EP2306867B1 - Mascara brush component, mascara brush and mascara application assembly - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to mascara brush components, mascara brushes, and mascara application assemblies.

• un corps s'étendant selon une direction longitudinale, et comprenant une surface extérieure,
• au moins une rangée d'au moins dix organes d'application s'étendant chacun entre une première extrémité reliée au corps et une deuxième extrémité libre distante du corps, les organes d'application de ladite rangée définissant en moyenne un plan d'application.

Le document FR 2 878 130 décrit un exemple d'une brosse à mascara. Le document EP-A1-1 175 847 décrit un autre exemple de brosse à mascara selon le préambule de la revendication 1. Bien que cette brosse à mascara présente toute satisfaction, on s'efforce encore d'améliorer les effets de l'application du mascara sur les cils.More particularly, the invention relates to a mascara brush component comprising:

• a body extending in a longitudinal direction, and comprising an outer surface,
• at least one row of at least ten application members each extending between a first end connected to the body and a second free end remote from the body, the application members of said row defining on average an application plane.

The document FR 2,878,130 describes an example of a mascara brush. The document EP-A1-1 175 847 discloses another example of a mascara brush according to the preamble of claim 1. Although this mascara brush is very satisfactory, efforts are still being made to improve the effects of the application of mascara on the eyelashes.

For this purpose, according to the invention, a component for mascara brush of the kind in question is characterized in that the longitudinal direction forms with the application plane a non-zero angle of between 2 ° and 30 °, and preferably between 2 ° and 15 °.

Surprisingly, there has been noticed a significant bending of the eyelashes and / or a larger opening of the eye.

• les premières extrémités des organes d'application de ladite rangée sont disposées en moyenne selon une première direction, les organes d'application de ladite rangée s'étendent en moyenne selon une deuxième direction, et les première et deuxième directions définissent le plan d'application ;
• ladite rangée d'organes d'application s'étend parallèlement au plan d'application entre un organe d'application proximal et un organe d'application distal, l'organe d'application proximal s'étendant sensiblement de manière orthogonale à la surface extérieure , et l'organe d'application distal s'étendant sensiblement de manière tangentielle à la surface extérieure ;
• ladite rangée s'étend entre une extrémité proximale et une extrémité distale et présente :
  • . un sous-ensemble proximal voisin de l'extrémité proximale et comprenant au moins cinq organes d'application,
  • . un sous-ensemble distal voisin de l'extrémité distale et comprenant des organes d'application plus courts que ceux du sous-ensemble proximal et ayant des longueurs décroissantes vers l'extrémité distale ;
• le composant comprend une pluralité de rangées distinctes, chacune comprenant au moins dix organes d'application s'étendant chacun entre une première extrémité reliée au corps et une deuxième extrémité libre distante du corps, les organes d'application de chaque rangée définissant en moyenne un plan d'application pour la rangée considérée, la direction longitudinale formant avec chaque plan d'application un angle non nul compris entre 2° et 30°, de préférence entre 2° et 15° ;
• le corps comprend un manchon cylindrique s'étendant longitudinalement selon ladite direction longitudinale ;
• le corps et les organes d'application sont réalisés dans un même matériau élastomère.

In preferred embodiments of the invention, one or more of the following may also be used:

• the first ends of the application members of said row are arranged on average in a first direction, the application members of said row extends on average in a second direction, and the first and second directions define the application plane;
• said row of applicator members extends parallel to the plane of application between a proximal applicator member and a distal applicator member, the proximal applicator member extending substantially orthogonally to the outer surface and the distal applicator member extending substantially tangentially to the outer surface;
• said row extends between a proximal end and a distal end and has:
  • . a proximal sub-assembly close to the proximal end and comprising at least five application members,
  • . a distal sub-assembly adjacent the distal end and comprising shorter application members than those of the proximal sub-assembly and having decreasing lengths towards the distal end;
• the component comprises a plurality of distinct rows, each comprising at least ten application members each extending between a first end connected to the body and a second free end remote from the body, the application members of each row defining an average of one plan of application for the row considered, the longitudinal direction forming with each application plane a non-zero angle between 2 ° and 30 °, preferably between 2 ° and 15 °;
• the body comprises a cylindrical sleeve extending longitudinally in said longitudinal direction;
• the body and the application members are made of the same elastomer material.

