APPLICATOR FOR APPLYING A COSMETIC OR CARE PRODUCT

Abstract

Applicator (3) for applying a cosmetic or care product, which extends along a longitudinal axis (X) and has: —an applicator member (6), —a holder (5) for the applicator member, and a handle (10) that defines a gripping surface allowing the user to hold the applicator during the application of the product, the handle being deformable with shape memory at least along a part of its length.

Claims

1. Applicator for applying a cosmetic or care product, which extends along a longitudinal axis and has: an applicator member, a holder for the applicator member, and a handle that defines a gripping surface allowing the user to hold the applicator during the application of the product, the handle being deformable with shape memory at least along a part of its length.

2. Applicator according to claim 1, wherein the handle extends initially without deformation in a rectilinear manner along the longitudinal axis of the applicator.

3. Applicator according to claim 1, wherein the handle extends along a length greater than 25 mm, better still greater than 30 or 40 mm.

4. Applicator according to claim 1, wherein the handle is deformable in a portion that is deformable with shape memory and extends along a length of between 20 and 100 mm, better still between 30 and 90 mm.

5. Applicator according to claim 1, wherein the handle has a non-deformable portion that is disposed at a proximal end thereof.

6. Applicator according to claim 1, wherein the handle has a core that is deformable with shape memory and is made of a first material, in particular a malleable metal material, and a sheath covering the core, made of a second material.

7. Applicator according to claim 1, wherein the holder is rigid.

8. Applicator according to claim 1, wherein the handle is configured such that it can be deformed through 360°.

9. Applicator according to claim 1, wherein the force to be applied by the user in order to deform the handle is between 0.5 and 10 N.

10. Applicator according to claim 1, wherein the handle is configured such that, once it has been taken to its maximum deformation by the user, the inclination of the proximal end of the handle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the applicator holder is greater than 360°.

11. Packaging and application device having a container containing a cosmetic or care product, in particular an eyeliner, to be applied, and an applicator according to claim 1.

12. Device according to claim 1, wherein the product is liquid.

13. Method for making up the eyelid, wherein use is made of an applicator or a device according to claim 1 to draw a line on the eyelid.

14. Makeup method, using an applicator or a device according to claim 1, wherein the following steps are implemented: a) the handle of the applicator is deformed in order to give it a given shape, and b) the product is applied with the handle of the applicator in the shape it has been given.

Description

[0059] The invention may be better understood from reading the following detailed description of non-limiting illustrative embodiments thereof and from examining the appended drawing, in which:

[0060] FIGS. 1 and 2 are perspective views, in the closed position and open position, respectively, of an example of a packaging and application device according to the invention,

[0061] FIG. 3 is a longitudinal section through said handle,

[0062] FIG. 4 is a view of the applicator from FIGS. 1 to 3 after deformation,

[0063] FIG. 5 shows a variant embodiment after deformation,

[0064] FIGS. 6a and 6b are perspective views illustrating two possibilities for holding the applicator from FIG. 5 in the hand, and

[0065] FIGS. 7 to 13 are schematic views, in partial longitudinal section, of variant embodiments, and

[0066] FIG. 14 is a detail view of one variant embodiment.

[0067] The packaging and application device 1 shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 has a container 2 containing the product to be applied and an applicator 3 which, when not being used to apply the product, can be mounted on the container 2 in order to close it, as illustrated in FIG. 1, and can be separated from the container in order to apply the product, as illustrated in FIG. 2. The applicator 3 extends along a longitudinal axis X. The product contained in the container is for example eyeliner.

[0068] The container 2 has for example a threaded neck onto which the applicator 3 can be screwed, the latter having a holder 5 that bears an applicator member 6 constituted for example by an applicator tip.

[0069] The applicator member 6 can be produced in various ways, in particular with a shape that is not rotationally symmetric, allowing the user to draw a more or less thick line depending on the orientation of the applicator member 6 with respect to the eyelid and the direction of movement thereon.

[0070] The applicator member 6 can be formed by a felt tip or by an end piece made of an elastomer material, which may or may not be flocked at its distal end. Examples of applicator members that can be suitable are described in particular in the publications FR 2 933 281, FR 2 947 702, FR 2 890 296 and U.S. Pat. No. 7,077,592.

[0071] In a variant, the applicator member may be a brush, as illustrated in FIG. 14.

[0072] The applicator 3 has a handle 10 defining a gripping surface that allows the user to hold the applicator while applying the product. The handle 10 is plastically deformable with shape memory at least along a part of its length.

