EP1764019A1 - Device for cleaning the skin - Google Patents

Abstract

The skin cleaner (1), which can be mounted on the end of a holder (2) or on a container holding a liquid or cream substance, consists of a pad (4) with an abrasive surface (5) of an elastically-deformable, non-foam synthetic material covered with a series of cavities no more than 5 mm and preferably 2 mm in size. The cleaning surface can be formed by an elastic membrane and is fitted inside a surrounding rim (3); it can have a projection on the back that the user can press against to vary the cleaning surface shape, which is convex when at rest.

Description

The present invention relates to skin cleaning devices having a cleaning surface to be moved in contact therewith.

Many skin cleansing devices are known.

Some, such as stones surrounded by ropes or horsehair gloves are relatively aggressive and are likely to accumulate dirt, which is detrimental to hygiene.

In addition, some film-forming cosmetic compositions may require mechanical removal for their removal, which must as far as possible be carried out without irritating the skin.

The patent US 5,671,498 describes a cleaning device in which the cleaning surface is defined by a foam. It can be relatively difficult to obtain with a foam the desired abrasion characteristics.

There is a need for a cleaning device that is not too aggressive to the skin, which is hygienic and suitable for example to remove a composition applied to the face or body and / or to remove dead skin cells.

There is also a need to make it possible to reproducibly obtain a cleaning surface having the desired abrasion characteristics.

According to one of its aspects, the subject of the invention is a device for cleaning the skin, comprising a cleaning member having a cleaning surface to be moved in contact with the skin.

Typically, the cleaning member comprises an elastically deformable synthetic material other than a foam defining the cleaning surface and the latter comprises cavities having undercuts.

Several cavities can thus each have at least one undercut. The cleaning surface may also include cavities without undercut.

Thanks to the invention, the user benefits from a hygienic cleaning device, by the use of a synthetic material that is washable.

In addition, the cavities can be made by molding, which ensures reproducibility of the cleaning surface.

Finally, the use of the elastically deformable material makes it possible not to make the cleaning surface too aggressive vis-à-vis the skin.

The presence of undercut surfaces in the cavities is also made possible by the use of the elastically deformable material, which advantageously makes it possible to reproduce the imprint of an abrasive surface.

The cavities may be inhomogeneously distributed over the cleaning surface and / or may have different shapes.

A larger dimension of the cavities may be less than or equal to 5 mm, for example less than or equal to 2 mm.

The cleaning surface can be defined by an elastically deformable membrane of the cleaning member, which can provide even more comfort to the use and increase the processing possibilities, thanks to the increased deformability of the cleaning surface.

The cleaning member, for example the membrane, can be fixed on the frame of a handle at its periphery. This may allow the user to exert pressure on the cleaning member by pressing on it, through the frame for example, the side opposite the cleaning surface.

The cleaning member, for example the membrane, may comprise a finger on the opposite side to the cleaning surface, on which the user can press to deform the cleaning surface.

The device may include an angled handle, which can improve the ergonomics.

The cleaning member may be removable, which may facilitate its cleaning and / or allow the user to use the same gripping member of the cleaning device in connection with several cleaning members having different characteristics, for example different surface states and / or different shapes.

The cleaning device may comprise a gripping member, for example a handle, and the cleaning member may comprise a support piece of the elastically deformable material defining the cleaning surface, this support piece being detachably fixed on the grasping organ.

The cleaning member can be overmoulded on the handle.

The support piece may be in a more rigid material than that defining the cleaning surface.

The support piece is for example a ring.

The cleaning surface may have at rest a curved shape.

The cleaning device may further comprise a massage member.
The cleaning member and the massage member may be located at opposite ends of a handle, for example.

In an exemplary implementation of the invention, the cleaning member is secured to a closure lid of a container. The latter may contain, where appropriate, a cosmetic or dermatological composition, especially film-forming, requiring for its removal a mechanical action exerted by means of the cleaning member.

The lid can serve as a gripping member to an applicator member, if necessary.

• un récipient contenant une composition à appliquer, par exemple une composition filmogène,
• un organe de nettoyage tel que défini précédemment, solidaire d'un couvercle de fermeture du récipient,
• un organe d'application pour appliquer la composition, solidaire du couvercle ou du récipient.

The subject of the invention is, according to another of its aspects, a set comprising:

• a container containing a composition to be applied, for example a film-forming composition,
• a cleaning member as defined above, integral with a closure lid of the container,
• an applicator member for applying the composition, integral with the lid or the container.