According to another aspect, the invention relates to a mascara brush comprising a gripping member adapted to be held by a user, a rod (5) integral with the gripping member, and a component as defined above, the component being attached to the rod.

In a particular embodiment, it can further be provided that the rod is made of a plastic material having a certain hardness and the body of the component comprises a cylindrical sleeve extending in said longitudinal direction and fitted on the rod, the component being molded in one piece of an elastomeric material having a hardness less than the hardness of the material of the rod.

According to another aspect, the invention relates to a set of mascara application comprising a bottle containing a mascara and a brush as defined above, adapted to be immersed in the bottle so that the application organs are at less partially covered with mascara.

Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of two of its embodiments, given by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

• la figure 1 est une vue isométrique éclatée d'un ensemble d'application de mascara selon le premier mode de réalisation,
• la figure 2 est une vue isométrique d'une partie de la brosse à mascara de l'ensemble de la figure 1,
• la figure 3 est une vue de derrière de la figure 2,
• la figure 4 est une vue de devant de la figure 2,
• la figure 5 est une vue en coupe selon la ligne V-V de la figure 2,
• la figure 6 est une vue en coupe selon la ligne VI-VI de la figure 2,
• la figure 7 est une vue de détail de la figure 5,
• la figure 8 est une vue correspondant à la figure 5 pour un deuxième mode de réalisation,
• la figure 9 est une vue en coupe transversale à travers un organe d'application, et
• la figure 10 est une vue en coupe longitudinale à travers un organe d'application.

On the drawings:

• the figure 1 is an exploded isometric view of a mascara application set according to the first embodiment,
• the figure 2 is an isometric view of a portion of the mascara brush of the entire figure 1 ,
• the figure 3 is a back view of the figure 2 ,
• the figure 4 is a front view of the figure 2 ,
• the figure 5 is a sectional view along line VV of the figure 2 ,
• the figure 6 is a sectional view along the line VI-VI of the figure 2 ,
• the figure 7 is a detail view of the figure 5 ,
• the figure 8 is a view corresponding to the figure 5 for a second embodiment,
• the figure 9 is a cross-sectional view through an applicator member, and
• the figure 10 is a longitudinal sectional view through an applicator member.

In the different figures, the same references designate identical or similar elements.

The figure 1 represents an application set 1 such as a tube, for applying mascara or other cosmetic product. The assembly 1 comprises a bottle 2 capable of containing the product to be applied and a brush 3. The brush 3 comprises a gripping element 4 that can be grasped by a user who wishes to apply a cosmetic product, and a rod 5 extending from a proximal end 5a to an opposite distal end 5b along a longitudinal axis X which, in the present example, extends rectilinearly. This rod 5 carries an application component 6 which will be described in more detail later.

In the purely illustrative example shown, the gripping element 4 also forms a closure element adapted to close the bottle 2. For example, a cap portion 7 of the brush 3 comprises, on an internal face, not visible on the figure 1 , a bore that cooperates with a complementary thread 8 formed on the outer surface of the bottle 2. Thus, the bottle 2 can be easily alternately opened or closed by a simple rotational movement of the cap 7 about the axis X.

The rod 5 has a proximal portion 5c close to the gripping element 4, and a distal portion 5d of smaller section and receiving the component application 6 so that it, in the closed position of the assembly 1 is immersed in the cosmetic product to be applied. The bottle 2 further comprises a wiper 9 of conventional type, through which the application component 6 passes when the brush 3 is removed from the bottle 2, in a manner adapted so that only a sufficient quantity of cosmetic product is carried by the component application 6 when used by the user.

