EP4687577A1

EP4687577A1 - Cosmetic applicator

Info

Publication number: EP4687577A1
Application number: EP24711902.7A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Charlotte CLABAUX; Benjamin COCHELIN; Marcel Sanchez
Original assignee: LOreal SA
Current assignee: LOreal SA
Priority date: 2023-03-28
Filing date: 2024-03-19
Publication date: 2026-02-11
Also published as: KR20250151511A; FR3147079A1; CN120857888A; JP2026511144A; WO2024200114A1

Abstract

Cosmetic applicator (2) comprising an applicator member (10) having: - a body (11) with a longitudinal axis (Y) and a distal end (23), - at least a first facet (20) extending obliquely relative to the longitudinal axis (Y), this first facet (20) having a width which decreases towards the distal end (23) of the body (11), - at least a second facet (40) extending obliquely relative to the longitudinal axis (Y), this second facet (40) having a width which increases towards the distal end (23) of the body (11), the first and second facets forming an angle (γ) between them which is not zero, notably is greater than 10°.

Description

Title: Cosmetic applicator

Technical field

The present invention relates to a cosmetic applicator intended for the application of a cosmetic composition to the skin or the lips, notably the skin and in particular the eye contour.

Prior art

Applicators comprising an applicator member having a body defining a facet used for the application of the composition are known.

Application WO 2020/149203 describes an applicator member having a body with a rotationally symmetrical overall shape, except for a single facet with an oval overall contour, extending obliquely as far as the distal end of the applicator member. The larger- diameter region of the body may be at the base of the facet or between its proximal and distal ends. The maximum width of the facet is reached in each case after the body has reached its maximum diameter, the maximum width of the facet being situated on a region of the body of decreasing width.

Application WO 2022/004176 describes an applicator member comprising a body having a cylindrical portion, of circular or polygonal cross section, continued at its distal end by a generally conical tip, a single oblique facet extending over a part of said cylindrical portion and over the tip. The width of the facet may be at a maximum at the connection of said cylindrical portion and the tip. The application is done using the tip and not the facet.

In order to apply a cosmetic composition such as a concealer product, it is necessary not only to be able to apply the composition in a layer of sufficient thickness over a relatively extensive surface area without having to reload the applicator too frequently, but also to be able to do so precisely and without running the risk of irritating the skin, which is particularly sensitive in this area, or even of pricking the eye.

Existing applicators are not entirely satisfactory, having either an applicator member of the powder puff type, which is very wide but insufficiently precise, or of the bevelled end piece type, which is relatively narrow and precise but poorly suited to covering a wide surface area quickly and deposits a frequently insufficient amount of composition in a single gesture.

Disclosure of the invention

Therefore, there is a need to further improve applicators intended for the application of a cosmetic product such as a concealer, and more generally any cosmetic product that is to be applied to the skin or the lips.

In particular, there is an interest in being able to apply the cosmetic composition precisely and in a relatively large amount.

Summary of the invention

The invention aims to meet this need, and achieves this by proposing a cosmetic applicator comprising an applicator member having:

- a body with a longitudinal axis Y and a distal end,

- at least a first facet extending obliquely relative to the longitudinal axis Y, this first facet having a width which decreases towards the distal end of the body,

- at least a second facet extending obliquely relative to the longitudinal axis Y, this second facet having a width which increases towards the distal end of the body, the first and second facets forming an angle y between them which is not zero, notably is greater than 10°, or even greater than 15°, better still greater than 18°.

By virtue of the non-zero angle y, the applicator remains relatively rounded at its tip, and the risk of unpleasantly pricking the sensitive region of the eye is limited. It is thus possible to come close to the eye without risk and apply the composition optimally, still with sufficient precision.

The decreasing width of the first facet makes it possible to reduce the application area towards the end of the applicator in order to increase the application precision and more easily reach the delicate area below the eye.

The increasing width of the second facet makes it possible to propose an applicator shape having a certain symmetry.