In the absence of an application member, the user may use his hand or a finger, for example.

• un organe de préhension,
• au moins deux surfaces différentes destinées à venir au contact avec la peau et appartenant à des organes de nettoyage ou de massage et/ou d'application pouvant être montés de manière interchangeable sur l'organe de préhension, l'une au moins desdites surfaces étant définie par une matière élastiquement déformable autre qu'une mousse et comportant des cavités présentant des contre-dépouilles.

Another subject of the invention, according to another of its aspects, is a kit comprising:

• a grasping organ,
• at least two different surfaces intended to come into contact with the skin and belonging to cleaning or massage and / or application members that can be mounted interchangeably on the gripping member, at least one of said surfaces being defined by an elastically deformable material other than a foam and having cavities with undercuts.

• une empreinte d'une surface abrasive est réalisée,
• un moule de cette empreinte est réalisé,
• une matière élastiquement déformable autre qu'une mousse est moulée au contact de ce moule, afin de réaliser la surface de nettoyage.

Another subject of the invention, according to another of its aspects, is a method for producing a surface for cleaning the skin, in which:

• an impression of an abrasive surface is produced,
• a mold of this impression is made,
• an elastically deformable material other than a foam is molded in contact with this mold, in order to produce the cleaning surface.

• appliquer sur la peau une composition, par exemple filmogène,
• enlever la composition en utilisant un dispositif de nettoyage tel que défini plus haut.

Another subject of the invention, according to another of its aspects, is a method of treatment, in particular a cosmetic treatment, of the skin, comprising the steps of:

• apply to the skin a composition, for example film-forming,
• remove the composition using a cleaning device as defined above.

• les figures 1 à 6 sont des vues schématiques illustrant des étapes d'un procédé permettant de réaliser une surface de nettoyage de la peau,
• la figure 7 est une coupe longitudinale d'un exemple de dispositif de nettoyage réalisé conformément à l'invention,
• la figure 8 illustre la déformabilité de la surface de nettoyage du dispositif de la figure 7,
• la figure 9 est une vue en perspective, schématique et partielle, représentant un exemple de surface de nettoyage,
• la figure 10 est une vue de face d'une variante de mise en oeuvre de l'invention,
• la figure 11 est une coupe longitudinale selon XI-XI de la figure 10,
• les figures 12 et 13 illustrent la déformabilité de la membrane du dispositif des figures 10 et 11,
• la figure 14 est une coupe longitudinale, schématique et partielle, illustrant une autre possibilité de montage de l'organe de nettoyage sur le manche,
• la figure 15 représente isolément, en coupe axiale schématique, une variante de réalisation d'un organe de nettoyage pouvant être utilisé dans le dispositif de la figure 14,
• les figures 16 à 18 sont des coupes longitudinales partielles et schématiques de variantes de réalisation du dispositif de nettoyage,
• les figures 19 et 20 représentent des exemples de kit réalisés conformément à l'invention,
• la figure 21 illustre une autre possibilité de montage de l'organe de nettoyage sur le manche,
• la figure 22 est une coupe longitudinale, partielle et schématique, d'une variante de réalisation du dispositif de nettoyage,
• la figure 23 illustre la déformation de la surface de nettoyage du dispositif de la figure 22,
• la figure 24 représente, en coupe longitudinale, une autre variante de réalisation du dispositif de nettoyage,
• la figure 25 est une vue de face d'une autre variante de mise en oeuvre de l'invention,
• la figure 26 illustre la possibilité de munir le dispositif de nettoyage d'un organe de massage, et
• les figures 27 à 33 représentent, de manière schématique, en coupe longitudinale, des ensembles de nettoyage conformes à des variantes de mise en oeuvre de l'invention.

