EP1142504B1 - Applicator element to apply a product on a support and an application unit equipped therewith - Google Patents

Abstract

The applicator, designed to be attached to the threaded neck (63) of a container (6) of the product, consists of a series of teeth (8) joined to a base inside a peripheral wall (18) forming a trough surrounding all or part of the teeth. One or more of the teeth has an outlet (14) in its tip and a through channel linked via a hollow support (20, 22, 24) to the container. The applicator, designed to be attached to the threaded neck (63) of a container (6) of the product, consists of a series of teeth (8) joined to a base inside a peripheral wall (18) forming a trough surrounding all or part of the teeth. One or more of the teeth has an outlet (14) in its tip and a through channel linked via a hollow support (20, 22, 24) to the container. The teeth are conical in shape, tapering towards the tip, and molded together with the base.

Description

The invention relates to an application member for applying a product, in particular cosmetic or dermatological, to a support. In particular, the targeted support consists of the skin, hair, beard, mustaches or scalp of a user. The invention also relates to an application assembly comprising such an application member, associated with a product reservoir.

The applicator member targeted by the present invention is of the type which includes a plurality of hollow teeth, at least one of which is crossed by a product supply channel, said channel opening onto a free end of said teeth via an orifice. of distribution. This tooth distribution orifice is capable of being supplied with product contained in said reservoir.

Applicators comprising a plurality of hollow teeth, aligned on a straight or curved line are known, in particular in the field of hair treatment such as hair dye.

Such an applicator is described in document US-A-3,754,557. This known applicator comprises an elongated body, provided with an internal conduit capable of being supplied with a fluid product. On the body is arranged a plurality of hollow teeth, in communication with the inner duct. The free ends of these teeth form dispensing orifices and are arranged in a straight line, like a comb. The elongated body, as well as the teeth which are integral therewith, are made of a rigid material. An applicator according to the preamble of claim 1 is disclosed in document US-A-5,937,865.

Furthermore, from document DE-GM-69 01 735, a device is known for applying and massaging a product on the scalp. This applicator comprises a rigid sole, on which is implanted a plurality of hollow teeth, arranged in several rows in the manner of a brush. The free ends of the teeth end on a plane. The rigid sole is part a product reservoir comprising an elastically deformable portion. During the application of the product, pressure is exerted on the elastically deformable portion of the reservoir, causing the expulsion of the product through the dispensing orifice of the hollow teeth, while exerting a massage of the scalp.

The applicators described above have a number of drawbacks. In fact, when the user does not take any special measures, the end of a portion of the teeth rubs against the scalp and risks causing irritation. Such treatment is felt to be unpleasant, even annoying, by the user. In addition, the application of the product is not homogeneous, because a part of the product is applied to the bottom of the scalp, while another part of the product is dispersed in the hair surrounding the portion of scalp impregnated with product. . Often, the user is forced to perfect the distribution of the applied product, using the fingers, to obtain a homogeneous application. Exclusive treatment of the scalp, or alternatively exclusive treatment of the hair, without touching the scalp, is not possible with these devices of the prior art.

The present invention aims to remedy the drawbacks presented by the above prior devices.

• apte à déposer la juste quantité nécessaire de produit, de manière homogène sur un support ;
• ayant une géométrie et une constitution en adéquation avec la morphologie du support à traiter ;
• flexible, souple et doux, compte tenu notamment de la sensibilité de la peau de manière à éviter toute agression de celle-ci ;
• dont les orifices de distribution sont aptes à être orientés individuellement sur un support à morphologie variable, et ceci pendant le traitement ;
• apte à étaler le produit rapidement, de manière homogène sur un support relativement vaste.

One of the problems therefore posed by the present invention consists in providing an application member:

• able to deposit the right quantity of product, homogeneously on a support;
• having a geometry and a constitution in adequacy with the morphology of the support to be treated;
• flexible, supple and soft, taking into account in particular the sensitivity of the skin so as to avoid any aggression thereof;
• whose dispensing orifices are able to be oriented individually on a support with variable morphology, and this during the treatment;
• able to spread the product quickly, evenly on a relatively large support.