The first and second facets may form an angle y between them which is not zero, notably is less than 35°, or even less than 30°, better still less than 25°. The first facet may more particularly be intended for the application of a cosmetic composition.

The second facet may more particularly be intended to be wiped to a greater extent, and thus to carry less cosmetic composition or no cosmetic composition.

The applicator thus makes it possible to apply a more controlled amount of cosmetic composition, this being advantageous if the cosmetic composition is thicker and gives greater coverage.

The applicator member according to the invention is notably relatively thin by virtue of the angle between the facets, this possibly making it easier to insert it into a container and to pass it through a neck thereof, notably when the container and/or its neck are relatively narrow.

The shape of the applicator member allows it to be small enough to have a low bulk, while still enabling the availability of a precise application surface area by virtue of the first facet, and to be well wiped on the second facet, and thus to obtain a clean and precise make-up result.

The applicator member may notably be intended for the application, for example of a concealer, to the eye contour. It is possible for it in particular not to be intended for application to the cheeks, the nose or the lips.

The first facet may be inclined by an angle a with the longitudinal axis Y of the body of between 30 and 40°.

The second facet may be inclined by an angle P with the longitudinal axis Y of the body of between 15 and 30°.

The first facet may be flat, thereby maximizing the surface area of contact with the skin. The second facet may be flat. The first facet may be deprived of a curvature. The second facet may be deprived of a curvature.

The first facet may have a substantially polygonal, notably substantially triangular contour. The second facet may have a substantially polygonal, notably substantially triangular contour.

The first and second facets may have identical forms, notably in terms of shape and/or dimensions. They may notably be symmetrical to one another with respect to a plane of symmetry. The first facet may have a substantially polygonal, notably substantially triangular contour. The first facet may have two lateral edge comers and a base. The first facet may reach its maximum width at its base. The first facet may have a maximum width sufficient to make it possible to apply a relatively large amount of cosmetic composition.

The second facet may have a substantially polygonal, notably substantially triangular contour. The second facet may have two lateral edge corners and a base. The second facet may reach its maximum width at its base.

The bases of the first facet and the second facet may coincide. They may form an edge corner of the applicator member. Said edge comer may extend perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis Y.

In a variant, the bases of the first facet and the second facet may be separate. Between them, they may form a strip of the applicator member that extends between the first facet and the second facet. This strip may be intended for the application of the cosmetic composition or be intended to be wiped to a greater extent, and thus to carry less cosmetic composition or no cosmetic composition.

The first facet may have two substantially rectilinear edge corners adjacent to the distal end of the applicator member, these two edge corners defining an obtuse angle 9 between them.

As a result, the applicator remains relatively soft at its tip, and the risk of unpleasantly pricking the sensitive region of the eye is limited. It is thus possible to come close to the eye without risk and apply the composition optimally.

"Substantially rectilinear" should be understood to mean that the edge comer extends along a straight line or along an arc that has a sufficiently great curvature to approximate a straight line with a gap of less than 0.5 mm, better still 0.3 mm, even better still 0.1 mm, over an edge-comer length of at least 2.5 mm, better still at least 3 mm, even better still at least 3.5 mm, or even at least 4 mm. The obtuse angle is measured between the converging straight lines if the edge comers are not rectilinear.

The obtuse angle 9 may be greater than 90° and less than 120°, better still less than 110°, or even less than 100°, thereby making it possible to retain a shape tapered enough to be precise. The applicator member may have, between the second facet and the proximal end of the applicator member, a cross section that decreases towards the proximal end of the applicator member.

The applicator member may have a shape that is symmetrical with respect to a median plane of symmetry M generally perpendicular to the first facet and/or the second facet.

The body may have a width which, in front view, increases towards the distal end over at least a portion of the length of said body and entails a maximum Lmax. The maximum width Lmax may be greater than 5 mm and less than 8 mm, better still between 5.5 and 7.5 mm, or even between 6 and 7 mm, being for example 6.07 mm.

The first facet and/or the second facet extend at least partially along the portion of increasing width of the body.

