EP2979578A1 - Applicator for a cosmetic product and associated applicator assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to an applicator (10) for a cosmetic product, especially for mascara, comprising a core (12) and protuberances (20) projecting from said core (12), said core (12) extending along a main axis longitudinally extending, said main axis (X), said protuberances (20) being molded with the core (12). Said protuberances (20) are arranged in longitudinal rows (R), said rows (R) comprising protuberances (21, 22, 23) different from each other, at least in their shape, their inclination with respect to the main axis (X ) and by their size, one of said rows (R) comprising at least one protuberance (21, 22, 23) identical to at least one of said protuberances different from each other of at least one of said rows (R).

The invention further relates to an applicator assembly for a cosmetic product, comprising an applicator (10) as described above.

Description

The invention relates to an applicator for a cosmetic product and an associated applicator assembly.

Cosmetic product applicator assemblies are known, in particular for a cosmetic product intended to be applied to eyelashes such as mascara, comprising a container containing the cosmetic product and an applicator adapted to be removably attached to the container.

The container generally comprises a body, the body comprising walls defining a reservoir in which the cosmetic product is contained, and a neck defining an opening through which the cosmetic product can be extracted.

The applicator assembly generally includes a cap adapted to be attached to the neck, a stem extending from the plug and an applicator attached to a free end of the stem. The applicator includes a core and a plurality of protuberances extending from the core.

When the cap is fixed on the neck, the rod and the applicator extend inside the tank. The applicator is immersed in the cosmetic product contained in the reservoir.

To use the applicator, the user detaches the neck cap and extracts the applicator from the container.

It is known to make the applicators by molding. An advantage of molded applicators is that they allow great freedom, including shapes.

An object of the present invention is to provide a molded protuberance applicator for obtaining different makeup effects.

Thus, the invention relates to an applicator for a cosmetic product, in particular for mascara, comprising a core and protuberances projecting from said core, said core extending along a main axis of longitudinal extension, called said main axis, said protuberances being molded with the soul.

According to the invention, said protuberances are arranged in longitudinal rows, said rows comprising protuberances different from each other, at least in their shape, their inclination with respect to the main axis and by their dimension, one of said rows comprising at least one protuberance identical to at least one of said protuberances different from one another at least one of said rows.

The applicator of the invention comprises protuberances which differ from each other, in particular by several technical characteristics. This has the advantage, for a non-expert user, of accessing different makeup effects usually obtained with the aid of several different applicators. The presence of identical protuberances within the applicator makes it possible, for its part, to ensure that each of said effects is sufficiently present.

• les rangées de protubérances s'étendent sur toute la périphérie de l'âme,
• lesdites protubérances sont toutes inclinées par rapport à l'axe principal,
• l'applicateur selon l'invention présente une extrémité proximale et une extrémité distale opposée à ladite extrémité proximale le long de l'axe principal,
• lesdites protubérances sont toutes inclinées par rapport à l'axe principal, en direction de ladite extrémité distale,
• les protubérances d'une rangée sont assemblées par deux, au moins, formant un motif hétérogène de protubérances, ledit motif hétérogène se répétant régulièrement le long de l'axe principal,
• les protubérances d'une rangée sont assemblées par trois, au moins, dit motif de trois,
• les protubérances dudit motif de trois sont écartées les unes des autres suivant un pas différent,
• le pas entre chaque motif hétérogène est sensiblement constant,
• le pas entre chaque motif hétérogène est différent de celui ou ceux suivant lesquels les protubérances dudit motif de trois sont écartées les unes des autres,
• lesdites protubérances font saillie à partir de l'âme, en présentant un pied de liaison à l'âme, une direction principale d'élongation, et une extrémité libre opposée audit pied le long de ladite direction d'élongation,
• lesdites protubérances sont amincies au niveau de leur pied,
• lesdites protubérances présentent une section demi-circulaire,
• ladite section demi-circulaire est présente sur toute la longueur desdites protubérances,
• les protubérances présentent chacune une surface plane,
• les protubérances sont positionnées de sorte que les surfaces planes de deux protubérances adjacentes de deux rangées voisines sont orientées selon le même sens giratoire,
• les rangées sont identiques, en étant éventuellement décalées axialement et/ou en présentant une protubérance d'extrémité de rangée en plus et/ou en moins d'une rangée à l'autre,
• lesdites rangées sont espacées radialement autour de la périphérie de l'âme selon une distance angulaire constante,
• l'âme est pleine,
• l'âme est en matériau plastique,
• les protubérances sont en matériau plastique,
• l'âme et les protubérances sont moulées dans un même matériau,
• l'applicateur forme une brosse.

