation example comprises a rod 10, a proximal end 12 of the rod 10 is connected to the closure cap 20 while a distal end 14 of the rod 10 is connected to an applicator head 30. The closure cap 20 of the cosmetic applicator 100 comprises threads for screwing for example onto a container, not shown, such that the cosmetic applicator 100 can be stored in said container. The closure cap 20 forming a gripping member for the user and it is understood that the gripping member may have any shape suitable for gripping by the user. An applicator head 30 comprises suitable means for the fixing of the applicator head 30 on the receiving region (not shown) on the rod 10 of the cosmetic applicator 100, for example the fixing may be achieved by snap-fastening, push-fitting, tightly fitting or by any other means of mounting known in the art.

[0050] According to an aspect of the present disclosure, as shown in FIGS. 1-4B, the applicator head 30 comprises a molded support 32 and at least two protruding application elements 34a on the molded support 32, and wherein the at least two protruding application elements 34a are injection molded from a mass of cosmetic product. However, in various other embodiments, in addition to the at least two protruding application elements 34a injection molded from a mass of cosmetic product, the applicator head 30 may comprise application elements made from material other than the cosmetic product for e.g. application elements molded from metal or plastic material, or flocking. For example, as shown in an exemplary embodiment in FIGS. 1-3, the applicator head 30 comprises the molded core/support 32 and a plurality of application elements 34a and 34b projecting outwardly from the molded support 32. The application elements 34a are injection molded from a cosmetic product, whereas the application elements 34b are injection molded from a plastic material. Further, the application element 34a are in form of semicircular discs and application elements 34b are in form of tines. The semicircular discs 34a are arranged one after another in the longitudinal direction and are separated from one another by the molded support 32. According to an aspect of the present disclosure, the application elements 34a and 34b may be selected from the group consisting of conical bristles, cylindrical bristles, discs, furrows, disk segments, tooth segments, teeth, prohgs, and combinations thereof. The application elements 34a and 34b can also have different types of profiles, for example rounded, triangular or in the form of a pointed arch.

[0051] As seen in FIG. 4B, the support 32 has a circular cross-section. According to an aspect of the present disclosure, the support 32 may have a cross-section having a shape selected from a group consisting of circular, oval, non-circular and polygonal shapes.

[0052] The application elements 34a are made from a cosmetic product by injection-molding it onto the molded support 32 such that the free ends or a portion of the application elements 34a protrude beyond the support 32. Such an applicator head 30 can thus, in exemplary embodiment form an applicator of the mascara-brush type. The application elements 34a allow for example a better application of the cosmetic product and also make it possible to separate and comb the eyelashes better during the application of the cosmetic product. The application elements 34a are mutually parallel and are oriented transversely to a longitudinal axis X of the applicator head 30 as illustrated in FIG. 3. However, in alternate embodiments of the present disclosure, the application elements 34a may form an angle with the longitudinal axis X, for example, 45, or can even be oriented parallel to the axis X . It is also possible for the application elements 34a not to be parallel to one another. The application elements 34b and/or 34a may extend in at least two rows parallel to the longitudinal axis X of the applicator head 30.

[0053] The application elements 34a molded from the cosmetic product can extend radially away from the support 32, however in other embodiments it is also possible for the application elements 34a not to extend radially away from the support 32.

[0054] The spacing between adjacent application elements 34a may be uniform or non-uniform.

[0055] As illustrated in FIGS. 2A & 3, the applicator head 30 may extend along the longitudinal axis X, which may be parallel to a longitudinal axis of the cosmetic applicator 100 when the applicator head 30 is mounted on the latter. However, it is not beyond the scope of present disclosure for the applicator head to make an angle with respect to the rod 10 of the cosmetic applicator 100.

[0056] The support 32 may comprise at least two grooves 36 (that may or may not be connected together) and wherein each of the at least two grooves 36 form an anchoring compartment that is able to receive a cosmetic product during injection molding to form the at least two protruding application elements 34a. The cosmetic product, also called cosmetic composition, projects as application elements 34a, as illustrated in FIGS. 1-4 from the grooves 36 of the support 32. The application elements 34a for example can have a height of 0.5-3 mm above level of the support 32. The application elements 34a as illustrated have an identical height but can also have heights that vary from one end of the support to the other, in particular passing through a minimum half way along the support.

