APPLICATOR FOR APPLYING A COSMETIC, MAKEUP OR CARE, PRODUCT TO THE EYELASHES AND/OR EYEBROWS

Abstract

An applicator for applying a cosmetic, makeup or care, product to the eyelashes and/or eyebrows, having an applicator member having: a core that extends along a longitudinal axis, and at least one bow of which the ends are attached to the core, the bow carrying application elements and extending in a twist around the longitudinal axis of the core, the distance between the bow and the longitudinal axis of the core, measured perpendicularly to the core, being variable along the core and passing through a maximum away from the ends for attaching the bow to the core.

Claims

1. Applicator for applying a cosmetic, makeup or care, product to the eyelashes and/or eyebrows, having an applicator member having: a core that extends along a longitudinal axis, and at least one bow of which the ends are attached to the core, said bow carrying application elements and extending in a twist around the longitudinal axis of the core, the distance between the bow and the longitudinal axis of the core, measured perpendicularly to the core, being variable along the core and passing through a maximum away from the ends for attaching the bow to the core.

2. Applicator according to claim 1, wherein the twist in the bow results from an angular offset, about the longitudinal axis of the core, between the ends for attaching the bow to the core.

3. Applicator according to claim 2, wherein the angular offset is greater than or equal to 360.

4. Applicator according to claim 2, wherein the angular offset is between 30 and 360.

5. Applicator according to claim 1, wherein the distance between the bow and the longitudinal axis of the core increases, from the distal end for attaching the bow to the core, until it reaches a maximum, and then decreases again towards the proximal end for attaching the bow to the core.

6. Applicator according to claim 1, wherein the greatest distance between the bow and the longitudinal axis of the core is between 1 mm and 5 mm.

7. Applicator according to claim 1, wherein the length of the bow is greater than the spacing between the ends for attaching the bow to the core, in the twisted configuration of the applicator member.

8. Applicator according to claim 7, wherein the ratio is between 1.5 and 3.

9. Applicator according to claim 1, wherein the largest cross section of the bow is smaller than the smallest cross section of the core.

10. Applicator according to claim 1, wherein the core carries a plurality of bows.

11. Applicator according to claim 10, wherein at least two bows each have proximal ends and distal ends for connecting to the core which are offset axially along the longitudinal axis of the core.

12. Applicator according to claim 1, wherein the core carries application elements that extend therefrom and are disposed in particular in a number of longitudinal rows.

13. Applicator according to claim 1, wherein the core has two portions to each of which one end of the bow is attached, the two portions being joined together by friction, snap-fastening, welding, adhesive bonding, stapling, stamping or insertion.

14. Applicator according to claim 13, wherein one of the portions of the core has an end piece that is not in the form of a cylinder of revolution and is configured to be inserted into a complementary housing formed in the other portion.

15. Applicator according to claim 1, wherein the core has a metal insert, this insert being overmoulded with a thermoplastic material in which at least a part of the core that carries the bow and/or the bow is produced.

16. Applicator according to claim 1, wherein the core has two twisted metal arms that grip two portions made of thermoplastic material to which each end of the bow is respectively attached.

17. Device for packaging and applying a cosmetic, makeup or care, product to the eyelashes and/or eyebrows, having an applicator according to claim 1 and a container containing the product and having a wiping member.

18. Method for manufacturing an applicator according to claim 1, wherein: two portions connected by at least one bow that carries application elements are moulded, and a rotation is imposed on one of the portions with respect to the other such that the bow extends in a twist around a longitudinal axis of the applicator.

19. Manufacturing method according to claim 18, wherein the two portions are moulded, only being connected together by the bow, and are then joined together following relative rotation of the portions with respect to one another about the longitudinal axis.

20. Manufacturing method according to claim 18, wherein the two portions are moulded together and then separated, and joined back together following relative rotation of the portions.

21. Manufacturing method according to claim 18, wherein the two portions are overmoulded on a metal insert and the insert is deformed in torsion when the two portions are rotated with respect to one another.

22. Manufacturing method according to claim 18, wherein the core has two twisted metal arms that grip two portions made of thermoplastic material to which each end of the bow is respectively attached.

