FIELD OF INVENTION
-
The invention relates to an applicator according to the generic term of claim 1.
TECHNICAL BACKGROUND
-
Applicators (or also: cosmetic applicators) are mostly used to apply mass to a surface to be applied. The mass can be a cosmetic mass, a pharmaceutical mass or something else. Often, applicators are used for applying cosmetic mass in form of mascara to the eyelashes. Said applicators are usually part of a cosmetic applicator system that comprises a container for the storage of said mass, a cap carrying the applicator - usually with a handle interposed - and a wiper typically inserted in the neck of the container for wiping off excess mass from the applicator when it is dunked in the mass and pulled out of the container.
-
Applicators whose application surface is provided with a so-called flocking are regularly used to apply a mass to hairless skin. For this purpose, the application surface is provided with a layer of adhesive. Before the adhesive hardens or dries, random (i.e. non-directionally aligned) short fibers are then applied. This creates a velvety, non-scratching coating on the applicator surface. With the help of this coating, the applicator can store significantly more mass than its bare plastic application surface would be able to. The velvety coating is tactilely perceived as very pleasant.
-
The production of such a flocking is relatively complex, as several steps are necessary, each of which is quite time-consuming.
-
Attempts have already been made to imitate such flocking by injection molding the applicator in question with a large number of short, fine bristles arranged in a strictly radial pattern. However, the result proved to be unsatisfactory as short straight bristles are usually perceived as prickly and therefore tactilely unpleasant even if their individual bristles have only a small bristle diameter.
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
-
Accordingly, it is the object of the invention to improve an applicator for applying cosmetics to hairless skin in such a way that it can be provided more efficiently with a coating which gives the applicator an increased mass transport capacity and which is tactilely perceived as soft.
SOLUTION ACCORDING TO THE INVENTION
-
A solution to this problem is provided by the main claim.
-
Here, an applicator for applying a cosmetic or pharmaceutical to the preferably substantially hairless skin, having an applicator body which adjoins a handle or a stem portion and having at least one application surface covered with applicator extensions is proposed. Said applicator is characterized in that the length of said applicator extensions in the direction of their longitudinal applicator extension axis (which is identical with the term "applicator extension axis") are all in a range between 0.3 mm and 1 mm. Preferably the length of said applicator extensions is in the range of 0.4 to 1 mm. It is especially preferred, when the length of the applicator extensions is in the range of 0.5 to 0.6 mm.
-
Additionally, the applicator extensions have a diameter of less than 0.35 mm. Preferable is a diameter of substantially 0.25 mm, wherein there is a margin of +/- 0.1 mm. If the diameter of an applicator extension is not constant, the greatest diameter along the applicator extension axis is taken into consideration. It is preferred that the applicator extensions are conical.
-
Additionally, it is preferred that absolutely all or substantially all applicator extensions are inclined and if so, it is preferred that they are inclined in the same direction over the whole application surface or at least an area of the application surface.
-
The incline of the applicator extension is with respect to the portion of the application surface carrying them, wherein the respective longitudinal applicator extension axis forms an angle of 50° or less and ideally of 40° or less with the surface of said application surface. "Substantially all" in this case means at least 90 % of the applicator extensions, preferably even at least 95 %. It has to be mentioned that it is possible that the application surface is not planar and therefore the surface of the portion of the application surface that is carrying the respective bristle extension is the gradient of said surface at the location where the respective longitudinal applicator extension axis intersects said surface.
-
Due to the dimensions of the applicator extensions and preferably that the applicator extensions are all angled, preferably in the same direction to a considerable extent - usually from their root area onwards - they do not have the tendency to drill into the skin on first contact, despite their fineness and the shortness that stiffens them. Instead, they form a field of a kind of spring elements clamped on one side against the skin, several of which immediately spring back on first contact with the skin by pivoting towards the applicator surface. This means that the area of skin in question not only comes into contact with the tips of a few applicator extensions, but is supported by the extension's coats over a much larger area. As a result, the trimming according to the invention conveys a velvety tactile impression that is hardly distinguishable from the tactile impression conveyed by a real flocking of the known type.