[0057] With reference to FIGS. 4A and 4B, the support 32 comprises groove/cavity 36, the cosmetic product is injected only into the groove 36. The cosmetic product is injection-molded onto the support 32, preferably, the cosmetic product is positioned in grooves 36 of the support 32 that allows for example a better hold of the mass of cosmetic product on the support 32.

[0058] As illustrated in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the grooves 36 in the support 32 extend over more than half a revolution around the central longitudinal axis X of the applicator head 30, thus the application element 34a forms a shell extending over more than half a revolution around the support 32. In alternate embodiments, the application elements 34a may form a shell that extends over less than half a revolution or over less than a revolution around the support 32, for example so as to form a half-cylinder.

[0059] In various other embodiments of the present disclosure, the grooves 36 may be located helically around the support 32 such that the application elements 34a extend helically over the support 32. The product P is injected only into these helical grooves so that the application elements 34a are formed in helical fashion on the support 32.

[0060] According to an alternate embodiment of the present disclosure, the applicator head 30 may comprise different cosmetic products in different grooves 36 to form application elements 34a of more than one product on the support 32. The different products are for example of different colors or have different properties. For example, the support 32 may comprise at least two grooves each comprising a different cosmetic product. As illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2A, 2B and 3, the support 32 of the applicator head 30 comprises a row of grooves (not shown) for anchoring application element 34a. A first, proximal series of application elements 34a may comprise a first cosmetic product, for example having a first color and/or a specific lengthening effect. A second, distal series of application elements 34a comprise a second cosmetic product, for example having a second color and/or a different lengthening effect. In this way, in the case of products to be applied to the eyelashes, the user can obtain a row of eyelashes having portions with two different colors and/or with different lengthening effects.

[0061] In alternate embodiments, the support 32 may comprise two or more rows of application elements 34a, each of these rows comprises a different cosmetic product. For example, a first product may be a makeup base for keratin fibers or else a product for the cosmetic treatment of the keratin fibers, and a second product may be makeup for the keratin fibers or a product like mascara to be applied to eyelashes. In this way, the user can first of all apply the first cosmetic product for preparing the eyelashes and then the second cosmetic product for making up the eyelashes.

[0062] A description has been given of the support 32 comprising grooves 36 forming compartments that are able to receive a cosmetic product for forming application elements 34a that project away from the support 32. However, in a variant embodiment, the applicator head 30 can comprise a single groove 36 forming plurality of application elements 34a.

[0063] The application elements 34b can be made in one piece with the rest of the support 32 or, alternatively, be connected thereto.

[0064] The cosmetic product P may be cold-applicable. For example, the product may be a makeup product such as a lipstick, mascara, an eye shadow or kohl. The product may also be a body hygiene product such as soap or a deodorant. The product may also be a hair product such as a styling gel, a wax or a hair care product. The cosmetic product P, is for example an eyelash makeup composition which has a property that varies depending on the temperature, for example a threading nature. It is for example a composition comprising at least one reversible polymer that is solid at room temperature. The term solid designates a product which does not flow under the effect of gravity at 20 C.

[0065] The product P described in FIGS. 1-4B, is of the mascara type for application to the eyelashes, but alternatively, the product may be intended for application to the lips, the nails or may otherwise be a skin makeup product, for example a foundation.

[0066] The support 32 is, for example, made of plastics material, in particular of a polyolefin, such as polyethylene (PE) or polypropylene (PP) or, alternatively, of nonpolyolefinic materials, such as styrene/acrylonitrile (SAM), acrylonitrile/butadiene/styrene (ABS) or polyoxymethylene (POM). These plastics materials can optionally comprise, as fillers, inorganic particles or fibers, for example of metal oxides, of powder or fiber of glass or carbon black. Alternatively, the support 32 can be made of metal, for example of aluminum, brass, silver or stainless steel.

[0067] In an alternate embodiment, the support 32 and application elements 34a may form a comb-type applicator. The product injected may be mascara, a styling gel, a hair care product or a wax.