Description

[0088] The invention may be better understood from reading the following detailed description of nonlimiting illustrative embodiments thereof and from examining the appended drawing, in which:

[0089] FIG. 1 is a schematic elevation view, in partial longitudinal section, of an exemplary packaging and application device produced in accordance with the invention,

[0090] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the applicator member from FIG. 1 on its own,

[0091] FIG. 3 is a front view of the applicator member from FIG. 2,

[0092] FIGS. 4A to 4C illustrate steps in the manufacture of an applicator member according to the invention,

[0093] FIGS. 5A and 5B illustrate steps in the manufacture of a variant embodiment of an applicator member according to the invention,

[0094] FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 2 of an applicator member according to the invention while it is being manufactured,

[0095] FIG. 7A shows a view in longitudinal section of a variant embodiment of the applicator member according to the invention,

[0096] FIG. 7B shows a detail of the applicator member from FIG. 7A, following assembly,

[0097] FIGS. 8, 9 and 11 show variant embodiments of applicator members according to the invention, before rotation of those portions of the core to which the bows are attached,

[0098] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view on X-X in FIG. 9,

[0099] FIG. 12 is an exploded view of a variant embodiment of an applicator member according to the invention, before rotation of those portions of the core to which the bows are attached.

[0100] 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 P to be applied to the eyelashes and/or eyebrows, for example mascara or a care product.

[0101] The container 3 has, in the example in question, a threaded neck 4 and the applicator 2 has a closure cap 5 designed to be fixed on the neck 4 so as to close the container 3 in a sealed manner when it is not in use, the closure cap 5 also forming a gripping member for the applicator 2.

[0102] The applicator 2 has a stem 7 of longitudinal axis Y, which is attached at its upper end to the closure cap 5 and at its lower end to an applicator member 8. The latter has a core 10 that extends along a longitudinal axis X.

[0103] The container 3 also has a wiping member 6, for example inserted into the neck 4.

[0104] This wiping member 6, which may be any wiping member, has, in the example in question, 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.

[0105] In the example illustrated, the stem 7 has a circular cross section, but if the stem 7 has some other section, this does not depart from the scope of the present invention, it then being possible to fix the cap 5 on the container 3 in some other way than by screwing, if necessary. The wiping member 6 is adapted to the shape of the stem 7 and to that of the applicator member 8, if appropriate.

[0106] Preferably, and as in the example in question, the longitudinal axis Y 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 if the stem 7 is not rectilinear, forming for example an elbow, this does not depart from the scope of the present invention.

[0107] 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.

[0108] The applicator member 8 may be fixed to the stem 7 by any means, and in particular by force-fitting, snap-fastening, adhesive bonding, welding, stapling or crimping, in a corresponding housing provided at the end of the stem 7.

[0109] As illustrated in FIG. 2, the applicator member 8 may have an end piece 9 for fixing it in a corresponding housing in the stem 7, optionally in an aligned manner. A shoulder may be provided between the core 10 and the fixing end piece 9. The length l.sub.e of the end piece 9 may be between 6 mm and 9 mm.

[0110] In a variant, the stem 7 may be inserted into a housing provided in the core 10. The core 10 may also be produced in one piece with the stem 7 by being moulded together therewith.

[0111] With reference to FIG. 2, it can be seen that the core 10 has a shape that is elongate along the longitudinal axis X, which is rectilinear in the example described.

[0112] As in the example in question, the core 10 may have a circular cross section along the majority of its length. The longitudinal axis X may be central, as illustrated. Other cross-sectional shapes are possible, however.

[0113] The length of the core may be between 15 mm and 30 mm.

[0114] The visible length H of the applicator member 8 may be between 15 mm and 30 mm, and is around 23 mm in the example illustrated.

[0115] The stem 7, to which the applicator member 8 is fixed, may be at least partially, and in particular completely, flexible, in particular in the vicinity of the applicator member.

[0116] As illustrated in FIG. 2, the applicator member 8 has a plurality of bows 13 of which the ends are attached to the core 10 and which each extend in a twist around the longitudinal axis X of the core 10.