The width of the first facet and/or the width of the second facet may entail a maximum width substantially at the same distance h from the distal end, measured along the longitudinal axis Y, as the point where said portion of increasing width of the body reaches its maximum width Lmax is.

"Substantially at the same distance" should be understood to mean that the distance dfacet at the distal end at the point where the width of the facet is at a maximum is equal to that dbody of the body at the point where the latter is of maximum width, to within x%, that is to say |dfacet-dbody|/dfacet <x/100 with x% equal to 5%, better still 2% or even better still 1%.

The invention makes it possible to benefit from a surface area available for the application of the product that is relatively large, is capable of being loaded with a relatively large amount of product, and makes it easier to spread the product, while still retaining the option of precise application by virtue of the shape of the first facet, and by virtue of the shape of the second facet, the width of which decreases towards the distal end of the applicator member.

Such an applicator is thus very particularly suitable for the application of a concealer product, among other cosmetic compositions.

The width w of the applicator member, measured in side view, may increase from a proximal end of the applicator member to a proximal end of the second facet. This makes it possible to increase the surface area of the second facet, since the cross section of the applicator member is greater where it begins. The width w of the applicator member can be measured viewed in side view in a direction perpendicular to that of the face view.

The body of the applicator member may be flocked.

The applicator member may have, when viewed from the side, a front rectilinear edge extending from the second facet towards the proximal end of the applicator member and a rear rectilinear edge extending on the opposite side over substantially the entire length of the body of the applicator member, the front edge preferably being steeper than the rear edge.

The shape of the applicator member allows it to be wiped well on the opposite side from the facets, and thus to remain clean and precise.

The applicator member may be situated at one end of a stem that is connected at the other end to a closure cap.

Another subject of the invention, according to another of its aspects, is a packaging and application device comprising:

- a container containing a cosmetic composition F to be applied to the skin or the lips, this container notably having a wiping member, and

- an applicator as defined above.

The cosmetic composition may notably be intended for the eye contour, being for example a concealer product. The cosmetic composition is preferably applied with the first facet of the applicator.

Brief description of the drawings

The invention may be better understood from reading the following detailed description of a non-limiting implementation example thereof, and with reference to the attached drawing, in which:

[Fig 1] Figure 1 shows a partial and schematic longitudinal section through a packaging and application device according to the invention.

[Fig la] Figure la shows a partial and schematic longitudinal section through the wiping member of the device in Figure 1, on its own.

[Fig 2] Figure 2 is a front elevation view of the applicator member. [Fig 3] Figure 3 is a side view of the applicator member, according to the arrow

III in Figure 2.

[Fig 4] Figure 4 is a top view of the applicator member, according to the arrow

IV in Figure 3.

[Fig 5] Figure 5 shows a perspective view of the applicator member, on its own.

Detailed description

Figure 1 illustrates a packaging and application device 1 according to the invention, comprising an applicator 2 and a container 3 containing a cosmetic composition F to be applied to the skin or the lips, for example a concealer product.

The container 3 has a threaded neck 4 in the upper part, onto which a closure cap 5 can be screwed.

A wiping member 6 having a wiping lip 6a may be mounted in the neck 4, as illustrated. The wiping member 6 is illustrated on its own in Figure la.

The applicator 2, of longitudinal axis Y, has a stem 7 of which one end is connected to the cap 5, which is used as a grip member, and the other end bears an applicator member 10, which is used to apply the composition F to the skin.

The lip 6a of the wiping member 6 is designed to clean the stem 7 of the applicator, which may have a narrowing in the region positioned at the lip 6a when the container is closed.

The applicator member 10 is shown on its own in Figures 2 to 5.

It has a body 11 continued by a fastening end piece 12, which is intended to be inserted into a corresponding receiving portion of the stem 7. The body 11 and the end piece 12 may be produced by injection moulding a thermoplastic material, notably an elastomer material.

The body 11 is covered with flocking 13, which is visible in Figure 1 and not shown in Figures 2 to 4.