Also, the object of the present invention is to provide an application member for applying a product to a support, in particular on the skin, hair, beard, mustaches or scalp, said application member comprising a plurality of teeth, each of said teeth having a free end and an opposite end, integral with a base which comprises at least one peripheral wall forming a gutter surrounding all or part of said teeth, the free end of at least one of said teeth being provided with a dispensing orifice, a passage being provided, for placing a reservoir containing said product in communication with the dispensing orifices. According to the invention, said teeth are made of an elastically deformable material.

The peripheral wall forming the gutter can be produced in continuous or discontinuous form. If necessary, it can be carried out only on one end of the base, juxtaposed with only part of the teeth.

The invention also relates to an application assembly comprising a reservoir, intended to contain said product to be dispensed, and capable of receiving a support carrying an application member as defined above. Advantageously, said support is shaped so as to allow the product to be conveyed to the distribution orifices of said teeth.

Preferably, the teeth form a single piece with said base, which can be obtained by molding a suitable material.

Advantageously, the teeth are of frustoconical shape, of decreasing section from the base towards the dispensing orifice. This arrangement allows, in particular, good penetration of the teeth into the hair.

According to a preferred embodiment, said teeth are of substantially identical height. Advantageously, said peripheral wall has a first portion of height substantially identical to the height of the teeth, and a second portion of height less than the height of said teeth, the height of said wall gradually decreasing between said first and second portions.

According to a preferred embodiment, the free edge of said wall passes through a plane, inclined relative to a mean plane of the base.

The applicator member can be made of natural or synthetic rubber, of elastically deformable foam, and in particular of polyurethane or of a conventional thermoplastic elastomer. When using a foam, advantageously one chooses a foam with closed or semi-open cells. Furthermore, all or part of the applicator member may be provided with a flock coating.

The fact of making this applicator member in an elastically deformable material provides the following effects and advantages:

All the dispensing orifices can be brought into contact with a support with a non-planar surface, such as the scalp or other parts of the body, making it possible to apply the product homogeneously over a relatively large surface. Thanks to the ability of hollow teeth to deform in a multi-directional way (in axial compression, as in lateral bending), all the ends of the teeth are able to come into contact with the scalp (or any other surface to be treated).

Therefore, we also obtain a great softness of application, not aggressive for the surface to be treated, and avoiding irritations that would be obtained with an application member with rigid teeth. Under certain application conditions, for example on a surface with prominent portions, some of the teeth can bend, so that the distribution of the product takes place tangentially to said surface. Likewise, the wall delimiting the gutter is capable of deforming and adapting to the morphology of the support to be treated.

The realization of a gutter around all or part of the teeth by means of said wall, allows, if necessary, to collect a surplus of product, during the displacement of the applicator member on the support during treatment. This gutter can, in certain cases, constitute a micro-reserve of product. The wall delimiting the gutter can act as a product spreading member.

The deformability of said teeth or of said wall includes a bending component, which translates the ability of the teeth or of the wall to bend, in response to stress, and to return by elasticity to its initial form, when the stress ceases. The flexibility of a material constituting the applicator member can be characterized by its flexural modulus. Generally, the materials envisaged by the invention have a flexural modulus at most equal to 200 MPa (Young's modulus in flexion). The flexibility of the teeth and of the peripheral wall results from the nature of the material forming said applicator member and possibly from their configuration.

Advantageously also, the elastically deformable material from which the applicator member is formed has a Shore A hardness of between 30 and 60.

The application member as defined above can be associated with an application assembly, comprising a reservoir intended to contain the product to be dispensed. This reservoir is capable of receiving a support, which support carries said applicator member. Advantageously, the support comprises at least one passage capable of conveying said product towards the dispensing orifices.

Preferably, the support is formed from a rigid or semi-rigid material. The attachment of the applicator member to the support can be carried out by bi-injection, gluing, welding, crimping or any other suitable means. It is possible to mount the applicator member on the support in a removable manner, for cleaning the applicator member and / or the support.

As for the reservoir, it can be compressible Advantageously, the reservoir is shaped so that it can serve as a gripping member. So during a spreading movement on the profile of the support to be treated, the user holds the assembly in one hand, while having the possibility of simultaneously dosing the product being dispensed, by exerting an appropriate pressure on the walls of the reservoir.