As can be seen in particular on the figure 2 , the application component 6 comprises a body 12 generally elongated along the longitudinal axis X between a proximal end 6a and a distal end 6b. In the example shown, the longitudinal axis X is a straight axis. However, it could be expected that the component 6 has a slightly curved longitudinal axis. In such a case, the longitudinal axis can be considered as a curved line connecting the two ends farthest from each other of the component and passing through the centers of cross sections to the component taken between these two ends. According to the invention, the application component 6 has the general shape of a cylindrical sleeve with an axis X. In the illustrated example, said sleeve has a ring-shaped cross-section (see in particular the figure 5 ). This sleeve comprises a cylindrical inner face 10 of axis the longitudinal axis X, and complementary to the outer face of the distal portion 5d of the rod 5, for example of circular section. The sleeve comprises an outer cylindrical face 11, of axis the longitudinal axis X, and of circular cross section. Component 6 has a plurality of rows 14 ₁ , 14 ₂ , ..., of the application elements, these rows 14 being offset relative to each other in a circumferential direction of the component 6. For example, the component 6 comprises ten identical rows of application elements distributed uniformly in the circumferential direction.

By "row", it is understood that the application members of the same row extend substantially one behind the other as one progresses from the proximal end 6a to the distal end 6b of the component 6. They are for example arranged equidistantly to each other, being spaced from a size space of the order of the size of the applicator member, for example about 0.3 millimeters.

Each row comprises at least ten application members and, in the present example, forty application members 13 ₁ , ..., 13 ₄₀ . However, this number of application members per row is purely illustrative, provided that there are at least ten. Each applicator member 13 is an elongated member in a main longitudinal direction, and extends from a first end 16 in which it is connected to the upper face 11 of the sleeve 12, at a second opposite end 17, said free.

In a given row 14, a set of application elements 13 are all in the same plane, called "application plan". In the example presented, all the application members of the same row form such a set. However, alternatively, it could be considered that only a subset of consecutive application members comprising at least ten application members, forms a row defining a plan of application, the row in question then forming only a part of one of the rows 14.

Of course, the membership of the application plan is defined with the tolerance relating to at least the flexibility of the constituent material of these bodies, and tolerances of the manufacturing process. Given these tolerances, we say that each row defines an average application plan.

Therefore, in the example presented, the free ends of the application members of the row extend in the application plane, as well as the first ends.

In the example presented, a first subset of a row called "proximal subassembly", comprising at least five and, in the present example, the thirty-two proximal teeth 13 ₁ to 13 _i has its free ends according to a straight line called D. A second subassembly called "distal subassembly", application members 13 _i to 13 ₄₀ of the same row, has free ends that are not aligned with the right D and lie substantially between the straight line D and the longitudinal axis X.

With such a geometry, a row of application members uniquely defines the application plane P. It will be noted that the application elements 13 ₁ to 13 _i of the proximal subassembly are all of slightly different lengths, made of the outer surface 11 of constant circular section along the longitudinal axis X. Their length increases gradually as we move from the member 13 ₁ to the member 13 _i . Then, their length decreases, for example in a linear manner, the member 13 _i to the member 13 ₄₀ , among the organs of the distal subassembly.

As is visible on the Figures 3 and 4 the enforcement bodies may be registered in a circle. In particular, the free ends of the application members of the proximal sub-assembly are equidistant from the longitudinal axis X. The diameter may for example be 7.9 millimeters.

As an alternative embodiment, it will be noted that all the free ends of the application members of the same row could be aligned along the line D, in which case the application plane P would be defined by the line D and an average general direction d radial extension D _r of the application members of the row. The direction D _r is for example the longitudinal direction of each of the application members, if they are all parallel to each other as in the example shown. However, if they are not all parallel to each other, it is possible to define an average plane of these application members which contains this direction D _r as a mean direction of extension of the application members between their ends.

Thus, the application plane P can be defined as the plane of the space closest to the application members of the row considered.

• d'une première direction qui est la direction moyenne selon laquelle les premières extrémités des organes d'application sont disposées,
• d'une deuxième direction qui est la direction moyenne dans laquelle s'étendent les organes d'application de la rangée.

In a variant, the application plane P can be defined from:

• a first direction which is the average direction in which the first ends of the application members are arranged,
• a second direction which is the average direction in which the application members of the row extend.

The first direction can be determined by raising in space the three-dimensional positions of the junction points of the applicator members to the sleeve, and by electing the line closest to this set of points.