[0117] The bows 13 carry application elements 18.

[0118] The core 10 may carry between two and ten bows 13, for example 9 bows in the examples in FIGS. 1 to 3 and 6, two bows in the examples in FIGS. 4A to 4C, 7A and 7B, 9 and 11, and three bows 13 in the example in FIG. 8. In the variant shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the core 10 carries a single bow 13.

[0119] The distance D between each bow 13 and the longitudinal axis of the core 10 is variable along this axis and passes through a maximum, for example halfway between the ends for attaching the bows to the core.

[0120] The method for manufacturing an applicator 2 according to the invention has the steps in which two portions 14 and 15 of the core 10 that are connected by bows 13, as shown in FIG. 4A, are moulded, and a rotation is imposed on one of the portions with respect to the other such that the bows 13 are deformed and each extend in a twist around the longitudinal axis X, as shown in FIGS. 4B and 6.

[0121] The two portions 14 and 15 are then joined together following this relative rotation.

[0122] In the examples in FIGS. 4B, 5A or 6, the portion 15 has an end piece 22 intended to be fixed in a complementary housing (not visible) formed in the portion 14, for example by welding or by adhesive bonding. It is possible for the end piece 22 and the complementary housing not to be in the form of cylinders of revolution, the end piece 22 being intended to be inserted into said complementary housing.

[0123] In the example in FIGS. 7A and 7B, the portion 14 has a projecting relief 24 intended to be snap-fastened into a hollow relief 25 in the portion 15 in order to join together said portions by snap-fastening.

[0124] In the example in FIG. 8, the portion 14 is joined to the portion 15 by stapling.

[0125] The twist in the bows 13 results from an angular offset of angle , about the longitudinal axis X of the core 10, between the ends 11 and 12 for attaching the bows 13 to the core 10.

[0126] The angle may be between 30 and 360, being for example equal to 180 in the example in FIGS. 4A to 4C.

[0127] In the variant shown in FIG. 5B, the angular offset a is greater than or equal to 180, for example greater than or equal to 360.

[0128] In the examples illustrated, the direction of the twist in the bows 13 is in the clockwise direction, starting from the distal attaching end 11 to the proximal attaching end 12.

[0129] As can be seen in particular in FIG. 2, the distance D between the bows 13 and the core 10 increases, starting from the distal attaching end 11, until it reaches a maximum D.sub.m located, in the example in question, approximately halfway between the ends 11 and 12 for attaching the bows 13 to the core 10, and then decreases again towards the proximal attaching end 12.

[0130] In the twisted configuration of the applicator member 8, the greatest distance D.sub.m between the bow 13 and the longitudinal axis X of the core 10 may be between 1 mm and 5 mm.

[0131] As shown in FIG. 2, a set 20 of bows 13 may have distal ends 11 and proximal ends 12 for attaching to the core 10 that are axially offset with respect to those of another set 21 of bows 13.

[0132] The length L.sub.a of the bow 13 in its rest configuration, shown in FIG. 5A, is greater than the distance L.sub.p between the ends 11 and 12 for attaching the bow 13 to the core 10, in the twisted configuration.

[0133] The ratio L.sub.a/L.sub.p may be between 1.5 and 3.

[0134] In the examples described, the largest cross section of each bow 13 is smaller than the smallest cross section of the core 10, being in particular at least 2times smaller.

[0135] The largest cross section of each bow 13 may be between 0.5 mm.sup.2 and 1.5 mm.sup.2. The largest cross section of the core 10 may be between 2 mm.sup.2 and 9 mm.sup.2.

[0136] In the examples in FIGS. 1 to 4C and 6, the bows 13 have a cross section, taken perpendicularly to the axis of the twist, having a rectangular shape. In the example in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the bow 13 has a circular cross section.

[0137] In the examples described, the core 10 has a cross section, taken perpendicularly to its longitudinal axis X, having a circular shape. However, the invention is not limited to one particular shape of cross section of the core and bow.