The invention will be better understood on reading the following detailed description, non-limiting examples of implementation thereof, and on examining the appended drawing, in which:

• FIGS. 1 to 6 are diagrammatic views illustrating steps of a method for producing a surface for cleaning the skin,
• FIG. 7 is a longitudinal section of an exemplary cleaning device produced according to the invention,
• FIG. 8 illustrates the deformability of the cleaning surface of the device of FIG. 7,
• FIG. 9 is a schematic and partial perspective view showing an example of a cleaning surface,
• FIG. 10 is a front view of an alternative embodiment of the invention,
• FIG. 11 is a longitudinal section along XI-XI of FIG. 10,
• FIGS. 12 and 13 illustrate the deformability of the membrane of the device of FIGS. 10 and 11,
• FIG. 14 is a longitudinal section, schematic and partial, illustrating another possibility of mounting the cleaning member on the handle,
• FIG. 15 represents in isolation, in schematic axial section, an alternative embodiment of a cleaning member that can be used in the device of FIG. 14,
• FIGS. 16 to 18 are partial and schematic longitudinal sections of alternative embodiments of the cleaning device,
• Figures 19 and 20 show examples of kits made according to the invention,
• FIG. 21 illustrates another possibility of mounting the cleaning member on the handle,
• FIG. 22 is a longitudinal section, partial and schematic, of an alternative embodiment of the cleaning device,
• FIG. 23 illustrates the deformation of the cleaning surface of the device of FIG. 22,
• FIG. 24 represents, in longitudinal section, another variant embodiment of the cleaning device,
• FIG. 25 is a front view of another alternative embodiment of the invention,
• FIG. 26 illustrates the possibility of providing the cleaning device with a massage member, and
• Figures 27 to 33 show, schematically, in longitudinal section, cleaning assemblies according to alternative embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 1 schematically shows, on an enlarged scale, an abrasive surface A as defined for example by a sandpaper or by the surface of a material comprising grains bonded together by a binder, for example a cement .

A footprint E is made of this abrasive surface A, as illustrated in FIG. 2, by means of, for example, an elastomer, such as, for example, a silicone polymer.

This impression is used to then make a mold M, as shown in Figure 3.

This mold M has a surface that substantially reproduces the roughness of the abrasive surface A, as shown in FIG.

An elastically deformable synthetic material of a cleaning member is molded in contact with the mold M, as illustrated in FIG. 5 and after demolding, this elastically deformable material comprises cavities C which have undercut surfaces S, as illustrated in FIG.

The elastically deformable synthetic material is, for example, a thermoplastic or vulcanizable elastomer, for example a silicone polymer, EPDM, a latex, a polyurethane elastomer, polyethylene, polyether, polystyrene, PVA, PVC, SES or SEBS. , this list not being limiting.

This elastomeric material is different from an open cell foam, semi-closed or closed.

The size of the cavities C depends on those of the abrasive surface of origin A, as well as the distribution of these cavities, which may be inhomogeneous or not.

A larger dimension d _max of the cavities C is for example less than or equal to 5 mm, or even 2 mm.

FIGS. 7 and 8 show a device for cleaning the skin 1 comprising a handle 2 having a head 3 provided with a cleaning member 4 of the skin.

This cleaning member 4 has a surface 5 which serves to clean the skin and which has been molded in contact with a mold M reproducing the relief of an abrasive surface A, as described previously.

The cavities C of the cleaning surface 5 thus have undercut surfaces S, as illustrated schematically in FIG. 7.

In the example of this FIG. 7, the cleaning member 4 is solid and fixed on a face 8 of the head 3 making an angle α with the longitudinal axis X of the handle body 9 of the handle 2. The cleaning surface 5 is in the example considered on the side of the X axis, which can improve the ergonomics for cleaning the face in particular.

The cleaning member 4 is for example glued on the face 8 but could, alternatively, be fixed differently, for example by welding or overmolding or by a mechanical fastening such as screwing, snapping or hooks and loops type Velcro®.

The elastomeric material of the cleaning member 4, which defines the cleaning surface 5, is advantageously chosen so as to have sufficient flexibility to allow the user to deform the cleaning surface 5 by exerting a moderate pressure with his finger , as shown in Figure 8.

The cleaning surface 5 may have a generally domed shape, for example substantially spherical or ellipsoidal.

The cleaning surface 5 may also have facets 11, as shown in FIG. 9.

The entire cleaning surface 5 may have substantially the same roughness or, alternatively, the cleaning surface 5 may have regions having different properties, for example different roughness.

Thus, for example, the facets 11 in the example of Figure 9 may have the same roughness or not. This may allow the user, if necessary, to choose the region of the cleaning surface which has the roughness and / or the relief corresponding to the treatment to be performed, for example the removal of a composition deposit or the exfoliation.

In the example of Figures 7 and 8, the head 3 of the handle is not perforated. Alternatively, the head 3 may be perforated and form a frame, as shown in Figures 10 to 13 in particular.