The second direction can be determined by raising the director vector of each of the row application members, and calculating a mean direction vector therefrom. The second direction is defined by a vector line direction that average direction vector intersecting the first direction.

According to the invention, the application plane forms a non-zero angle, between 2 ° and 30 °, and preferably between 2 ° and 15 °, with the longitudinal axis X. The angle between a straight line of the space and a plane of space is defined by the angle formed between this line and the orthogonal projection of this line on the plane considered. In the case of a curved longitudinal axis, the angle between the tangent to this curved longitudinal axis and the plane of application at any point of interest shall be measured. If the curved longitudinal axis is included in a plane, the angle between this plane and the plane of application will be measured. An angle between two planes is determined by the angle formed between the normals at these two planes. Studies show that a satisfactory result is obtained when the angle between the application plane and the longitudinal direction X is between 2 ° and 30 °, and preferably between 2 ° and 15 °.

It follows from this construction that, depending on whether it is considered in rear view or in front view, component 6 has a substantially different geometry. In the purely illustrative example shown, in rear view, the most proximal application members 13 ₁ extend substantially radially along a longitudinal axis intersecting the longitudinal axis X and, consequently, substantially normal to the surface. outer ring 11 of the sleeve 12 ( figure 3 ).

The application members 13 most distal ₄₀ extend in turn substantially along an axis not intersecting the longitudinal axis X and substantially tangent to the circular outer surface 11 of the sleeve 12.

As can be seen in particular on the figure 9 , representing a section of an applicator member taken in a plane perpendicular to its axis of extension, an applicator member 13 may have, in an illustrative embodiment, a flat surface 18 and an opposed convex surface 19, for example in the shape of an arc of a circle. For purely illustrative purposes, the applicator member 13 has a convex surface 19 with a radius of curvature R of the order of 0.17 millimeters, a length l of the order of 0.35 millimeters, and a height h of the order of 0.4 millimeters in the plane of section. These measurements are for example taken at the junction of the applicator member with the outer surface 11 of the sleeve, and the applicator member may have a slightly conical shape narrowing toward its second end, at the level of which the width l is equal to about 0.25 millimeters.

Furthermore, the application members 13 may have, as is visible on the figure 10 , a free end 16 rounded, having for example a radius of curvature of the order of 0.125 millimeters.

The embodiment heretofore presented comprises a component 6 formed of a hollow cylindrical sleeve 12 formed of a suitable elastomer material, and application members 13 made of pins or teeth, of the same material, made for example by molding.

The sleeve 12 is force-fitted over a harpoon end 15, which holds it in position after fitting.

The attachment of the sleeve 12 on the rod 5 is by any appropriate means. For example, after placement of the sleeve 12, a spooling operation (not shown) of the harpoon is carried out, whereby the plastic material of the harpoon is melted by heat input, so as to form a flat portion, so as to form a bead locking the untimely exit of the sleeve 12.

Alternatively or in addition, it can be provided ( figure 7 ) that the rod 25 has a plurality of resilient fins 20 each extending from an end connected to the rod 5 at a free end away from the rod and towards the proximal end 5a of the rod. The fins 20 are for example arranged in a proximal stage and a distal stage, as illustrated, and on each floor, distributed uniformly over the circumference of the rod (for example every 90 °). The sleeve 12 has complementary grooves 21 of each fin 20.

When the sleeve 12 slides along the rod 5 into its fitted position, the fins 20 are bent and spring back into a corresponding groove 21 in which they lock the sleeve against an opposite sliding movement of the sleeve (especially during the passage subsequent brush in the wiper of the cosmetic bottle).

The sleeve may be considered cylindrical when it has a slightly frustoconical shape, the distal end having an outer diameter less than 10% or less than 5% less than the outside diameter of the proximal end. The diameters considered may for example be respectively of the order of 3.4 millimeters and 3.6 millimeters. The total length of the sleeve may be of the order of 26.1 millimeters and the length of the distal portion of about 15% to 25% of the total length, for example 5.2 millimeters.