The body 11 has a first facet 20 which is advantageously flat, as illustrated, and extends obliquely relative to the longitudinal axis Y, being inclined by an angle a with the longitudinal axis Y of the body, this angle a being around 30 to 40° in the example in question. This first facet 20 has a width which decreases towards the distal end 23 of the body 11.

The body 11 moreover has a second facet 40 which is advantageously flat, as illustrated, and extends obliquely relative to the longitudinal axis Y, being inclined by an angle P with the longitudinal axis Y of the body, this angle P being around 20° in the example in question.

This second facet 40 has a width which increases towards the distal end 23 of the body 11.

The first and second facets form an angle y between them which is not zero, notably being around approximately 20 to 25°.

The first facet 20 and the second facet 40 each have a substantially polygonal contour of substantially triangular shape.

In this exemplary embodiment, the first and second facets have identical forms, notably in terms of shape and dimensions. They are notably symmetrical to one another with respect to a plane of symmetry.

When viewed from the front, as in Figure 2, the first facet 20 has two lateral edge comers 21 and a base 22. The first facet reaches its maximum width at its base 22.

The second facet 40 has two lateral edge comers 41 and a base 42. The second facet reaches its maximum width at its base 42.

The edge corners 21 and 41 may be rectilinear, with a radius of curvature R less than 0.5 mm at their vertex, for example a radius of curvature R of around 0.3 mm.

The facets are each symmetrical relative to a median plane M of the applicator member. The applicator member 10 has a shape that is symmetrical with respect to the median plane of symmetry M, which is generally perpendicular to the first facet and the second facet.

The bases 22, 42 of the first facet 20 and the second facet 40 coincide in this case. They form an edge corner of the applicator member which extends perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis Y.

The two edge comers 21 of the first facet 20 define an angle 9 between them. The angle 9 formed between the edge comers 21 is obtuse, being for example between 90° and 120°, notably around 120°. The body has a width which, in front view as illustrated in Figure 2, increases towards the distal end 23 over at least a portion of the length of said body 11 and entails a maximum Lmax. The second facet 40 extends along the portion of increasing width of the body. The applicator member 10 thus has, between the second facet 40 and its proximal end 17, a cross section that decreases towards its proximal end 17.

Moreover, the width of the first facet 20 and the width of the second facet 40 entail a maximum width substantially at the same distance h from the distal end 23, measured along the longitudinal axis Y, as the point where said portion of increasing width of the body reaches its maximum width Lmax is. The width of the first facet 20 is at a maximum and essentially reaches Lmax at the junction of the edge corners 21 and the base 22, at a distance h from the distal end 23 of the applicator member, measured along the axis Y.

The width w of the applicator member 10, measured in side view, as illustrated in Figure 3, increases from the proximal end 17 of the applicator member to a proximal end 26 of the second facet 40.

The total length T of the body 11 is for example between 15 and 20 mm.

When the applicator member is viewed from the side, as in Figure 3, the body 11 is delimited to the right by a front edge 15 extending between the vertex 26 of the second facet 40 and the proximal end 17 of the body 11, and to the left by a rear edge 16, extending between the distal end 23 and the proximal end 17.

In the example in question, the edges 15 and 16 are rectilinear, the front edge 15 being steeper than the edge 16 relative to the longitudinal axis Y. As a result, the width w of the applicator member 10 increases between the proximal end 17 and the vertex 26, in a sectional plane which contains the axis Y and is perpendicular to the median plane M.

When the body is viewed from the front as in Figure 2, it is delimited by rectilinear left and right edges 18, which make the same non-zero angle with the axis Y, for example of a few degrees. The distance measured between the edges 18 increases continuously from the proximal end 17, where it is for example approximately 5 mm (and corresponds substantially to the diameter of the stem 7), until it reaches Lmax at the base 22.

Between the proximal end of the body 11 and the vertex 26 of the second facet 40, the cross section of the body 11 may increase continuously, this cross section not exhibiting symmetry of revolution about the axis Y, having for example a shape that changes from generally circular at the proximal end 17 to generally triangular (or quadrilateral of the convex kite type having two short sides forming a fairly large angle between them) at the vertex 26, as illustrated in Figure 5.

