COSMETIC APPLICATOR HAVING AN INTERNAL SPACE CONTAINING THE COMPOSITION

Abstract

The present invention relates to a cosmetic applicator for applying a non-liquid composition (P) to human keratin materials, the applicator: —comprising a stem (7) that extends along a longitudinal axis (X), —defining an internal space (9) that is able to contain the composition (P) to be applied, and —having at least one opening (18) that is in communication with the internal space (9) and leads onto an application surface (8).

Claims

1. Cosmetic applicator for applying a non-liquid composition to human keratin materials, the applicator: comprising a stem that extends along a longitudinal axis, defining an internal space that contains the non-liquid composition to be applied, and having at least one opening that is in communication with the internal space and leads onto an application surface.

2. Cosmetic applicator for applying a composition to human keratin materials, the applicator: comprising a stem that extends along a longitudinal axis and bears an endless screw, defining an internal space that is able to contain the composition to be applied, and having at least one opening that is in communication with the internal space in order to dispense said composition, wherein the endless screw turns inside the internal space such that its rotation causes the composition to flow through the opening(s).

3. Applicator according to claim 1, which has a plurality of openings in the form of slots, in particular between 5 and 50 openings, better still between 10 and 20 openings.

4. Applicator according to claim 2, wherein the endless screw comprises a body and protruding elements that are connected thereto and make it easier to dispense the composition.

5. Applicator according to claim 4, wherein the protruding elements on the endless crew follow the same helical path as the thread thereof.

6. Applicator according to claim 4, wherein the protruding elements on the endless crew are the same height as the thread thereof, being in particular between 0.5 mm and 1.5 mm, better still between 0.7 mm and 1.2 mm.

7. Applicator according to claim 4, in which the clearance between the stem and the thread of the endless screw is between 0.1 mm and 4 mm, better still between 0.5 mm and 3 mm.

8. Applicator according to claim 1, wherein the composition comprises fibres made of a thermoplastic material, in particular polyamide, with a length in particular of between 0.5 and 3 mm, better still between 1.2 and 2.1 mm, and with a diameter in particular of between 0.5 dtex and 5 dtex.

9. Applicator according to claim 2, wherein the composition comprises flakes, in particular with a largest dimension of between 0.006 mm and 3 mm.

10. Applicator according to claim 1, wherein the composition is a loose or pressed powder.

11. Applicator according to claim 1, wherein, with the composition comprising fibres or flakes or being a powder, the ratio between the section of the openings in the applicator and the largest dimension of the solid particles of the composition is between 0.001 and 2, better still between 0.5 and 3.

12. Applicator according to claim 1, wherein the composition comprises a binder, in particular with a content by mass ranging from 1% to 10% within the composition, comprising in particular at least one oil.

13. Applicator according to claim 1, wherein the composition is a paste with a sufficiently high viscosity not to flow under the effect of its own weight.

14. Device for packaging and applying a first cosmetic composition, in particular a makeup composition, to human keratin materials, comprising an applicator according to claim 1 and a first container holding the applicator.

15. Device according to claim 14, which comprises a second container containing a second composition, and comprises a second applicator comprising an applicator member that defines an application surface, the second applicator being in particular secured to the first applicator, the second composition being in particular other than a non-liquid composition.

16. Method for making up or caring for human keratin materials with the aid of a packaging and application device according to claim 14, wherein use is made of an applicator to apply the non-liquid composition to the keratin materials, the applicator: comprising a stem that extends along a longitudinal axis, defining an internal space that contains the non-liquid composition to be applied, and having at least one opening that is in communication with the internal space and leads onto an application surface.

17. Method according to claim 16, wherein the endless screw is turned inside the internal space of the applicator such that the rotation of the endless screw causes the composition to flow through the opening(s) in the applicator.

18. Method according to claim 16, which comprises a step prior to the application of the non-liquid first composition to the keratin materials, of using the second applicator to apply the second composition contained in the second container to the keratin materials intended to receive the first composition.

Description

[0091] The invention may be better understood from reading the following detailed description of nonlimiting implementation examples thereof, and with reference to the appended drawing, in which:

[0092] FIG. 1 is a schematic view, in longitudinal section, of an exemplary packaging and application device produced in accordance with the invention,

[0093] FIG. 2 shows a side view of the stem of the first applicator from FIG. 1 on its own,

[0094] FIG. 3 shows a front view of the stem of the first applicator from FIG. 1 on its own,

[0095] FIG. 4 is an axial section on IV-IV of the stem from FIG. 3,

[0096] FIG. 5 is an axial section of a variant embodiment of an applicator according to the invention,

[0097] FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the endless screw of the applicator from FIG. 5,

[0098] FIG. 7 shows a front view of the endless screw of the applicator from FIG. 5 on its own, and

[0099] FIG. 8 is an axial section on VIII-VIII of the screw from FIG. 7.

