EP1302128A1 - Applicator for cosmetic substances , in particular eyelashes or eyebrows - Google Patents

Abstract

The mascara application brush has a first brush (2) with a twisted frame (3) carrying radial bristles in a first section. A second brush (6) has a twisted frame (7) with a second bristle carrying portion also having radial bristles. The two brushes are wound around each other so that the bristle carrying portions are twisted over each other for a constant relative spacing.

Description

The present invention relates to a cosmetic product applicator, in particular mascara, as used especially for eyelashes and eyebrows.

In the mascara field, the most commonly used applicators are formed of so-called "twisted" brushes. Such twisted brushes are obtained by placing a layer of hair between the two branches of a configured wire in a hairpin, then twisting the two branches of the wire around its axis. The wire thus twisted forms a helix (in reality, one for each wire strand) whose turns, depending on the direction of twist of the wire, go up from left to right (when the brush is viewed from the front in position vertical) or from right to left. The first type of twist allows to obtain a brush sometimes called "left brush". Such a brush is described in particular in patent EP 0 611 170 in the name of the applicant. The second type of twisting, the most widespread so far, allows to obtain a brush qualified as "straight brush".

Such twisted brushes generally include a "stacked" part defining an application portion, extending by an "unstacked" portion wire, sometimes called "tail" of the brush, and used in particular for fixing of the device on a rod connected in particular to a member for gripping of the device.

The last fifteen years have seen the appearance of twisted section brushes and variable shapes, using more or less coarse hairs, more or less large number, and of variable nature. All these modifications are intended to modify the make-up obtainable with such a brush, taking particular consideration, the rheology of the product to be applied.

Depending on the configuration of the twisted brush, it is thus possible to play on the product load, on the separation of the eyelashes, on their lengthening or on their bending. The possibilities are not endless, however.

In one of the embodiments of document EP 0 717 944, there is described a applicator formed by folding over itself a twisted brush, approximately half of its length, then by a 180 ° rotation of one half branches around each other. In the end, this results in an applicator forming two loops, intended to form a product reservoir. At the crossing point half-branches, the distance from one to the other is substantially nothing. Then this distance gradually increases on either side of the point crossing to reach a maximum before decreasing, on the one hand by direction of the folding zone, and on the other hand, towards an area where the two half-branches are twisted and parallel to each other.

A major difficulty with such a configuration is its size, transverse to the axis of the brush, which space is problematic especially for the introduction and the passage of the brush in the organ Spin. In addition, the manufacture of such an applicator in an automated manner is most problematic.

Thus, in a field always in search of new cosmetic effects and / or aesthetic, the invention aims to achieve a new applicator offering, relative to known applicators, still other possibilities in terms of makeup, especially eyelashes or eyebrows.

Another object of the invention is to provide an applicator which is economical to easy to use.

Other objects will appear in the detailed description which follows.

a) une première brosse formée d'une première âme torsadée qui, sur une première portion empoilée, emprisonne des poils disposés de manière radiale relativement à l'âme ;

b) une seconde brosse formée d'une seconde âme torsadée qui, sur une seconde portion empoilée, emprisonne des poils disposés de manière radiale relativement à l'âme ;

lesdites première et seconde brosses étant enroulées l'une autour de l'autre de sorte que sur au moins une portion empoilée de l'applicateur, les première et seconde âmes soient torsadées l'une relativement à l'autre en s'étendant à distance l'une de l'autre sensiblement constante.According to the invention, these objects are achieved by producing an applicator for a cosmetic product, in particular for mascara comprising:

a) a first brush formed of a first twisted core which, on a first stacked portion, traps bristles arranged radially relative to the core;

b) a second brush formed of a second twisted core which, on a second stacked portion, traps bristles arranged radially relative to the core;

said first and second brushes being wound around one another so that on at least one stacked portion of the applicator, the first and second cores are twisted relative to each other by extending at a distance each other substantially constant.

Thus, unlike document EP-A1-0 717 944, in which the brush was folded, then rotated 180 ° so as to form two open loops, according to the invention, the two twisted brushes are wound relative to each other so that their respective souls, on the twisted portion, progress to constant distance from each other.

Such a constant distance between the two twisted cores is obtained in particular holding the first two ends of two parallel brushes arranged as close as possible to each other, by means of a fixed jaw in rotation, and the two second ends of the two brushes by means of a jaw driven in rotation relative to the first. Both brushes can be integral with each other at a folding brush double length start.