According to an alternative embodiment, as represented on the figure 8 the component 6 comprises a solid cylindrical sleeve 12 made of elastomeric material carrying the teeth 13, and fixed directly on the proximal portion 5c of the rod 5. Thus, numerous alternative embodiments can be envisaged, with regard to the manner of fixing the component 6 on the brush 3.

Thus, although, in the embodiments presented, all the rows have an identical geometry, each defining an application plane forming an identical angle with the longitudinal axis X, it is possible, as a variant, that all the rows are not identical. not identical, and in particular that some define an application plane forming a zero angle with the longitudinal axis X.

Thus, if the brush 3 is held in front of the right hand by placing the longitudinal axis X of the sleeve 12 substantially horizontally, in the embodiment shown, it will be noted that the straight line D, and consequently the plane of P application, extends substantially inclined downwardly as one progresses from the proximal end 6a to the distal end 6b of the component 6. By holding it with the left hand, the right D s 'extends from top to bottom. However, the symmetrical geometry is conceivable.

Comparative tests were carried out between a brush made in accordance with the embodiment presented here, and a similar brush (comparative sample) in which the application plane is an axial application plane forming a zero angle with the longitudinal direction X.

Unexpectedly, these tests have made it possible to demonstrate that the brush according to the embodiment presented here made it possible to obtain a greater bending of the eyelashes than the comparative sample. The bending of the eyelashes was measured by considering the eye of profile, and comparing the angle formed by the eyelash with the horizontal before application of the mascara and after application of the mascara.

These same tests made it possible to highlight that the brush according to the embodiment presented made it possible to obtain a larger opening of the eye. than the comparative sample. The opening of the eye is measured by comparing the angle formed between the lower lashes and the upper lashes, considering the eye of profile before application of the mascara and after application of the mascara.

Claims (9)

1. Mascara brush component comprising:

   - a body (12) comprising a cylindrical sleeve extending in a longitudinal direction (X), and comprising an outer surface (11),

   - at least one row of at least ten application members (13; 13₁, ..., 13_i, 13₄₀) each extending between a first end (16) connected to the body and a free second end (17) at a distance from the body, the application members of said row defining on average an application plane (P),

   characterised in that
   the longitudinal direction (X) subtends a non-zero angle with the application plane (P) that is between 2° and 30°, and preferably between 2° and 15°.
2. Mascara brush component as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

   - the first ends of the application members of said row are disposed on average in a first direction,

   - the application members of said row extend on average in a second direction, and

   - the first and second directions define the application plane (P).
3. Component as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said row of application members extends parallel with the application plane between a proximal application member (13₁) and a distal application member (13₄₀), the proximal application member (13₁) extending substantially orthogonally to the outer surface (11) and the distal application member (13₄₀) extending substantially tangentially to the outer surface (11).
4. Component as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said row extends between a proximal end and a distal end and has:

   - a proximal sub-assembly adjacent to the proximal end and comprising at least five application members,

   - a distal sub-assembly adjacent to the distal end and comprising shorter application members than those of the proximal sub-assembly and having decreasing lengths towards the distal end.
5. Component as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, comprising a plurality of separate rows (14₁, ...), each comprising at least ten application members each extending between a first end connected to the body and a free second end at a distance from the body,
   the application members of each row defining on average an application plane for the row (14) in question,
   the longitudinal direction (X) subtending with each application plane a non-zero angle that is between 2° and 30°, preferably between 2° and 15°.
6. Component as claimed in one of the preceding claims, wherein the body (12) and the application members (13) are made from a same elastomer material.
7. Mascara brush (3) comprising a grip member (4) designed to be held by a user, a rod (5) integral with the grip member, and a component (6) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, the component (6) being attached to the rod (5).
8. Mascara brush as claimed in claim 7, wherein the rod is made from a plastic material having a certain hardness and the body (12) of the component (6) comprises a cylindrical sleeve extending in said longitudinal direction (X) and fitted on the rod (5), the component (6) being moulded in one piece from an elastomer material having a hardness that is less than the hardness of the material of the rod.
9. Mascara application assembly comprising a bottle (2) containing a mascara and a brush (3) as claimed in claim 7 or 8, designed to be dipped into the bottle so that the application members are at least partially coated with mascara.

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