[0138] In the examples shown, the application elements 18 on the bows 13 each extend from the latter along an elongation axis perpendicular to the surface of the corresponding bow, at the point at which the application element 18 is attached to the bow 13. In one variant which is not shown, the elongation axis of at least one application element 18 forms an angle other than 90 with the surface of the bow 13 at the point at which the application element is attached to the bow.

[0139] The height of the application elements 18 on a bow 13 may be constant along the entire length of the bow and may be identical from one bow to another. In a variant which is not shown, the height of the application elements 18 can vary within one bow and/or from one bow to another.

[0140] The height of the application elements 18 on the bows 13 is for example between 1 mm and 3 mm.

[0141] The thickness e.sub.p of the application elements 18, measured at their base, visible in FIG. 6, is for example between 0.5 mm and 2 mm.

[0142] The application elements 18 carried by the bows 13 may have various shapes. In the examples in FIGS. 1 to 4C, 6 and 8, the application elements 18 have a pyramidal shape.

[0143] In the examples in FIGS. 5A, 5B and 9 to 11, the application elements 18 have a tapered shape. However, the invention is not limited to a particular shape of application elements 18.

[0144] A bow 13 may have between 10 and 50 application elements 18, for example around 20 application elements.

[0145] As shown in particular in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the core 10 may carry application elements 19 that extend therefrom in a number of longitudinal rows 30, 31.

[0146] In the examples shown, the application elements 19 on the core 10 each extend from the latter along an elongation axis perpendicular to the surface of the core 10, at the point at which the application element 19 is attached to the latter. In one variant which is not shown, the elongation axis of the application elements 19 forms an angle other than 90 with the surface of the core 10 at the point at which the application elements are attached to the core.

[0147] In the examples in question, the height of the application elements 19 is constant along the entire length of the core, within one longitudinal row and from one row to another. In a variant which is not shown, the height of the application elements 19 can vary within one row and/or from one row to another. The height of the application elements 19 is for example between 1 mm and 3 mm.

[0148] The application elements 19 on the core 10 may have various shapes. In the examples in question, the application elements 19 have a tapered shape. However, the invention is not limited to a particular shape of application elements 19 carried by the core 10.

[0149] The core 10 may have between 10 and 50 application elements 19, for example around 15 application elements.

[0150] In the example in FIGS. 9 and 10, the core 10 has a metal insert 23 which is overmoulded with a thermoplastic material in which a part 26 of the core 10 and the bows 13 is produced. The insert 23 is then subjected to torsion in order to angularly offset the ends for attaching the bows to the part 26 and to create the twist in the bows 13.

[0151] The cross section of the insert 23 is preferably non-circular, so as to improve the anchoring thereof within the part 26 surrounding it.

[0152] In the variant shown in FIG. 11, the core 10 has two arms 27, 28 twisted from a U-shaped metal wire that grip bristles 19, in the same way as conventional mascara brushes referred to as twisted-core mascara brushes.

[0153] As shown in FIG. 12, two portions 14, 15 made of thermoplastic material are intended to be gripped by the arms 27 and 28 after they have been twisted. The bows 13 are attached to these portions. The arms 27, 28 keep the portions 14, 15 angularly offset with respect to one another so as to create the twists in the bows 13.

[0154] In the examples which have just been described, the portions 14 and 15 of the core 10 extend along one and the same rectilinear axis. In a variant that is not shown, the two portions of the core 10 form a non-zero angle following assembly.

[0155] In order to mould the applicator member 8, use can be made of any thermoplastic material which is or is not relatively rigid, for example SEBS, a silicone, latex, a material having improved slip, 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, SEBS, SIS, PET, POM, PU, SAM, PA or PMMA. The hardnesses of these materials may be between 50 Shore and 90 Shore. It is possible in particular to use the materials known under the trade names Teflon, Hytrel, Cariflex, Santoprene, Pebax and Pollobas, this list not being limiting.

[0156] Of course, 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.

[0157] The applicator member 8 may comprise any bactericidal agent such as silver salts, copper salts, preservatives and at least one preservative for the product P.

[0158] The core 10 and/or the application elements 18 may furthermore comprise particles, for example a filler, in particular a compound which is magnetic, bacteriostatic or absorbs moisture, or else a compound intended to produce roughness.

[0159] 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.