Preferably, the two twisted cores are wound at least 1 turn (360 °) one around the other. More preferably, they are wound at least 1.5 round, and more preferably at least two rounds.

Preferably, the two brushes before being twisted around one another, are of substantially identical total length, the respective lengths of their stacked portions and their non-stacked portions being otherwise generally identical.

When twisting, the brushes may have their respective stacked portions as well as their respective non-stacked portions in axial superposition sensitive or be offset axially so that the webs of the two brushes of start are twisted relative to each other, only on a portion of total length of the stacked portion of the applicator.

Preferably, each of the first and second starting brushes comprises a first free end located on the side of the stacked portion opposite the tail. Likewise, each of the first and second brushes includes a second free end located on the side of the tail opposite the stacked portion.

The applicator according to the invention makes it possible to generate multiple news hair geometries and configurations, which geometries and configurations news offer so many new possibilities in terms of makeup.

These new geometries and configurations result in particular from the fact that the turns of each of the brushes go, when twisting the first brush relatively to the second, overlap, partially crash, and done, have a new behavior when they are going to be engaged with eyelashes or eyebrows for the application of a care product or makeup.

Obviously, the degree of overlapping of the turns depends on many parameters, and in particular the configuration of each of the first and second brushes and the way they are twisted one relative to the other (in particular, the pitch of the twist).

Preferably, the stacked portion of the applicator is integral with a non-portion stacked, the unstacked portion resulting from the first and second twist non-stacked portions of the first and second twisted cores. So the portion non-stacked applicator is formed from the twisting of four strands of two-by-two pre-twisted iron wires.

Advantageously, the non-stacked portion of the applicator is integral with a rod, which, preferably, is integral with a cap of a packaging unit and of application for which the applicator is intended.

Generally, the mounting of the applicator on the rod is done by insertion of the free end of the applicator shank in a blind bore formed in the axis of the rod, the end of the latter (or the tail of the applicator) being heated so as to soften the thermoplastic material forming the rod and to facilitate the mounting of the applicator on the rod.

According to a particular embodiment, before twisting of the first brush around the second, a section of the first brush along a plane containing the first twisted core is substantially identical to a section of the second brush according to a plane containing the second twisted core. So the two brushes may in particular be cylindrical, frustoconical, or cylindrical-frustoconical.

Alternatively, before twisting the first brush around the second, a section of the first brush along a plane containing the first core twisted is different from a section of the second brush according to a plane containing the second twisted core. So the first brush can be shaped cylindrical-frustoconical, the second brush being in the form of a peanut.

The first and second brushes can be "straight" brushes. Alternatively, the first and second brushes are "left" brushes.

The "combined" or "double twist" twist formed by the first twisted core relative to the second can be in the same sense as the twist of the first and second twisted souls.

Alternatively, the "double twist" formed by the first twisted core relative to the second is in the opposite direction to the direction of the twist of the first and second twisted souls.

According to another embodiment, the first brush is a "straight" brush, the second brush being a "left" brush.

The bristles of the first brush may be different in color from the bristles of the second brush. Thus, the bristles of the first brush may be white while that the bristles of the second brush are black.

The first twisted core is formed from two branches of a first wire of iron, the second twisted core being able to be formed from two branches of a second wire, identical to the first. The diameter of the wire forming each of the two twisted brushes can range from 0.2 mm to 1.5 mm, and preferably 0.3 mm to 0.8 mm.

Alternatively, the first and second wires are of diameters and / or of different nature. Thus, the first wire can be 0.45 mm in diameter, the second wire being of a diameter close to 0.7 mm.

The first brush may include bristles in number and / or in diameter, and / or length, and / or nature, different from the number and / or the diameter, and / or the length, and / or nature of the bristles of the second twisted brush.

Thus, the bristles of the first brush can be made of polyamide 6-6, 6-10 or 6-11. The bristles of the second brush can be made of elastomer.

Additions, such as bactericidal agents, magnetic charges, or slip can be added to the thermoplastic material forming the bristles so as to modify its mechanical and / or chemical properties.

For example, the diameter of the bristles of the first brush can range from 0.10 mm to 0.17 mm while the bristles of the second brush have a similar diameter 0.25 mm.

