EP3193660B1

EP3193660B1 - Device for removing mascara from the eyelashes

Info

Publication number: EP3193660B1
Application number: EP15818064.6A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Anna Emilia DEL CORPO
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2014-09-19
Filing date: 2015-09-18
Publication date: 2021-05-05
Anticipated expiration: 2035-09-18
Also published as: WO2016042586A3; WO2016042586A2; EP3193660A2

Description

This description relates to a device for removing mascara from eyelashes.
More specifically, this description relates to a device that allows an easy and efficient removal of mascara from the eyelashes without damaging the eyelashes themselves.
Currently, mascara is a product widely used in the cosmetics field. It is well known that a mascara of good quality must be easy to apply on the eyelashes, must last for a long time, for example, should not become dry inside the container and must be resistant to moisture, temperature variations and tears.
Modern mascaras are made with chemicals capable of achieving the results described above. However, in order to remove such chemicals it is necessary to use very aggressive solvents, called mascara removers.
Cloths, discs or pieces of cotton are usually used to apply said solvents, on which the mascara remover is applied. It has been observed that the above method for removing mascara has various drawbacks. In fact, the mascara removal is often not perfect, mainly at the base of the eyelashes, creating the presence of granules of dry mascara that may accidentally end up in the eyes. In addition, there is often a risk that mascara removal is not perfect and that the mascara remains along the eyelashes and dries, thus making the subsequent application of the new mascara imperfect.
Finally, there is often the risk of the mascara remover contacting the eye or the surrounding area, thus causing redness and a burning sensation.
In view of the above, a purpose of this invention is to propose a device which allows an optimal removal of mascara from the eyelashes, while avoiding the contact of chemicals with the eye.
The patent application WO2007/096923 A1 describes a device for removing mascara from eyelashes, comprising a support rod and mascara removal means comprising a plurality of perforated discs on one end of said support rod, said disks being superposed on each other and fixed to said support rod. Preferably, the above discs are made of compressed cotton.
It has been observed that, although advantageous, the above solution of the prior art can be improved since, when impregnated with the chemical, the compressed cotton discs can swell or generally change shape. It is also expensive to produce a device comprising a plurality of disks
US2011088712 describes a device for applying mascara that can be also used for its removal.
There is, therefore, a need to provide a different solution from the one described in the above-mentioned patent application that is able to solve the aforementioned drawbacks, at least in part.
This invention is specified in claim 1 and will be now described, by way of non-limiting example, according to its preferred embodiments, with particular reference to the figures of the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a plan view in front elevation of a first embodiment of a device for removing mascara from eyelashes;
Figure 2 shows a perspective view of a second embodiment of a device for removing mascara from eyelashes; and
Figure 3 shows an enlarged part of the device of Figure 2.