[0100] FIG. 1 shows a packaging and application device 1 produced in accordance with the invention, comprising first 3 and second 3′ containers, and also first 2 and second 2′ associated applicators. The containers 2 and 2′ are disposed in line with one another along the longitudinal axis of the device.

[0101] The first applicator 2 is produced in accordance with the invention and comprises, in the example described, a stem 7 that extends along a longitudinal axis X and defines an application surface 8 for the composition P, in the vicinity of its distal end 22.

[0102] As can be seen in particular in FIGS. 2 and 3, the applicator 2 defines an internal space 9 that is able to contain a non-liquid composition P to be applied, as defined above.

[0103] The second container 3′ comprises a second composition P′ to be applied to the eyelashes, before the first composition.

[0104] As illustrated in FIG. 2, the device 1 comprises a double closure member 11 that also acts as a coupling member between the containers 3 and 3′.

[0105] In order to use the applicator 2′, the user can leave the container 3 secured to the closure member 11 and thus use the container 3 as a gripping member. Similarly, they can then leave the container 3′ secured to the closure member 11 and use it as a gripping member for using the applicator 2 according to the invention.

[0106] In one variant that is not illustrated, the containers 3 and 3′ remain in line with one another and the respective closure members are independent.

[0107] In another variant that is not illustrated, the containers 3 and 3′ are situated in line with one another, one of the containers being secured to the closure member of the other container.

[0108] In the example in question, the container 3′ comprises a neck 4′ on which the double closure member 11 is arranged in order to be fixed so as to close the container 3′ in a leaktight manner when it is not in use.

[0109] The applicator 2′ comprises a stem 7′ of longitudinal axis Y, coincident with the longitudinal axis X of the stem 7 of the first applicator 2, the stem 7′ being connected at its upper end to the double closure member 11 and, at its lower end, to an applicator member that defines an application surface 8′.

[0110] 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.

[0111] The total height H of the device 1 may be between 17 cm and 25 cm, and is preferably equal to 22 cm.

[0112] The length L of the stem 7 may be between 9 cm and 15 cm, better still between 10 cm and 12 cm, and is for example equal to around 11.5 cm.

[0113] In the example in question, and as can be seen in particular in FIG. 4, the internal space 9 is defined in the body of the stem 7, along the entire length L thereof, and extends as far as the application surface 8.

[0114] The thickness e.sub.p of the wall 2a of the applicator 2 defining the internal space 9 may be between 0.5 mm and 3 mm, and is for example equal to 1 mm.

[0115] In the example described, the stem 7 has a cross section, taken perpendicularly to its longitudinal axis X, having a circular shape.

[0116] Preferably, the cross section of the stem 7 is variable along its longitudinal axis X, the stem 7 having, as can be seen in FIGS. 2 to 4, a narrowing 12, situated closer to its proximal end 21 than to its distal end 22, for example at around one third of its length L starting from its proximal end 21. The narrowing 12 may extend over a distance d.sub.r of between 7 mm and 12 mm, for example around 9 mm.

[0117] As shown in FIG. 4, the diameter D.sub.t of the stem 7, in its proximal portion 7a upstream of the narrowing 12, may be between 10 mm and 20 mm, and is for example equal to around 16 mm. The diameter D.sub.t of the stem 7, in its distal portion 7b downstream of the narrowing 12, may be between 2 mm and 10 mm, and is for example equal to around 6.2 mm.

[0118] As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the applicator 2 according to the invention advantageously has a plurality of openings 18 that communicate with the internal space 9 and open onto the application surface 8 so as to allow the composition P to be dispensed and applied.

[0119] Preferably, and as in the example in question, the openings 18 are slots that define notches 19, each extending along an axis Z perpendicular to the longitudinal axis X of the stem 7.

[0120] The openings 18 are formed, in the example described, over an angular sector equal to 180° around the longitudinal axis X of the stein 7. The openings 18 thus extend to half the thickness of the applicator 2, when seen in side view, and across the entire width of the applicator 2, when seen in front view, as can be seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, respectively.

[0121] In one variant that is not illustrated, the openings 18 are formed over an angular sector of less than 180° around the longitudinal axis X of the stem 7.