The application assembly of the invention is suitable, in particular, for the application of a more or less fluid consistency product, in particular on the skin, scalp, beard, mustaches or hair.

Examples of products which can be applied using the application set include dyes for keratin materials, shampoos, hair conditioners, dermatological compositions for treating affections of the skin or scalp such as dandruff or psoriasis, etc.

Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will appear in detail on reading the description which follows of an embodiment of the invention, given by way of purely illustrative and in no way limitative example, shown in the drawing. Annex.

• la figure 1 représente une vue en perspective d'un ensemble d'application conforme à l'invention ;
• la figure 2 est une vue en coupe axiale de l'ensemble d'application de la figure 1 ; et
• la figure 3 représente une vue agrandie en coupe axiale d'un organe d'application conforme à l'invention.

On this drawing :

• Figure 1 shows a perspective view of an application assembly according to the invention;
• Figure 2 is an axial sectional view of the application assembly of Figure 1; and
• Figure 3 shows an enlarged view in axial section of an applicator member according to the invention.

With particular reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, an application assembly 1 can be seen for the application of a fluid product P to a surface. This set consists essentially of two parts: a reservoir containing said product P and an application member 2 of said product. The application member 2 is fixed on a support 20. The support 20 comprises coupling means 22, 24, capable of allowing the attachment of the application member 2 to the reservoir 6, and establishing communication between the reservoir and the applicator member.

The reservoir 6 consists of a bottle having a longitudinal axis X and having a body 60, in particular of oval or circular section. It has a closed bottom 61. On the side opposite the bottom, the bottle 6 forms a shoulder 62, extending in the form of a cylindrical neck 63 of section smaller than the section of the reservoir. The neck has an external thread 64. The reservoir 6 is configured so as to allow easy handling. Thus, when using the application assembly, the body of the reservoir 6 can serve as a gripping member.

On the neck is fixed, by screwing, a connection ring 24, provided with an internal thread 25, complementary to the external thread 64 of the neck. The connection ring 24 has an upper face 26 defining a passage 27. This passage opens out towards a first end 21 of a conveying channel 22. The conveying channel is bent by approximately 40 °, so that its second end 23 is oriented along a second axis Y, forming with the axis X an angle α of about 140 °. The connection ring has a sealing skirt 28 to allow the ring to be sealed on the neck 63 of the reservoir 6.

The second end 23 of the conveying channel is connected to the support 20. The support 20 comprises a base 30 (FIG. 3) of larger section than the section of the conveying channel 22. The base 30 has a substantially rectangular shape whose short sides are shaped in a semicircle. A peripheral wall 31, connecting to the base 30 and extending perpendicularly from the latter, surrounds the base over a small height. A flange 32 formed on the free end of the peripheral wall 31 is folded at 90 °, projecting inwardly in the direction of the axis Y.

The peripheral wall 31 and the rim 32 delimit a housing capable of receiving hold the application member 2 on the base 30.

The applicator member 2 has a base 4, inserted inside the peripheral wall 31, and clamped between the base 30 and the flange 32. The visible face of the base 4 carries a plurality of teeth 8, oriented substantially perpendicular to a plane of the base 4. As illustrated in Figure 1, these teeth 8 are arranged in two rows, the teeth of a first row being staggered relative to the teeth of the second row.

All the teeth 8 have a substantially equal height H. They have a frustoconical longitudinal section, the base 12 of the cone being integral with the base 4. Each tooth has a free end 10, provided with a dispensing orifice 14. These dispensing orifices 14 communicate with the conveying channel 22 by means of passages 16, formed inside the teeth and passing through the thickness of the base 4. Thus, the interior of the reservoir 6 is in communication with each dispensing orifice 14.

The base 4 carries a peripheral wall 18, surrounding all of the teeth 8. Thus, the peripheral wall 18 forms a gutter 19 around the teeth 8.

The height of the peripheral wall 18 is determined by a free edge 18a. This height is marked h. As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the height h of the peripheral wall 18 is not constant. Indeed, its free edge 18a is located in a plane, inclined relative to a plane of the base 4. According to the embodiment considered, the angle of inclination is approximately 30 °. For ergonomic reasons, this angle is located on the side of the greatest curvature of the conveying channel 22.