[0073] The handle may extend for example in a rectilinear manner, as illustrated in FIG. 2. It may be curved as desired by the user, as illustrated in FIG. 4. The handle 10 may be deformed through 360°. The handle 10 may be configured such that, once it has been deformed to the maximum possible extent by the user, the inclination a of the proximal end 10b of the handle, of axis Y, with respect to the longitudinal axis X of the applicator when the latter has been made rectilinear is greater than 60°, or even greater than 90°, and less than 300°.

[0074] To this end, the handle 10 may have a core 11 made of a first, malleable material which is deformable with shape memory, in particular a metal material. The core 11 is covered with a sheath 12 of a second material. The sheath 12 is made of elastomer, for example.

[0075] The core 11 may be constituted by a wire of malleable metal such as copper, for example. In a variant, the core 11 is constituted by a succession of annular metal meshes that are friction crimped together in the manner of a metal hose as is encountered in some lamps, as illustrated in FIG. 12.

[0076] The handle 10 extends along a length L.sub.1 which is around 90 mm in the example described. The handle has a greatest width l which is around 18 mm in the example described. This greatest width is situated in this case at the distal end 10a of the handle, closest to the applicator member 6.

[0077] The portion 10 that is deformable with shape memory extends for example along a length L.sub.2 of around 80 mm.

[0078] The handle 10 may have a non-deformable portion that extends along a length L.sub.3 of around 10 mm from the proximal end 10b.

[0079] Furthermore, the handle 10 may have at least two spaced-apart cross sections with different overall shapes.

[0080] The applicator may thus have a first cross section, taken perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis X of the applicator, with a circular overall shape, situated closer to the distal end 10a of the handle, that is to say close to the holder 5 and to the applicator member 6. The applicator may have a second cross section, taken perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis X, with a substantially lenticular overall shape, situated close to the proximal end 10b of the applicator.

[0081] The handle 10 may thus have two opposite facets 12b that are symmetric with respect to a median plane containing the longitudinal axis X of the application, when the latter is rectilinear.

[0082] The handle 10 may have snap-fastening ridges 15 on its inner surface, which are intended for fixing the holder 5 in the handle 10.

[0083] The holder 5 may be rigid. In the example illustrated, it has a stem 5a which supports the applicator member 6 at its distal end and an end piece 5b for fixing to the handle 10 at its proximal end, as can be seen in FIG. 3.

[0084] In order to use the device in FIGS. 1 to 4, the following steps can be successively implemented:

[0085] a) the handle 10 of the applicator is deformed in order to give it a given shape, for example the one illustrated in FIG. 4, and

[0086] b) the product is applied with the handle of the applicator in the shape it has been given.

[0087] The deformation given to the handle 10 may be different therefrom, being for example as illustrated in FIG. 5. The different shapes of the handle which can be obtained afford different ways of holding the applicator in the hand, as illustrated in FIGS. 6a and 6b by way of example.

[0088] In the exemplary embodiments which have just been described, the core 11 of the applicator extends along less than the entire length of the handle 10. If this is not the case, this does not represent a departure from the scope of the present invention.

[0089] By way of example, a variant embodiment in which the core 1 extends as far as the proximal end 10b of the handle 10 has been illustrated in FIG. 7.

[0090] In the variant embodiment in FIG. 8, the core 11 extends along a length L.sub.2 that is slightly greater than half the total length L.sub.1 of the handle 10. The non-deformable portion of the handle 10 extends along a length L.sub.3 that is slightly less than half the length L.sub.1 of the handle 10.

[0091] In the exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIG. 13, the core 11 extends along the entire length L.sub.1, and is exposed along a portion of its length in which it is not covered by the sheath 12. The handle 10 is deformable only in that portion of the core which is not covered by the sheath 12, and the material of the sheath 12 is chosen so as to prevent the deformation of the core 11 and thus of the handle 10. Thus, the handle in FIG. 12 is deformable only along a portion of length L.sub.2 that is much less than the length L.sub.1.

[0092] The core 11 may have a constant cross section, or, as in FIG. 9, have annular grooves 11c that favour its deformation.

[0093] The holder 5 may also be fixed to the handle 10 in a different way from that described above. The holder 5 may for example have a collar 5d which is fitted on the core 11 of the handle 10, as illustrated in FIG. 10.

[0094] In the exemplary embodiments which have just been described, the end piece 5b for fixing the holder 5 is positioned in continuation of the surface of the handle 10 when it is in place on the latter. This does not have to be the case, and the fixing end piece 5b may for example be inserted entirely in a corresponding housing in the handle 10, as illustrated in FIG. 11.

[0095] Needless to say, the invention is not limited to the examples that have just been described. In particular, the features of the various examples illustrated can be combined within variants that are not illustrated.

[0096] The expression “having a” should be understood as being synonymous with “comprising at least one”, unless specified to the contrary.