Applicator brush

Abstract

The present invention relates to an applicator brush (1) for applying a cosmetic, make-up or care product to human keratin materials, especially the eyebrows, comprising a handle (4) which extends along a longitudinal axis (X) and, at the distal end thereof, an applicator head (2) having distal (2c) and proximal ends, and carrying a tuft (3) of bristles (6), the free ends (6a) of which define an applicator surface (5) that is convex towards the outside, in which applicator the applicator head (2) extends along a longitudinal axis (Y) that is not parallel to the longitudinal axis (X) of the handle (4), and wherein the tuft (3) of bristles (6) is arranged such that the transverse dimension of the applicator surface (5) increases towards the distal end (2c) of the applicator head (2), passing through a maximum, before decreasing from the location at which the transverse dimension is maximum towards the distal end (2c), the maximum of the transverse dimension of the applicator surface (5) being closer to the proximal end of the applicator head (2) than to the distal end (2c) thereof.

Claims

1. An applicator brush for applying a cosmetic, make-up or care product to the eyebrows, comprising a handle which extends along a longitudinal axis and, at a distal end thereof, an applicator head having distal and proximal ends, and carrying a tuft of bristles, free ends of which define an applicator surface that is convex towards an outside, in which applicator the applicator head extends along a longitudinal axis that is not parallel to the longitudinal axis of the handle, wherein the tuft of bristles is arranged such that a transverse dimension of the applicator surface increases towards the distal end of the applicator head, passing through a maximum, before decreasing from a location at which the transverse dimension is maximum towards the distal end, the maximum of the transverse dimension of the applicator surface being closer to the proximal end of the applicator head than to the distal end thereof, wherein a ratio between a largest transverse dimension of the applicator head and a length of the applicator head is between 0.4 and 0.5, and wherein the maximum of the transverse dimension of the applicator surface is located halfway along a first half of the applicator surface, starting from a part which connects the applicator head to the handle.

2. The applicator brush as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tuft of bristles is arranged on an opposite side to a depression of a bend formed by the applicator head and the handle when the brush is viewed from the side.

3. The applicator brush as claimed in claim 1, wherein the axis along which the applicator head extends forms, with the longitudinal axis of the handle, an angle of between 15° and 45°.

4. The brush as claimed in claim 1, wherein the transverse dimension of the applicator head increases towards the distal end thereof, passing through a maximum, before decreasing from the location at which the transverse dimension is maximum towards the distal end.

5. The brush as claimed claim 1, wherein the tuft of bristles comprises bristles of different lengths arranged such that the applicator surface is convex towards the outside.

6. The applicator brush as claimed in claim 1, wherein the applicator surface is convex about an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the applicator head.

7. The applicator brush as claimed in claim 1, wherein the applicator surface is convex about the longitudinal axis of the applicator head.

8. The applicator brush as claimed in claim 1, wherein the largest transverse dimension of the applicator surface is between 2.5 mm and 6 mm, and the length thereof, measured along the longitudinal axis of the applicator head, is between 7 mm and 12 mm.

9. The brush as claimed in claim 1, wherein the thickness of the handle tapers in the direction of the part thereof which is connected to the applicator head.

10. The brush as claimed in claim 1, wherein the transverse dimension of the handle decreases in the direction of the part thereof which is connected to the applicator head, the ratio between the minimum and the maximum of the transverse dimension of the handle being between 0.3 and 0.8.

11. The brush as claimed in claim 1, wherein the longitudinal axis along which the handle extends is rectilinear over a whole length of the handle.

12. The brush as claimed in claim 1, wherein the longitudinal axis of each bristle is oriented substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the applicator head, at a base thereof, where it connects to the applicator head.

13. An assembly for applying a product, comprising: an applicator brush as defined in claim 1, and a container containing the product to be applied, selected from a care product for the eyebrows, or a make-up product to be applied to the eyebrows, being in the form of a powder, a gel or a wax.

14. A process for making up the eyebrows, using an assembly as claimed in claim 13, wherein the product is taken up from the container by means of the applicator brush, and wherein the product is applied to the eyebrows by means of the applicator brush.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(1) The invention may be understood better from reading the following detailed description of nonlimiting exemplary embodiments thereof and from studying the appended drawing, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 shows an applicator brush according to the invention,

(3) FIG. 2 is a top view of the applicator brush from FIG. 1, without the tuft of bristles,

(4) FIG. 3 is a partial and schematic longitudinal section, along III-III, of the applicator brush from FIG. 2,

(5) FIG. 3A shows the applicator head of the applicator brush from FIG. 3, on its own,

(6) FIG. 4 is a partial top view of the brush according to the invention, illustrating an exemplary embodiment of the tuft of bristles,

(7) FIG. 5 shows a schematic and partial cross section of the tuft of bristles of the applicator brush from FIG. 1,

(8) FIG. 6 shows a schematic and partial longitudinal section of the tuft of bristles of the applicator brush from FIG. 1,

(9) FIG. 7 shows a schematic and partial longitudinal section of a variant of the tuft of bristles for the applicator brush according to the invention,

(10) FIG. 8 is a bottom view of the applicator brush from FIG. 1,

(11) FIG. 9 is a partial and schematic cross section, along IX-IX, of the applicator brush from FIG. 8,

(12) FIGS. 10 to 19 schematically show examples of cross sections of bristles in accordance with the invention,

(13) FIG. 20 schematically shows an elevation view of an example of a wavy bristle, and

(14) FIG. 21 shows an example of an assembly for applying a cosmetic product, comprising an applicator brush according to the invention.