Referring to Figure 1, a first non-limiting embodiment is shown of a device 1 for removing mascara from eyelashes.
The device 1 for removing mascara from eyelashes comprises a rod 3 having a first free end portion 4 and a second opposite end portion (not visible in the figures). The device 1 for removing mascara from eyelashes also comprises a mascara remover head 2 coupled to the second opposite end portion. This remover head 2 includes and surrounds the aforesaid second opposite end portion and for this reason the latter is not visible in the figures.
The mascara remover head 2 is made in a single piece and comprises a main body 5 made of an elastomeric material or a synthetic or natural sponge. The aforementioned elastomeric material is, for example, a synthetic rubber, a vulcanised latex foam or a polyurethane elastomer. According to a possible embodiment, the above-mentioned mascara remover head 2 has an overall length equal to 3 centimetres or about 3 centimetres. Preferably, the overall length of the remover device 1 is equal to 11 centimetres or about 11 centimetres.
According to an embodiment, said elastomeric material has a hardness in the range of 25°-80° Shore, extremes included.
In the embodiment in which said elastomeric material is a polyurethane elastomer, a non-limiting example of such material is the material having the trade name Vulkollan™ produced by Bayer™.
The main body 5 of the remover head 2 comprises an active outer surface having a plurality of distinct annular grooves 6, axially spaced, or a continuous spiral groove. Preferably, the main body 5 has the form of a cylinder with a circular section, for example having a diameter equal to about 1 centimetre or approximately 1 centimetre.
In the embodiment of Figure 1 the above-mentioned active outer surface comprises eleven distinct axially spaced annular grooves 6. In the embodiment in which the above-mentioned active outer surface comprises a plurality of distinct annular grooves 6, said distinct annular grooves 6 are preferably circular grooves concentric with each other.
The above-mentioned active outer surface is a surface devoid of bristles.
According to an embodiment, the annular grooves 6 or the continuous spiral groove are made in the thickness of the main body 5. Preferably they said grooves 6 have a depth of between 0.5 and 5.5 millimetres and more preferably between 1.5 and 4.5 millimetres, for example equal to 3 millimetres.
From now on we will refer to the distinct annular grooves 6 or the continuous spiral groove using the expression "grooves 6".
The grooves 6 have a width of between 0.5 and 1.5 millimetres and preferably equal to one millimetre. The distance between two adjacent annular grooves 6 is equal to twice the width of a groove.
The grooves 6 are each delimited by a bottom wall and two side walls. The surface of the side walls and the bottom part is rough and/or porous. In the case where the surface is rough, the roughness is preferably greater than 500 microns. In the case where the surface is porous, for example this is provided with porosity of dimension greater than 500 microns. For example, a rough surface can be obtained by forming the main body 5 with a smooth outer surface and then etching the grooves 6. For example, first the main body 5 it can be made by moulding and then the grooves 6 may be etched by means of turning.
Preferably, the side walls of the grooves 6 are facing each other and are connected to the bottom wall.
Preferably, the mascara remover head 2 comprises an appendage 7 protruding from the opposite side to the rod 3 made in one piece with the main body 5. In the embodiment of Figure 1, this protruding appendage 7 has the shape of a cone having a rounded tip. In an alternative embodiment, the protruding appendage 7 may have the shape of a truncated cone. In the embodiment of Figures 1 and 2, aforesaid protruding appendage 7 it has a hemispherical shape.
The removal of mascara with the device 1 is performed by rotating or, in general, by moving the rod 3 while the remover head 2 is in contact with the eyelashes. In this way, the side walls of the annular grooves 6 allow the removal of mascara from the eyelashes, while the bottom wall of the annular grooves 6 allows removal of mascara accumulated at the base of said eyelashes. The protruding appendage 7 allows removal of the pencil and of any traces of mascara on the inner edge of the eyelid.
According to a possible embodiment, the rod 3 has a rectilinear shape. According to an alternative embodiment, the rod 3 has a curved shape, for example an "S"-shape, so as to be ergonomic. The rod 3 may, for example, be made as a distinct piece from the remover head 2 and then the two parts can be permanently fixed to each other, for example with a glue. For example, the rod 3 is engaged in a hole provided inside the main body 5 of the remover head 2. Preferably, the rod 3 has a maximum cross-section smaller than the maximum cross-section of the remover head 2, for example not greater than 50% of the latter and preferably not greater than 30%.
This invention was described for illustrative but non-limiting purposes, according to its preferred embodiments, but it is to be understood that variations and/or modifications may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the relative scope of protection, as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

Device (1) for removing mascara from the eyelashes, comprising:
- a rod (3) having a first free end portion (4) and a second opposite end portion;

- a mascara remover head (2) coupled to the second opposite end portion and made in one piece, comprising a main body (5) made of an elastomeric material or sponge, wherein said main body (5) comprises an active outer surface having a plurality of axially spaced annular grooves (6) or a continuous spiral groove;
wherein:
- the grooves (6) are each delimited by a bottom wall and two side walls;

- the surface of the side walls and the bottom wall is rough and/or porous;

- said active outer surface is devoid of bristles;

- the annular grooves (6) have a width of between 0.5 and 1.5 mm;

- the distance between two adjacent annular grooves (6) is equal to twice the width of a groove (6).
Device (1) for removing mascara from the eyelashes according to claim 1, wherein the main body (5) has the shape of a circular section cylinder and said annular grooves (6) are concentric circular grooves.
Device (1) for removing mascara from the eyelashes according to claims 1 or 2, wherein said elastomeric material is a vulcanised latex foam or a polyurethane elastomer.
Device (1) for removing mascara from the eyelashes according to any of the previous claims, wherein said rod (3) has a curvilinear "S"-shape, so as to have an ergonomic effect.
Device (1) for removing mascara from the eyelashes according to any of the previous claims, wherein the surface is rough and the roughness is greater than 500 microns.
Device (1) for removing mascara from the eyelashes according to any of the previous claims, wherein the surface is porous, ant it is provided with porosity of dimension greater than 500 microns.
Device (1) for removing mascara from the eyelashes according to any of the previous claims, wherein said elastomeric material has a hardness in the range of 25°-80° Shore, extremes included.
Device (1) according to any of the previous claims, wherein the mascara remover head (2) comprises an appendage (7) protruding from the opposite side to the rod (3) made in one piece with the main body (5).