The cleaning member 4 may then be in the form of a membrane fixed at its periphery to the frame 3 and the user may optionally press the face 13 of the membrane located on the opposite side to the cleaning surface 5 for deforming the membrane and, for example, stretching it so as to modify the extent of contact of the cleaning surface with the skin or to apply a greater pressure thereto, as illustrated in FIG. 13.

The flexibility of the membrane 4 may advantageously allow it to deform in contact with the regions of the body or the face to be treated, as shown in FIG. 12.

When the cleaning member 4 is fixed by snapping on the handle 2, as illustrated in FIG. 14, the cleaning member 4 may comprise at its periphery an annular groove 15 arranged to snap onto an annular bead 16 of the frame 3.

In the example of Figure 14, the cleaning member 4 is made with a recess 17 on the side opposite the cleaning surface. Alternatively, the cleaning member 4 can be made without such a recess, as shown in Figure 15.

The cleaning member 4 may be made in one piece of an elastomeric material or, alternatively, comprise a support piece of this elastomeric material made of a more rigid material, as illustrated in FIG.

The cleaning surface 5 is for example defined by a membrane which is made in one piece by bi-injection of material with a support ring 19 which is arranged to attach to the frame 3, detachably if necessary. In the example considered, this support ring 19 can bear against a flange 20 of the frame.

In the example of FIG. 17, the possibility has been illustrated for the cleaning member 4 to be fixed directly by snapping onto the frame 3, in a manner other than that illustrated in FIGS. 14 and 15, the frame 3 comprising in this example an annular groove 20 in which can engage a rib 21 formed at the periphery of the cleaning member 4.

FIG. 18 illustrates another example of attachment of the cleaning member 4 to the frame 3. In this example, the cleaning member 4 comprises an elastomeric membrane defining the cleaning surface 5, integral with its periphery. a ring 23 that can be screwed on the frame 3.

The removable assembly of the cleaning member 4 on the handle 2 can allow the user to benefit from several cleaning members 4 having different cleaning surfaces 5, as illustrated in FIG. 19.

The user can thus choose the cleaning member 4 according to the treatment to be performed.

Where appropriate, a handle 2 may be provided with one or more different cleaning members 4 and optionally with one or more massage and / or application members 28 which can be fixed to the frame 3 and which may comprise, for example, reliefs 27 such as pimples, arranged to massage the skin coming into contact with them.

FIG. 21 illustrates the possibility for the cleaning member 4 to be permanently attached to the head 3 of the handle and for this to be removably attached to the handle body 9, for example by means of complementary reliefs 32 and 33 respectively belonging to the head 3 and the body 9 and can cooperate for example by snapping or screwing.

The cleaning member 4 may be made with a finger 36 on the side opposite the cleaning surface 5, as illustrated in Figures 22 and 23, the finger 36 being for example centered but may alternatively be eccentric.

The user can press axially on the finger 36 to stretch the cleaning member 4 and deform the cleaning surface 5. The user can still press the finger 36 laterally to deform the cleaning surface 5 and form for example at least a ripple on it, as shown in Figure 23.

When the cleaning member 4 is fixed on a frame 3, the user can optionally press with his finger directly on the face 13 which is opposite to the cleaning surface 5 or, as illustrated in FIG. 24, on an intermediate piece 38 which is for example made in one piece with the handle 2 and connected thereto by a hinge-film 39.

The cleaning surface 5 may comprise various arrangements and the cavities formed according to the process described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6 may, for example, extend along concentric regions 40 to 42, all the cavities of the same region having, for example, substantially the same characteristics.

In all the examples which have just been described, the handle 2 may be provided, as illustrated in FIG. 26, with a massage member 46 which may for example be rotatable around an axis of rotation Z which is for example perpendicular to the longitudinal axis X of the body 9.

The cleaning surface 5 can be made integral not with a handle 2 but with a lid 50 for closing a container 51, which contains, for example, a film-forming composition to be applied to the skin. The massage surface 5 is for example defined by a massage member 4 which is fixed on the top 52 of the cover 50, as illustrated in FIG. 27.

The user can separate the lid 50 from the container 51 to take the composition and apply it to form a mask.

Once the mask has acted, the user can use the container 51 as a gripping member with the lid 50 in place, to remove the mask by rubbing the skin with the cleaning member 4.