According to various embodiments of the invention, which may be taken together or separately:

• the rows of protuberances extend over the entire periphery of the soul,
• said protuberances are all inclined with respect to the main axis,
• the applicator according to the invention has a proximal end and a distal end opposite said proximal end along the main axis,
• said protuberances are all inclined with respect to the main axis, towards said distal end,
• the protuberances of a row are connected in pairs, at least, forming a heterogeneous pattern of protuberances, said heterogeneous pattern repeating itself regularly along the main axis,
• the protuberances of a row are assembled by three, at least, said reason of three,
• the protuberances of said pattern of three are spaced apart from each other in a different pitch,
• the pitch between each heterogeneous pattern is substantially constant,
• the pitch between each heterogeneous pattern is different from that or those according to which the protuberances of said pattern of three are spaced from each other,
• said protuberances protrude from the core, having a web-connecting foot, a main elongation direction, and a free end opposite said foot along said elongation direction,
• said protuberances are thinned at the level of their foot,
• said protuberances have a semicircular section,
• said semi-circular section is present over the entire length of said protuberances,
• the protuberances each have a flat surface,
• the protuberances are positioned so that the plane surfaces of two adjacent protuberances of two adjacent rows are oriented in the same direction of rotation,
• the rows are identical, possibly being offset axially and / or having a row end protrusion in addition and / or in less than one row to another,
• said rows are spaced radially around the periphery of the core at a constant angular distance,
• the soul is full,
• the soul is made of plastic material,
• the protuberances are made of plastic material,
• the core and the protuberances are molded in the same material,
• the applicator forms a brush.

The invention further relates to an applicator assembly for a cosmetic product, comprising a container comprising a body forming a reservoir for containing the cosmetic product, and an applicator as described above adapted to be fixed on the container, so that the applicator is housed inside the tank.

The invention will be better understood, and other objects, details, features and advantages thereof will become more clearly apparent in the following detailed explanatory description of at least one embodiment of the invention given to As a purely illustrative and non-limiting example, with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings.

• la figure 1 est une vue en élévation d'un exemple de réalisation d'applicateur selon l'invention,
• la figure 2 est une vue en coupe de l'applicateur illustré à la figure 1, selon l'axe A-A repéré sur ladite figure 1,
• la figure 3 est une vue de dessus de l'applicateur illustré à la figure 1,
• la figure 4 est une vue isométrique partielle, sensiblement inclinée, de l'applicateur illustrée à la figure 1,
• la figure 5 est la même vue que celle de la figure 4, l'applicateur illustré ayant subi une rotation autour de son axe principal d'extension longitudinale.

On these drawings:

• the figure 1 is an elevational view of an exemplary embodiment of an applicator according to the invention,
• the figure 2 is a sectional view of the applicator shown in FIG. figure 1 , along the axis AA marked on the said figure 1 ,
• the figure 3 is a top view of the applicator shown in the figure 1 ,
• the figure 4 is a partial, substantially inclined isometric view of the applicator illustrated in FIG. figure 1 ,
• the figure 5 is the same view as that of the figure 4 , the illustrated applicator having been rotated about its main axis of longitudinal extension.

As illustrated in figure 1 the invention relates to an applicator 10 for a cosmetic product, in particular for mascara, comprising a core 12 and protuberances 20 projecting from said core 12.

Said core 12 extends along a principal axis of longitudinal extension, said main axis thereafter and marked X in the figures, in particular on the Figures 1 to 3 . Said core 12 has a proximal end 13 and a distal end 16 opposite said proximal end 13 along said main axis X.