[0122] The most distal 20 opening 18 may extend at a non-zero distance d.sub.0 from the distal end 22 of the stem 7, for example equal to 3.5 mm.

[0123] The spacing E.sub.o between the openings 18 is for example equal to 0.55 mm.

[0124] The width l.sub.o of the openings 18 is for example equal to 1 mm.

[0125] The depth P.sub.o of the openings 18 into the wall 2a of the applicator 2 is for example equal to 3 mm.

[0126] As in the example in question, the composition P preferably comprises fibres, and the ratio between the section of an opening 18 in the applicator 2 and the length of the fibres is between 0.5 and 3.

[0127] In the variant shown in FIGS. 5 to 8, the applicator 2 comprises an endless screw 10, which is carried by the stem 7 and turns inside the internal space 9 such that the rotation of the screw causes the composition P to flow through the openings 18.

[0128] The endless screw 10 advantageously extends along the same rectilinear longitudinal axis X as the stem 7, along approximately the entire length L thereof.

[0129] In the example in question, the endless screw 10 comprises, as can be seen in FIGS. 4 and 5, an annular bulge 23 designed to be fixed in a corresponding groove in the stem 7.

[0130] The endless screw 10 is advantageously coupled at its proximal end 31 to a wheel 34 for driving the screw 10 in rotation in the internal space 9. The user can turn this wheel 34 manually so that the composition P is dispensed through the openings 18 in the applicator 2.

[0131] Preferably, as illustrated, the endless screw 10 has a narrowing 35 that is positioned more or less at the narrowing 12 of the stem 7.

[0132] In the example in question, the thread 37 of the endless screw 10 is continuous.

[0133] The width l.sub.v of the thread 37 of the endless screw 10 is for example equal to 0.8 mm.

[0134] Along the entire longitudinal axis X of the stem 7, the diameter φ.sub.v of the endless screw 10, measured at the top of the thread 37, is advantageously strictly less than the inside diameter d.sub.i of the facing portion of stem 7.

[0135] The clearance J.sub.m between the stem 7 and the endless screw 10 may be between 0.1 mm and 4 mm. This clearance J.sub.m may be variable along the longitudinal axis X of the stem 7, reaching a maximum at the proximal portion 7a of the stem 7 situated upstream of the narrowing 12, starting from the proximal end 21. This makes it possible to define a larger space for containing the composition P.

[0136] The diameter Da.sub.1 of the body 36 of the endless screw 10, in the proximal portion 7a of the stem 7, is for example equal to 7.2 mm. The diameter Da.sub.2 of the body 36 of the endless screw 10, in the distal portion 7b of the stem 7, is for example equal to 2.5 mm.

[0137] As can be seen in particular in FIG. 7, the endless screw 10 advantageously comprises protruding elements 38 that are connected to its body 36, along grooves 39 formed by its thread 37. These protruding elements 38 facilitate the dispensing of the composition P, by encouraging the fragmentation thereof. The protruding elements 38 are conical spikes in the example in question.

[0138] The endless screw 10 may comprise between 1 and 10 protruding elements 38 per turn.

[0139] The height h.sub.v of the thread 37 and the protruding elements 38 of the endless screw 10 is for example equal to 0.85 mm.

[0140] The largest transverse dimension d.sub.e of the protruding elements 38 of the endless screw 10, measured at their base, is for example equal to 0.9 mm.

[0141] The body 36 of the endless screw 10 is, in the example in question, hollow in its proximal portion.

[0142] As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the endless screw 10 may have a rounded distal end 32.

[0143] In order to mould the stem 7, 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.

[0144] Preferably, the stem 7 is moulded in one piece.

[0145] The endless screw 10 may be made of a polyolefin such as PE or PP, of the polyethylene LDPE, or of POM, PA or ABS.

[0146] The user can use the device 1 to apply, during a prior step, the second composition P′, for example mascara, to the eyelashes, with the aid of the second applicator 2′. They can then use the applicator 2 according to the invention to apply the composition P to the keratin materials.

[0147] When the applicator 2 does not have an endless screw 10, the user can agitate the applicator 2 in order to dispense the composition P. In the variant in which the applicator 2 comprises an endless screw 10, the user turns the latter such that the rotation causes the composition P to flow through the openings 18.

[0148] During an additional step, the user can reuse the second applicator 2′ in order to reapply the second composition P′, in order to perfect the makeup.

[0149] Of course, the invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments that have just been described. In particular, the invention can also be applied to makeup for the skin, nails, lips or hair.

[0150] 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.