The material constituting the application member 2 is an elastically deformable material, in particular in bending and in axial compression. It can be chosen from natural or synthetic rubbers, and preferably from thermoplastic elastomers. You can choose an elastomer foam closed or semi-open cells. Optionally, all or part of the external surface of the teeth 8 and / or of the surface of the wall 18 can be flocked, which makes it possible, if necessary, to homogenize the spreading of the product.

To apply the product P contained in the reservoir 6 to a support, for example for the treatment of the scalp, the user grasps the application assembly 1 by the body 60 of the reservoir 6. He directs the organ application 2 downwards and places the free ends of the teeth 8 on the skull, exerting a light pressure in the direction of the latter. Thanks to the deformability of the teeth, some of the teeth 8 undergo greater flexion and / or compression than the others, so that substantially all of the dispensing orifices 14 are located near the scalp. By exerting an appropriate pressure on the deformable walls of the reservoir body 60, the user forces the product to exit P. By moving the applicator member 2 over the scalp, while continuing to distribute the product, it is possible to treat a large area of the scalp. This operation is repeated to treat, at will, all areas of the scalp.

Advantageously, the displacement of the applicator member is carried out in the direction corresponding to the side of the smallest height h of the peripheral wall 18 (in the direction of the greatest curvature of the conveying channel 22). The wall 18, in its opposite portion, of greater height H, also adapts to the profile of the skull. Since it follows the movement of movement of the teeth 8, this portion of greater height recovers any excess product, which then accumulates in the gutter 19. In addition, it participates in the spreading of the product on the surface to be treated .

In the foregoing detailed description, reference has been made to a particular embodiment of the invention. It is obvious that variants can be made to it, the scope of the invention being defined in the claims below.

Claims (15)

1. Applicator member (1) for applying a product (P) to a support, the said applicator member comprising a plurality of teeth (8), each of the said teeth having a free end (10) and an end (12), which is solidly attached to a base unit (4), the free end of at least one of the said teeth being provided with a distribution orifice (14), a passage (16) being included, to place a reservoir (6) containing the said product in communication with the distribution orifice(s) (14), characterized in that the said teeth (8) are made of an elastically deformable material and in that the said base unit (4) comprises at least one peripheral wall (18) forming a drip tray (19) around all or some of the said teeth (8).
2. Applicator member (2) according to Claim 1, characterized in that the said teeth (8) are obtained by moulding with the said base unit (4).
3. Applicator member (2) according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the teeth (8) are of frustoconical shape, with a cross section decreasing in the direction of the distribution orifice (14).
4. Applicator member (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the teeth (8) are of substantially identical length (H).
5. Applicator member (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the height of the said peripheral wall (18) is not more than the length (H) of the teeth (8).
6. Applicator member (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the peripheral wall (18) is of variable height (h).
7. Applicator member (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a free edge (18a) of the said peripheral wall (18) extends in a plane which is inclined relative to a plane of the base unit (4).
8. Applicator member (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is made of natural or synthetic rubber, of foam, in particular of polyurethane or of a thermoplastic elastomer.
9. Applicator member (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the elastically deformable material has a flexural modulus of not more than 200 MPa (Young's flexural modulus).
10. Applicator member (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the elastically deformable material has a Shore A hardness of between 30 and 60.
11. Applicator assembly (1) comprising a reservoir (6) intended to receive a support (20, 22, 24) carrying an applicator member (2) in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, the support comprising at least one passage capable of conveying the said product (P) to the distribution orifice(s) (14).
12. Assembly according to Claim 11, characterized in that the support (20, 22, 24) is made of a rigid or semi-rigid material.
13. Assembly according to Claim 11 or 12, characterized in that the reservoir (6) comprises a body (60) whose walls are elastically deformable.
14. Assembly according to any one of Claims 11 to 13, characterized in that the reservoir (6) is configured so as to act as a handle member.
15. Use of an applicator assembly (1) according to any one of Claims 11 to 14, to apply a product (P) to a support, in particular to the skin, the scalp, a beard, a moustache or the hair.