The protuberances 20 are molded with the core 12. The core 12 will be molded from a plastic material, like the protuberances 20 which will preferably be molded with the same plastic as the core 12, or even from the material of the core. 12. For example, the core 12, and the protuberances 20, may be molded from a material based on LDPE (low density polyethylene). Other materials may still be used, namely the "EXACT" material from ExxonMobil or the "HYTREL" material from Dupont, or even a mixture of these materials.

As illustrated in figures 2 and 3 the protuberances 20 of the invention are arranged in longitudinal rows R. These rows R are substantially parallel to the main axis X.

In the context of the invention, said rows R comprise protuberances 20 different from each other, at least by their shape, their inclination with respect to the main axis and by their dimension. In other words, each row R comprises protuberances 20 different from each other, at least by their shape, by their inclination with respect to the main axis and their size. In other words, within the same row R, the protuberances 20 are different from each other at least by their shape, by their inclination with respect to the main axis and by their size.

In particular, as regards the variation of their shape, the protuberances 20 may advantageously have a more or less convex shape.

The Figures 4 and 5 illustrate an example of protuberances referenced 21 particularly curved. The protuberances referenced 22 and 23 on these Figures 4 and 5 are less bulging than said protrusions referenced 21. The advantage of protuberances 21 particularly bulging lies in their ability to load cosmetic product to restore a high amount of cosmetic product on the eyelashes of the user.

Said protuberances 21, 22, 23 each have a main direction of elongation which forms an angle with the main axis X. With regard to their variation of inclination, the protuberances referenced 22 on the Figures 4 and 5 have a main elongation direction which forms a smaller angle with the main axis X than that formed between the main directions of elongation of the protuberances 21, 23 and the main axis X. The combing effect of the eyelashes towards the The outside obtained with the referenced protrusions 22 is therefore more accentuated than when it is obtained with the protrusions referenced 21, 23.

The Figures 4 and 5 illustrate protuberances 21, 22, 23 which are all inclined with respect to the main axis X, in particular toward said distal end 16.

The advantage associated with this inclination lies in the orientation obtained for the eyelashes: the eyelashes are combed outwards thanks to the inclination of said protuberances 21, 22, 23. In other words, said inclination of the protuberances 21, 22, 23 brings the user's eyelashes to the side of his face to give an opening effect to his eyes.

As indicated above, the protuberances 20 also differ in their dimensions.

For example, on the figure 3 two types of protuberances referenced 21 and 23 are illustrated, each having a thickness e21, e23 own.

The thickness e21 will for example be of the order of 0.6mm while the thickness e23 will for example be of the order of 0.4mm.

This difference in thickness between the protuberances 20, in particular between the protuberances referenced 21 and 23, makes it possible to provide protuberances dedicated to the combing of the eyelashes and others dedicated to the eyelash load. The protuberances referenced 21, here thinner than the protuberances referenced 23, will be dedicated to combing the eyelashes; while the protuberances referenced 23, thicker, will be dedicated to the load eyelashes. In fact, the protuberances 21, which are thinner, are flexible, and therefore easy to wring out: they are indicated for combing the eyelashes. The protuberances referenced 23, thicker, are rigid, and therefore difficult to spin: they have a loading capacity of high cosmetic product.

Thus, the protuberances 21, 22, 23 which differ in their shape, their inclination with respect to the main axis and by their dimension each provide a beneficial make-up effect for the user.

In addition, a row R will comprise at least one protuberance identical to at least one of said protuberances different from each other from at least one of said rows adjacent to said row R, this substantially at the same level along the core.

The effect associated with a given protuberance, by its shape, its inclination and its dimensions, will then be assured. In other words, the applicator 10 of the invention comprises protuberances 21, 22, 23 which differ from each other, of course, but each type of protuberance 21, 22, 23 is sufficiently repeated on the periphery of the core 12 to ensure associated makeup effect.