As another example, the number of bristles of the first brush can range from 10 at 40 per turn while it is less than 10 for the second brush.

Alternatively, the first brush includes bristles in number and / or diameter, and / or length, and / or nature, identical to the number and / or the diameter, and / or length, and / or the nature of the bristles of the second brush Twisted.

So, by playing in a combined or separate way on each of these parameters mentioned above, we multiply the possibilities in terms of makeup obtainable.

We can further multiply the possibilities by playing on the shape of the ends of the bristles of one and / or the other of the starting brushes. Endings, in particular in the form of balls, hooks or other roughness can be imparted to ends of the bristles of one and / or the other of the brushes, by a treatment including thermal, chemical or mechanical.

According to another aspect of the invention, an assembly is also produced for the conditioning and application of a product on keratin fibers, in particular eyelashes or eyebrows, comprising a container containing the product, said container delimiting an opening in the vicinity of which is arranged a member wringing, said assembly being equipped with an applicator according to any one of the foregoing claims.

The product can be of liquid to pasty consistency, or solid.

a) former une première brosse constituée d'une première âme torsadée qui, sur une première portion empoilée, emprisonne des poils disposés de manière radiale relativement à l'âme ;

b) former une seconde brosse constituée d'une seconde âme torsadée qui, sur une seconde portion empoilée, emprisonne des poils disposés de manière radiale relativement à l'âme ; et

c) enrouler lesdites première et seconde brosses l'une autour de l'autre de sorte que sur au moins une portion empoilée de l'applicateur, les première et seconde âmes soient torsadées l'une relativement à l'autre en s'étendant à distance sensiblement constante l'une de l'autre.

According to yet another aspect of the invention, a process is also carried out for manufacturing an applicator for a cosmetic product, in particular for mascara, comprising the following steps:

a) forming a first brush consisting of a first twisted core which, on a first stacked portion, traps bristles arranged radially relative to the core;

b) forming a second brush consisting of a second twisted core which, on a second stacked portion, traps bristles arranged radially relative to the core; and

c) winding said first and second brushes around one another so that on at least one stacked portion of the applicator, the first and second cores are twisted relative to each other, extending to substantially constant distance from each other.

After twisting, the applicator can be subjected to a number of operations additional, such as "cutting" operations, in particular by means of a mower, so as to modify the shape of the brush, or operations aiming to twist the applicator in at least one plane so as to make it curved.

Similarly, the free ends of the twisted core of each of the two brushes can, after twisting of the two starting brushes, be joined by means of a system in the form of a plug, in particular of thermoplastic material, and to make the tip of the applicator less aggressive to the eye.

• la figure 1 est relative à un premier mode de réalisation de l'applicateur selon l'invention ;
• la figure 2 est relative à un second mode de réalisation de l'applicateur selon l'invention ;
• la figure 3 est relative à un troisième mode de réalisation de l'applicateur selon l'invention ;
• les figures 4A-4D illustrent des exemples de sections transversales respectives des brosses de départ, avant torsadage de l'une autour de l'autre ; et
• la figure 5 représente un ensemble de conditionnement et d'application utilisant un applicateur selon l'invention.

The invention consists, apart from the arrangements set out above, of a certain number of other arrangements which will be explained below, with reference to nonlimiting exemplary embodiments, described with reference to the appended figures, among which:

• Figure 1 relates to a first embodiment of the applicator according to the invention;
• Figure 2 relates to a second embodiment of the applicator according to the invention;
• Figure 3 relates to a third embodiment of the applicator according to the invention;
• FIGS. 4A-4D illustrate examples of respective cross sections of the starting brushes, before twisting around one around the other; and
• FIG. 5 represents a packaging and application unit using an applicator according to the invention.

The applicator 1 of FIG. 1 is produced from a first twisted brush 2 and a second twisted brush 3.

The first twisted brush 2 comprises a twisted core 3 comprising a stacked portion 4 shaped like a peanut in which are trapped bristles, arranged radially to the axis of the brush. Adjacent to the stacked portion 4, there is a non-stacked portion 5. The brush 2 is of the type "straight brush".

The second twisted brush 6 comprises a twisted core 7 comprising a stacked portion 8 shaped like a peanut in which are trapped bristles arranged radially to the axis of the brush. Adjacent to the stacked portion 8, there is a non-stacked portion 9. The brush 6 is of the type "straight brush".