The application of the composition may be carried out in various ways, using the hand, the finger or an application member, which may be independent of the container containing the composition or a closure lid of this container or be bonded to one of the two at least during the application of the composition.

The applicator member may also, where appropriate, be secured to the cleaning member 4 at least during application.

FIG. 28 shows an exemplary packaging and application assembly in which the applicator member is integral with the receptacle containing the composition and is, for example, in the form of an applicator ball. In this example, the cleaning member 4 is for example fixed on the lid of the container.

In the example of FIG. 29, the applicator member is secured to the closure cap 50, being for example located opposite the cleaning member 4 so as to be applied against a seat 60 of the container when the cover 50 is in place. The seat 60 is traversed by one or more orifices 57 which make it possible to reload the housing receiving the applicator member 55. The latter comprises, for example, a foam or a sinter or any other element able to retain the composition at least on the surface. .

In the example of FIG. 30, the applicator member 55 is integral with the container during the application, for example comprising a foam or a sinter or any other permeable element extending out of the neck of the container at least when the lid 50 is removed.

The supply of the applicator member 55 can be effected for example by capillarity or by gravity when the container is turned over, or by means of an overpressure created by pressing on the wall of the container 51.

The product can be further distributed in the applicator member by means of a pump 61 as illustrated in FIG.

A pump may also be used without an applicator member, the user taking the composition directly at the outlet of a dispensing orifice of the pump and applying it for example by means of a finger or a hand on the zone treat.

In the example of Figure 32, the pump 61 is associated with a follower piston 63, the composition being removed without air intake.

In the example of FIG. 33, the container 51 is in the form of a tube and the composition is for example distributed directly through the neck 64 of this tube without an applicator member.

In all the examples of FIGS. 27 to 33, among others, the cleaning member 4 may be made differently, for example being removably attached to the lid 50. The cleaning member 4 may have other shapes, for example with at least two facets having different roughness.

The invention is not limited to the examples which have just been described, the particularities of which can be combined within non-illustrated variants.

For example, the cleaning device can be equipped with a vibrator.

The expression "having one" shall be understood as being synonymous with "having at least one", unless the opposite is specified.

Claims (20)

A skin cleaning device (1) comprising a cleaning member having a cleaning surface to be moved in contact with the skin, said cleaning surface (5) being defined by an elastically deformable synthetic material other than a foam and having cavities (C) with undercuts (S). Device according to claim 1, wherein the cavities (C) are unevenly distributed on the cleaning surface. Device according to one of claims 1 and 2, wherein the cavities (C) have different shapes. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the cleaning surface (5) reproduces the imprint of an abrasive surface (A). Device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a larger dimension (d _max ) of the cavities (C) is less than or equal to 5 mm, more preferably 2 mm. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the cleaning surface (5) is defined by an elastically deformable membrane of the cleaning member (4). Device according to claim 6, wherein the membrane is fixed on a frame (3) of a handle (2) at its periphery. Device according to claim 7, wherein the cleaning member (4) comprises a finger (36) on the opposite side to the cleaning surface (5), on which the user can press to deform the cleaning surface. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the cleaning member is overmolded on a handle. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, comprising a handle (2) bent. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the cleaning member (4) is removable. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, comprising a gripping member and wherein the cleaning member comprises a support piece (19; 23) of the elastically deformable material defining the cleaning surface removably attachable to the gripping member. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the cleaning surface (5) has at rest a curved shape. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 13, further comprising a massage member (26). The device of claim 14 including a handle, wherein the cleaning member and the massage member (26) are located at opposite ends of the handle. Device according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning member is secured to a lid (50) for closing a container. Kit comprising: - a gripping member, at least two different surfaces intended to come into contact with the skin and belonging to cleaning or massage and / or application members that can be mounted interchangeably on the gripping member, at least one of said surfaces being defined by an elastically deformable synthetic material other than a foam and having cavities (C) having undercuts (S). A method of making a skin cleaning surface, wherein: an impression (E) of an abrasive surface (A) is produced, a mold (M) of this impression is produced, an elastically deformable synthetic material other than a foam is molded in contact with this mold, in order to produce the cleaning surface. A method of cosmetic treatment of the skin, comprising the steps of: applying a composition to the skin, in particular a film-forming composition, - removing the composition using a cleaning device (1) as defined in any one of claims 1 to 16. The method of claim 19, wherein the cleaning member (4) is integral with a container (51) containing the composition, at least when the container is closed.

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