On the other hand, the protuberances 21, 22, 23 of a row R will be connected in pairs, at least, forming a heterogeneous pattern of protuberances 21, 22, 23, said heterogeneous pattern repeating itself regularly along the main axis X.

In the example illustrated here, the protuberances 21, 22, 23 of a row R are joined in three, said pattern of three, and referenced M3 in particular on the figure 2 .

The protuberances 21, 22, 23 of said pattern of three M3 are spaced from each other in a step p1-p6.

In the example of the row illustrated in detail at figure 4 , the pitch p1 between the protrusions referenced 21 and 22 will be of the order of 1 mm. The pitch p2 between the protuberances referenced 22 and 23 will be of the order of 1.5mm.

In addition, the pitch p3 between each heterogeneous pattern M3 is substantially constant along the main axis X, here of the order of 1.9 mm.

The pitch p3 between each heterogeneous pattern M3 will preferably be different from those p1, p2 according to which the protuberances 21, 22, 23 of said pattern of three M3 are spaced from each other.

It should be noted that the rows R of protuberances 20 extend over the entire periphery of the core 12. In other words, in such an embodiment, there is no provision for an angular zone devoid of protuberances around the periphery. soul 12.

Said rows R may be identical to each other.

They may also differ from each other, in particular by the value of the steps p1, p2, p4, p5 separating the protuberances 21, 22, 23 between them within the same heterogeneous pattern M3, or else by the step p3, p6 separating two M3 heterogeneous patterns between them. The steps p1-p3, p4-p6 will advantageously be the same within a given row.

The adjacent rows R may also be offset relative to each other in the direction of extension of the core X. By "staggered" is meant that the protuberances 20 of a row R are axially offset by relative to the protuberances 20 of adjacent rows R. They may also have a protrusion more or less at the end of rows R.

On the other hand, the protuberances 21, 22, 23 protrude from the core 12, having a connecting foot to the core 12, a main direction of elongation as mentioned above, and a free end opposite said foot along said elongation direction.

It should be noted that the protrusions 21, 22, 23 are here thinned at their foot. They each have a foot width b21, b22, b23 which is their own. This foot width b21, b22, b23, measured along the main axis X, will for example be of the order of 0.5 mm for the protuberances referenced 21, of the order of 0.55 mm for those referenced 22 and of the order of 0.6mm for those referenced 23.

The advantage associated with the thinned foot of said protuberances 21, 22, 23 lies in the flexibility thus provided to said protuberance 21, 22, 23. Here, the difference between the foot widths b21, b22, b23 gives different flexibilities to said protuberances 21 , 22, 23, in the same row R and around the core 12; and therefore different makeup effects.

The free ends of the protuberances 20 form, they, an envelope E whose shape can vary without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, the height h20 of the protuberances 20 may vary within the same row R, from the proximal end 13 to the distal end 16, to form envelopes E at least partly substantially concave, convex, or even envelopes with multiple vertices. The term "height of the protuberances", the height h20 measured between the main axis X of the core and their free end; in other words, the term "height of the protuberances" their radial extension measured from said main axis X, in projection on a plane orthogonal to said main axis X.

So, as spotted on the figure 2 , said height h20 protrusions will be of the order, for example, 4mm.

The core 12 here has a rounded cross section from the proximal end 13 to the distal end 16, the protuberances 20 of a row R angularly diverging from the protuberances 20 of another row R, at their foot. at least, with a radial spacing between said adjacent rows R around the periphery of the core 12 which is at a constant angular distance, referenced α on the figure 3 . Said angular distance α will be in the range [10 °; 90 °]; it will preferably be 30 °.

The protuberances 20 have, in addition, a cross section to their direction of elongation which may be semicircular, thus forming a flat surface on each protrusion 20.

Said protuberances 20 will be positioned so that the flat surfaces of two adjacent protuberances 20 are oriented in the same direction of rotation around the core 12. This means that the protuberances 20 of a first row R all have a plane face which is oriented radially in a first direction around the core 12, and that the flat faces of the protuberances 30 of the rows adjacent to the first row R are oriented in the same direction around the core 12. In other words, no plane face is vis-à-vis another plane face. Thus, the molding of said protuberances 20 with the core 12 will be easy, because it allows the use of molding drawers of simple shapes, all having substantially the same shape, and which are all oriented radially in the same direction.