To obtain the brush 1 according to this embodiment of the invention, there are brushes 2 and 6 next to each other, arranging the ends of the portions not stacked 5, 9, of the two brushes 2 and 6 in a jaw, fixed in rotation.

The ends of the stacked portions 4 and 8 of the two brushes are arranged in a second jaw, driven in rotation by means of a motor rotating in the counterclockwise. The twisted cores 3 and 7 of the brushes 2 and 6 wrap around each other to form a helix progressing in the opposite direction of the propeller forming each of the twisted cores.

In addition, after mutual twisting of brushes 2 and 6, the combined brush can be mowed, using an appropriate cutting tool, so as to modify the shape, depending on the desired aesthetics and / or application properties.

The resulting brush 1 comprises a stacked portion 10 and a non-portion stacked 11, adjacent to the stacked portion. The end of the portion not 11 is inserted into a blind bore formed axially at the end a rod 12, itself secured to a cap 13. The application unit 50 thus formed is intended to equip a set of packaging and application which will be described in more detail later.

The stacked portion 10 of the brush 1 comprises a plurality of turns more or less overlapping each other, allowing make-up different from the makeup that can be obtained with each of the brushes 2 and 6 taken separately.

The embodiment of Figure 2 differs from the embodiment previous in that brush 2 is a "left" type brush, while the brush 6 is of the "straight" type. In the previous embodiment, the two brushes 2 and 6 were of the "straight" type.

The arrangement of bristles of brush 1, obtained by twisting brushes 2 and 6, is distinct from the hair arrangement of the previous embodiment. In in particular, the degree of nesting of the turns, although not apparent on the purely schematic representations, is significantly more Mark. On application, this results in a different make-up.

The embodiment of FIG. 3 differs from the embodiment of the Figure 1 in that the stacked portion 4 of the brush 2 is in the form of a peanut while the stacked portion 8 of the brush 6 is cylindrical over substantially its entire length and frustoconical in the vicinity of its end opposite to the tail 9 of brush 6.

By twisting brushes 2 and 6 as previously indicated by reference to the embodiments of FIGS. 1 and 2, this results in an arrangement of hair distinct from that obtained previously. Such an arrangement is remarkable in particular by the presence of shorter hairs and more long.

As it appears in Figure 4A, the two starting brushes 2 and 6 can be of identical sections, the bristle density of brush 2 being lower than the brush bristle density 6.

In FIG. 4B, the densities of bristles of brushes 2 and 6 are substantially identical. However, the brush 2 is of smaller section than the brush 6.

In FIG. 4C, the brush 2 forms a semi-cylinder, with a flat face, which at the time of twisting with the brush 6, is arranged opposite a face plane of the triangle formed by the brush 6.

In FIG. 4D, the brush 2 extends over a small angular portion (typically of around 100 °. The brush 6 extends over an angular portion of approximately 240 °. Thus, in order to twist the brushes 2 and 6 around one another, the brush 2, of complementary shape of the brush 6, is arranged inside the "quarter missing "from the latter.

Still other combinations are possible, depending on the configuration desired for the applicator. As an additional example, one can use two starting brushes whose section forms an isosceles triangle, and which brings opposite, before twisting of one with respect to the other, the faces opposite their vertices connecting the two identical sides.

As another example, the cross section, for example circular, of one starting brushes can gradually decrease from the tail to the free end of its stacked part, while the section of the other starting brush, also circular, gradually increasing since the tail to the free end of its stacked part.

In FIG. 5, a packaging and application assembly 100 is shown, equipped with an applicator 1 as described above. The set 100 includes a container 101 containing a reserve of cosmetic product such as mascara and an application unit 50. The application unit 50 comprises a brush 1, twisted brush type, fixed to one end of a rod 12, of axis X. The other end of the rod 12 is integral with a gripping element 13 which also constitutes a closure cap for the container 101. The container 101 comprises a member wringing 106 constituted here by a cylindrical sleeve of which one end is ends with an annular, flexible lip, 107. In mounted position of the unit 50 on the container 101, the brush 1 is in its entirety between the wiping lip 107 and the bottom of the container. Other types of organs can be used, for example a cell foam block open or semi open, axially crossed by a slot or passage, of which the edges which delimit it are substantially contiguous in the absence of constraint.