(15) FIGS. 1 to 3 show an applicator brush 1 comprising a handle 4 extending along a longitudinal axis X, rectilinear over the whole length of the handle, and an applicator head 2 carrying a tuft 3 of bristles 6, the free ends 6a of which define an applicator surface 5 for the application of a cosmetic or care product P.

(16) In this example, the applicator head 2 extends along a longitudinal axis Y that is not parallel to the longitudinal axis X of the handle 4, forming, with the latter, an angle α of between 15° and 45°, equal to 26° in the example in question, as shown in FIG. 3.

(17) Preferably, and as shown, the tuft 3 of bristles 6 is arranged on the opposite side to the depression 7 of the bend formed by the applicator head 2 and the handle 4 when the brush 1 is viewed from the side.

(18) The distance d.sub.e between the point 2b of the applicator head 2 that is the furthest from the longitudinal axis X of the handle 4 and the edge 4b of the handle 4 opposite the applicator head 2, measured perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis X of the handle 4, may be between 9 mm and 20 mm, being equal to 13 mm in the example in question. The applicator head 2 advantageously comprises a housing 8 intended to accommodate the bristles 6, which can be seen in FIGS. 2, 3 and 3A. The bristles 6 are, in the described example, held by adhesive bonding only in this housing 8.

(19) The depth P.sub.1 of the housing 8 may be between 1.5 mm and 5 mm, being equal to approximately 2.3 mm in the example in question. The length L.sub.1 of the housing 8, corresponding substantially to the length L.sub.s of the applicator surface 5, may be between 7 mm and 12 mm, being equal to approximately 9 mm in the example in question.

(20) The largest transverse dimension D.sub.1 of the housing 8 may be between 2.5 mm and 6 mm, being equal to approximately 4 mm in the example in question.

(21) The thickness E.sub.T of the applicator head 2 may be between 4 mm and 8 mm, being equal to approximately 5.5 mm in the example in question.

(22) As can be seen in FIG. 4, the tuft 3 of bristles 6 is arranged such that the transverse dimension of the applicator surface 5 increases towards the distal end 2c of the applicator head 2, passing through a maximum D.sub.s, before decreasing from the location at which the transverse dimension is maximum towards the distal end 2c. In the example in question, the maximum D.sub.s of the transverse dimension of the applicator surface 5 is closer to the proximal end 2a of the applicator head 2 than to the distal end 2c thereof, being located substantially halfway along the first half of the applicator surface 5, starting from the part 9 which connects the applicator head 2 to the handle 4.

(23) The largest transverse dimension D.sub.s of the applicator surface 5 may be between 2.5 mm and 6 mm, being equal to approximately 4 mm.

(24) The transverse dimensions of the housing 8 and of the applicator head 2 advantageously follow the change in the transverse dimension of the applicator surface 5. As can be seen in FIGS. 2 and 8, the transverse dimension of the applicator head 2 increases towards the distal end thereof 2c, passing through a maximum D.sub.T, before decreasing from the location at which the transverse dimension is maximum towards the distal end 2c. The transverse dimension of the housing 8 is substantially equal to the transverse dimension of the applicator surface 5 at each axial position along the longitudinal axis of the applicator head 2.

(25) The largest transverse dimension D.sub.T of the applicator head 2 may be between 4 mm and 8 mm, being equal to approximately 6 mm.

(26) As can be seen especially in FIGS. 5 and 6, the applicator surface is convex toward the outside, both about an axis T perpendicular to the longitudinal axis Y of the applicator head 2 and about this longitudinal axis Y. To this end, as in the example from FIGS. 3 and 6, the tuft of bristles 3 comprises bristles 6 of different visible lengths, arranged such that the applicator surface 5 is convex toward the outside. In particular, the bristles 6 located in the central zone of the applicator surface 5 are longer than those located in the edge zones. In this case, the bottom 8b of the housing 8 is flat. The difference Δ.sub.p in length of the bristles 6 is for example between 0.2 mm and 8 mm.

(27) In the variant from FIG. 7, the housing 8 of the applicator head 2 receiving the bristles 6 has a variable depth, the bristles 6 being implanted in the housing such that the applicator surface is convex towards the outside. In this example, the bottom 8b of the housing 8 is of rounded shape, convex towards the outside, and the bristles 6 are all the same length.

(28) As can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 9, the handle 4 has a planar surface on the side 4a of the applicator surface 5, and a surface domed towards the outside on the side 4b opposite to the applicator surface 5.