In order to use the applicator 2, the user removes the applicator member 10 from the container and can apply the composition F using the first facet 20. The second facet 40 may more particularly be intended to be wiped to a greater extent, and thus to carry less cosmetic composition or no cosmetic composition.

The relatively extensive surface area of said second facet gives the applicator autonomy and makes it possible to deposit an amount of composition large enough to obtain the desired coverage. The composition present on the first facet can be easily spread. The tip of the applicator can be used to precisely apply the composition F in the vicinity of the eye, without running the risk of pricking the skin.

The invention is not limited to the example that has just been described. For example, it is possible to modify the shape of the facets by slightly curving the edge corners or by giving one or the other of the facets a slight curve.

Claims

1. Cosmetic applicator (2) comprising an applicator member (10) having:

- a body (11) with a longitudinal axis (Y) and a distal end (23),

- at least a first facet (20) extending obliquely relative to the longitudinal axis (Y), this first facet (20) having a width which decreases towards the distal end (23) of the body (11),

- at least a second facet (40) extending obliquely relative to the longitudinal axis (Y), this second facet (40) having a width which increases towards the distal end (23) of the body (11), the first and second facets forming an angle (y) between them which is not zero, notably is greater than 10°, or even greater than 15°, better still greater than 18°.

2. Applicator according to the preceding claim, the first facet (20) being inclined by an angle (a) with the longitudinal axis (Y) of the body of between 30 and 40°.

3. Applicator according to either one of the preceding claims, the second facet (40) being inclined by an angle (P) with the longitudinal axis (Y) of the body of between 15 and 30°.

4. Applicator according to one of the preceding claims, the first facet (20) and/or the second facet (40) being flat.

5. Applicator according to one of the preceding claims, the first facet (20) and/or the second facet (40) having a substantially polygonal, notably substantially triangular contour.

6. Applicator according to any one of the preceding claims, the first facet (20) having two substantially rectilinear edge comers (21) adjacent to the distal end (23) of the applicator member, these two edge corners defining an obtuse angle (9) between them.

7. Applicator according to any one of the preceding claims, the applicator member (10) having, between the second facet (40) and the proximal end (17) of the applicator member, a cross section that decreases towards the proximal end (17) of the applicator member.

8. Applicator according to any one of the preceding claims, the applicator member (10) having a shape that is symmetrical with respect to a median plane of symmetry (M) generally perpendicular to the first facet and/or the second facet.

9. Applicator according to any one of the preceding claims, the body having a width which, in front view, increases towards the distal end over at least a portion of the length of said body (11) and entails a maximum Lmax.

10. Applicator according to the preceding claim, the width of the first facet and/or the width of the second facet entailing a maximum width substantially at the same distance (h) from the distal end (23), measured along the longitudinal axis Y, as the point where said portion of increasing width of the body reaches its maximum width Lmax is.

11. Applicator according to any one of the preceding claims, the width (w) of the applicator member (10), measured in side view, increasing from a proximal end (17) of the applicator member to a proximal end (26) of the second facet (40).

12. Applicator according to any one of the preceding claims, the body (11) of the applicator member being flocked.

13. Applicator according to any one of the preceding claims, the applicator member (10) having, when viewed from the side, a front rectilinear edge (15) extending from the second facet (40) towards the proximal end (17) of the applicator member and a rear rectilinear edge (16) extending on the opposite side over substantially the entire length of the body of the applicator member, the front edge (15) preferably being steeper than the rear edge (16).

14. Applicator according to any one of the preceding claims, the applicator member (10) being situated at one end of a stem (7) that is connected at the other end to a closure cap (5).

15. Packaging and application device (1) comprising:

- a container (3) containing a cosmetic composition (F) to be applied to the skin or the lips, this container notably having a wiping member (6), and

- an applicator (2) as defined in any one of the preceding claims.