[0068] The support 32 is produced by injection-molding and the cosmetic product is loaded onto the support 32 by injection-molding for forming application elements 34a. The method of manufacturing and loading the support 32 with cosmetic product by injection-molding will now be described. Injection-molding is understood to be molding of a component by injecting a material in the fluid state under super-atmospheric pressure into a volume which is closed apart from the injection orifice defined by the mold.

[0069] The applicator head 30 comprising application elements 34a made of cosmetic product is made using a first half-mold exhibiting a first cavity and a second half-mold exhibiting a second cavity, the first cavity in combination with the second cavity defining a first injection volume for molding the support 32 of the applicator head 30, the process comprising the following stages: (a) A first injection of a first material into the first injection volume is carried out in order to form the molded support 32 optionally with the application elements 34b. (b) A second injection of cosmetic product into a second injection volume is carried out, the composition of the cosmetic product being different from that of the first material forming the support. According to the disclosure, the second injection volume can be delimited by the first cavity, a third cavity of a third half-mold and the support which was not ejected from the first cavity, that is to say that the support 32 remains in the first cavity, after the first injection.

[0070] In this process, the injection temperature of the cosmetic composition can be lower than the injection temperature of the material of the support 32.

[0071] The process can further comprise a third injection of a second cosmetic composition into a third injection volume formed of the first cavity and of a fourth cavity and comprising the support 32 charged with first cosmetic composition which was not ejected from the first cavity after the second injection.

[0072] The injection method as described above is described in the document US20130186426. It may also be possible to inject both the cosmetic product and the material that forms the support 32 simultaneously or virtually simultaneously in a single mold.

[0073] According to alternate process, the applicator head of the present embodiment, as described hereinabove, is formed by a bi-injection molding process, in which a thermoplastic or thermosetting polymer and a cosmetic product such as a mascara bulk are injection-molded together to form a single article, i.e., the cosmetic applicator of the present disclosure. First, a polymer with a relatively high tensile modulus is melted and injected at high pressure into a first mold, which preferably contains two or more solid parts that are complementarily engaged with one another to define at least a first cavity therein. The first cavity corresponds to the desired shape of the elongated polymeric support 32 to be formed with or without shape of polymeric application elements 32b. After a cooling period sufficient to allow the molten first polymer to solidify (either completely or partially), the two or more solid parts of the first mold are disengaged from one another to expose an elongated polymeric support 32 formed by the solidified first polymer. The elongated polymeric support 32 so formed is then transferred into a second mold, which also contains two or more solid parts complementarily engaged with one another to define cavities that not only accommodate the elongated polymeric support 32 already formed, but also define the desired shapes of the application elements 34a to be formed with a cosmetic product/composition. A cosmetic composition, preferably already melted, can be injected at high pressure into the second mold. After the molten cosmetic composition cools down and solidifies (either completely or partially), the two or more solid parts of the second mold are disengaged from one another, thereby exposing multiple application elements 34a that have been molded over the elongated polymeric support 32 to form the applicator head 30 of the present disclosure.

[0074] According to an aspect of the present disclosure, the cosmetic applicator 100 may include a heating element for heating the cosmetic product on the applicator head 30. The applicator head 30 may contain the same product or different products. The different products are for example of different colors or have different properties. The different products proposed can for example result in makeup effects which are more or less full-bodied, and more or less lengthening.

[0075] The cosmetic applicator 100 can be provided to the consumer with a plurality of applicator heads 30. The cosmetic applicator 100 may in particular be provided within a single packaging with a plurality of identical applicator heads or with a plurality of applicator heads holding different products and the user can then choose an applicator head depending on the product which he or she wishes to use.

[0076] The present disclosure is not limited to the examples illustrated. The features of the various examples can in particular be combined as parts of variants which are not illustrated.

[0077] The expression comprising a should be understood as meaning comprising at least one, unless specified to the contrary.

[0078] Although the foregoing is directed to embodiments of the present disclosure, other and further embodiments of the disclosure may be devised without departing from the basic scope thereof, and the scope thereof is determined by the claims that follow. Accordingly, the appended claims should be construed to encompass not only those forms and embodiments of the disclosure specifically described above, but to such other forms and embodiments as may be devised by those skilled in the art without departing from its true spirit and scope.