It should be noted that Soul 12 will be scheduled full. It is also possible, in another embodiment not illustrated, that the core 12 is hollow.

It should also be noted that the applicator 10 advantageously forms a brush.

The invention will also relate to an applicator assembly for a cosmetic product, comprising a container, not shown, comprising a body forming a reservoir intended to contain the cosmetic product, and an applicator 10 as previously described, adapted to be fixed on the container, of so that the applicator is housed inside the tank.

Said applicator 10 is fixed by a sleeve 14 at the end of a rod, not shown, itself attached to a plug, not shown, advantageously screwed to the container. Such a sleeve 14 is visible on the Figures 1 and 2 . Said sleeve 14 is in the extension of the core 12, from the proximal end 13, and extends along said main axis X.

After assembly, the sleeve 14 is located in the shaft and the proximal end 13 of the core forms the visible proximal end of the applicator 10.

In the example illustrated here, the distance h12 separating the proximal ends 13 and distal 16 of the core 12, measured along said main axis X, will for example be of the order of 3 cm.

It should also be noted that variant embodiments are of course possible. In particular, it is also conceivable, in additional exemplary embodiments, that the applicator has a curved core.

Claims (14)

An applicator (10) for a cosmetic product, in particular for mascara, comprising a core (12) and protuberances (20) projecting from said core (12), said core (12) extending along a main axis of longitudinal extension, said main axis (X), said protuberances (20) being molded with the core (12), characterized in that said protuberances (20) are arranged in longitudinal rows (R), said rows (R) comprising protuberances ( 21, 22, 23), at least in their shape, their inclination with respect to the main axis (X) and in their dimension, one of said rows (R) comprising at least one protuberance (21, 22, 23 ) identical to at least one of said protuberances different from each other of at least one of said rows (R). Applicator (10) according to the preceding claim, wherein said protuberances (20) are all inclined relative to the main axis (X). An applicator (10) according to any one of claims 1 or 2, having a proximal end (13) and a distal end (16) opposite said proximal end (13) along the main axis (X), said protuberances (20) being all inclined with respect to the main axis (X), towards said distal end (16). An applicator (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the protuberances (20) of a row (R) are connected in pairs, at least, forming a heterogeneous pattern of protuberances (21, 22, 23), said heterogeneous pattern repeating itself regularly along the main axis (X). Applicator (10) according to the preceding claim, wherein the protuberances (21, 22, 23) of a row (R) are joined by three, at least, said pattern of three (M3). Applicator (10) according to the preceding claim, wherein the protuberances (21, 22, 23) of said pattern of three (M3) are spaced apart from each other in a different pitch (p1, p2, p4, p5). Applicator (10) according to the preceding claim, wherein the pitch (p3, p6) between each heterogeneous pattern (M3) is substantially constant. Applicator (10) according to the preceding claim, wherein the pitch (p3, p6) between each heterogeneous pattern (M3) is different from that or those (p1, p2, p4, p5) according to which the protuberances (21, 22, 23 ) of said pattern of three (M3) are spaced from each other. An applicator (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said protuberances (20) project from the web (12), having a web-connecting foot (12), a main direction of the web elongation, and a free end opposite said foot along said elongation direction, said protuberances (20) being thinned at their foot. Applicator (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said protuberances (20) have a semicircular section. An applicator (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the protuberances (20) each have a planar surface. Applicator (10) according to the preceding claim, wherein the protuberances (20) are positioned so that the plane surfaces of two adjacent protuberances of two rows (R) neighbors are oriented in the same direction of rotation. An applicator (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said rows (R) are spaced radially around the periphery of the core (12) at a constant angular distance ( α ). Applicator assembly for a cosmetic product, comprising: a container comprising a body forming a reservoir intended to contain the cosmetic product, and - An applicator (10) according to one of claims 1 to 13 adapted to be fixed on the container, so that the applicator (10) is housed inside the tank.

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