In order to use the applicator, the user unscrews the cap formed by the member gripping device 13, and extracts the application unit 50 from the container 101. In doing so, the applicator 1 is caused to pass through the wiper member 106, in order to measure the quantity of product distributed on the teeth or on the hair. The applicator extraction movement is substantially directional longitudinal to the X axis. After use, the user puts the applicator back into the container, again passing the application device 1 through the wringing member 106.

In the foregoing detailed description, reference has been made to modes of preferred embodiments of the invention. Obviously there may be variations made without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed below.

Claims (18)

Applicator (1) of cosmetic product, in particular of mascara comprising: a) a first brush (2) formed of a first twisted core (3) which, on a first stacked portion (4), traps bristles arranged radially relative to the core; b) a second brush (6) formed of a second twisted core (7) which, on a second stacked portion (8), traps bristles arranged radially relative to the core; said first and second brushes (2, 6) being wound around one another so that on at least one stacked portion (10) of the applicator, the first and second cores (3, 7) are twisted l relative to each other by extending at a substantially constant distance from each other. Applicator (1) according to claim 1 characterized in that the two twisted cores (3, 7) are wound around each other by at least 1.5 turns, and preferably by at least two turns . Applicator (1) according to claim 1 or 2 characterized in that the stacked portion (10) of the applicator is integral with a non-stacked portion (11), the non-stacked portion (11) resulting from the twisting of the first and second non-stacked portions (5, 9) of the first and second twisted cores (3, 7). Applicator (1) according to claim 3 characterized in that the non-stacked portion (11) of the applicator (1) is integral with a rod (12), which, preferably, is integral with a cap (13) a packaging and application unit (100) for which the applicator is intended. Applicator (1) according to any one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that , before twisting the first brush (2) around the second (6), a section of the first brush (2) according to a plane containing the first twisted core (3) is substantially identical to a section of the second brush (6) along a plane containing the second twisted core (7). Applicator (1) according to any one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that , before twisting the first brush (2) around the second (6), a section of the first brush (2) according to a plane containing the first twisted core (3) is different from a section of the second brush (6) along a plane containing the second twisted core (7). Applicator (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6 characterized in that the first and second brushes (2, 6) are "straight" brushes. Applicator (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6 characterized in that the first and second brushes (2, 6) are "left" brushes. Applicator (1) according to claim 7 or 8 characterized in that the combined twist formed by the first twisted core (3) relative to the second (7) is in the same direction as the twist of the first and second twisted souls (3, 7 ). Applicator (1) according to claim 7 or 8 characterized in that the combined twist formed by the first twisted core (3) relative to the second (7) is in the opposite direction to the direction of the twist of the first and second twisted cores (3 , 7). Applicator (1) according to any one of Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the first brush (2) is a "straight" brush, the second brush (6) being a "left" brush. Applicator (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the bristles of the first brush (2) are of a different color from the bristles of the second brush (6). Applicator (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first twisted core (3) is formed from two branches of a first wire, the second twisted core (7) being formed from two branches of a second wire, identical to the first. Applicator (1) according to any one of Claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the first twisted core (3) is formed from two branches of a first wire, the second twisted core (7) being formed at from two branches of a second wire, different from the first. Applicator (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first brush (2) comprises bristles in number and / or in diameter, and / or in length, and / or in nature, different from the number and / or the diameter, and / or the length, and / or the nature of the bristles of the second twisted brush (6). Applicator (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first brush (2) comprises bristles in number and / or in diameter, and / or in length, and / or in nature, identical in number and / or the diameter, and / or the length, and / or the nature of the bristles of the second twisted brush (6). Set (100) for packaging and applying a product to the keratin fibers, in particular the eyelashes or the eyebrows, comprising a container (101) containing the product, said container delimiting an opening in the vicinity of which is arranged a wiper member (106), said assembly being equipped with a applicator (1) according to any one of the preceding claims. Method for manufacturing an applicator (1) according to any one of Claims 1 to 16, comprising the following steps: a) forming a first brush (2) consisting of a first twisted core (3) which, on a first stacked portion (4), traps bristles arranged radially relative to the core; b) forming a second brush (6) consisting of a second twisted core (7) which, on a second stacked portion (8), traps bristles arranged radially relative to the core; and c) winding said first and second brushes (2, 6) around one another so that on at least one stacked portion (10) of the applicator, the first and second cores (3, 7) are twisted one relative to the other by extending at a substantially constant distance from each other.

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