(29) In the example in question, the handle 4 has a flat portion 4c on the side 4a of the applicator surface 5, which can be seen in FIG. 2.

(30) Preferably, and as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the thickness of the handle 4 tapers in the direction of the part 9 thereof which is connected to the applicator head 2.

(31) The largest thickness E.sub.m of the handle 4 may be between 4 mm and 8 mm, being equal to approximately 5 mm in the example in question.

(32) The transverse dimension of the handle 4 may decrease in the direction of the part 9 thereof which is connected to the applicator head 2, as illustrated.

(33) The transverse dimension d.sub.c of the handle 4 at the part 9 thereof which is connected to the applicator head 2 may be between 3.5 mm and 6.5 mm, being equal to approximately 4 mm in the example in question. The largest transverse dimension D.sub.m of the handle 4 may be between 5.5 mm and 20 mm, being equal to approximately 7 mm in the example illustrated.

(34) The total length L of the brush 1 may be between 50 mm and 150 mm, being equal to approximately 97 mm in the example in question.

(35) The maximum visible length L.sub.p of the bristles 6, extending beyond the part 2d of the applicator head 2 carrying the bristles, is for example between 4 and 50 mm, being equal to approximately 5.7 mm in the example in question.

(36) The longitudinal axis Z of each bristle 6 is oriented substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis Y of the applicator head 2, at the base 6b thereof, where it connects to the bottom 8b of the housing 8, as can be seen in FIG. 7.

(37) The section of at least one bristle 6 is substantially constant over the whole visible length of the bristle, but various bristles may be used, as described in detail below.

(38) The bristles 6 have for example in cross section a largest dimension of between 3/100 mm and 10/100 mm, for example of 7/100 mm approximately.

(39) The bristles 6 may be of a wide variety of natures, and bristles may especially be used that have one of the cross sections illustrated in FIGS. 10 to 19.

(40) This may be for example a hollow cross section with a circular contour as illustrated in FIG. 10, a solid cross section with a circular contour as illustrated in FIG. 11, a polygonal cross section as illustrated in FIGS. 12 to 14, for example square, triangular or rectangular, or else an oblong cross section, for example with an elliptical or oval contour as illustrated in FIG. 15, or else flattened, as illustrated in FIG. 16.

(41) As a variant, the bristles 6 may comprise at least one capillary groove, as illustrated in FIGS. 17 to 19, the bristles having for example a cross section of generally circular shape as illustrated in FIG. 17 or in a V shape as illustrated in FIG. 18, or cruciform as illustrated in FIG. 19.

(42) The applicator brush 3 according to the invention may comprise solely identical bristles, or as a variant a mixture of bristles having different shapes, sections and/or dimensions, especially a diameter, and/or materials.

(43) At least one bristle may be wavy, as illustrated in FIG. 20. Wavy bristles make it possible to better retain the product and are particularly suited to the application of powders.

(44) At least one bristle may be manufactured by material extrusion.

(45) The bristles 6 may be constituted of natural fibers.

(46) In a variant, the bristles 6 may be constituted of at least one synthetic material, for example chosen from the following list: PA 6,12, polyester, Rilsan®, polyamide, polyether, polyamide block-ether, polyethylene, polytetrafluoroethylene, polyvinylidene fluoride, polyacetate, polyethylene terephthalate.

(47) Additives modifying the surface finish and the surface tension may be incorporated into the material of the bristles, for example lubricants, for example molybdenum disulfide, PTFE, graphite.

(48) An assembly 10 for applying a product P according to the invention is shown in FIG. 21. Such an assembly 10 comprises an applicator brush 1 as described above and a container 12 containing the product P to be applied. In the example described, the container 12 is a powder compact with a cover, having two housings 13, 14 containing the product P in powder form. Each housing 13 and 14 may contain a different product, for example a make-up product in different shades, or different textures of products to be combined together, for example a powder and a wax.

(49) The user may take up the product P from the container 12 by virtue of the brush 1 and apply it to their eyebrows, especially with the aim of re-drawing the eyebrow line or of filling out a faint line. The user may use the zone of the applicator surface 5 at which its transverse dimension is maximum in order to apply the product P to the eyebrow line on the side of the bridge of the nose, and the distal part of the applicator surface at which its transverse direction is smaller for application to the outer tip of the eyebrow line, which is generally tapered at this location.

(50) By virtue of the invention, the product may be spread under the correct conditions to create the desired make-up effects, the widest zone of the applicator surface forming a reserve of product and the tapered zone enabling application with the required precision.

(51) The invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments which have just been described, and it is possible especially to combine the features of the different embodiments with one another.

(52) For example, the handle 4 and the applicator head 2 may have other shapes than those shown.

(53) The applicator brush according to the invention may also be used for applying a product to the skin, the hair, the eyelashes, the nails, the eyelids or the lips, the product being for example a foundation or a blusher, a hair product, especially for dyeing highlights, an eyeshadow or a lipstick.