PREFERRED DESIGN OPTIONS OF THE INVENTION
-
A preferred design option for the applicator according to the invention is that immediately adjacent applicator extensions are spaced less than 0.65 mm and preferably less than 0.55 mm apart. That leads to an overall softer feel of the whole applicator trimming. The space between the applicator extensions is measured between the outside surfaces of adjacent applicator extensions and means the smallest distance that outside surfaces of two adjacent applicator extensions have to each other in the unloaded state.
-
It is also preferred that the application surface is a substantially planar surface which is preferably designed in such a way that its outer regions project beyond the diameter of the stem portion by at least 30 %, preferably at least 40 %, of the stem portion's diameter. The application surface is "substantially planar", when at least 90 %, preferably at least 95 % of the surface are plane. Yet, it has to mentioned that it is also possible and sometimes even preferred that the application surface is only planar in sections or not planar at all.
-
Furthermore, it is preferred that the applicator extensions are formed in rows of applicator extensions arranged directly one behind the other. The applicator extensions therefore tilt particularly easily on contact with the skin, similar to dominoes arranged one behind the other.
-
Moreover, it is preferred that the applicator extensions are arranged in rows, one immediately behind the other, but at least the majority of the rows are curved. "Curved" in this case means that the rows are aligned along a curved line, preferably substantially still in one plane. This makes it particularly easy to provide localized areas which are themselves free of applicator extensions, but are bordered all around by applicator extensions and can therefore serve well as areas for the storage of mass.
-
It is also preferred that the rows become increasingly longer from the inside and therefore the center of the application surface towards its both side edges and it is preferable that rows lying further outside enclose rows lying further inside. That arrangement is important to increase the transport capacity of the applicator, especially with masses of low viscosity. In this way, the lateral run-off of the mass is made more difficult.
-
It is also preferred that the free ends of the applicator extensions end substantially all at essentially the same height. Therefore, the applicator extensions all essentially end in the same plane. "Substantially all" in this case means at least 90 % of the applicator extensions, preferably even at least 95 %. "Essentially" in this case means that the height difference in the ending of the applicator extensions can vary in a margin of preferably +/- 0.1 mm.
-
It is also preferred that the applicator extensions substantially all end in a pent roof-like inclined surface, such that the pent roof-like inclined surfaces are all oriented essentially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the applicator. "Pent roof-like" in this case means that the ends preferably comprise a plane or substantially plane free end that stand in an angle to the longitudinal axis of the longitudinal axis of the applicator extensions.
-
"Essentially parallel" meant that there can be a margin of +/-8°. By this, the skin does not encounter any pointed applicator extension ends, but still does offer relatively large end surfaces in order to offer a good application behavior.
FIGURE LIST
-
- Figure 1 shows an applicator according to the invention in side view.
- Figure 2 shows an applicator according to the invention in top view.
- Figure 3 shows an applicator according to the invention in three-dimensional view.
PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
-
The Fig. 1 to Fig. 3 show a preferred embodiment of the applicator 1 according to the invention.
-
The applicator 1 comprises an applicator body 2 which adjoins a stem portion 3. The applicator 1 shown in the figures comprises two application surfaces 4. One of the application surfaces 4 is covered with applicator extensions 5. In order to simplify the figures, only one of the applicator extensions 5 is assigned a reference number in the figures. The application surface 4 that does not carry applicator extensions 5 according to the invention can also carry bristles, other applicator extensions, a flocking or the like, like it is shown in Fig. 1. This other application surface 4 can therefore be used as an alternative mass storage area, another application method or an area for the fine-tuning of the applied mass.
-
The length of said applicator extensions 5 according to the invention in the direction of their longitudinal extension axis AE (see Fig. 1) are all in a range between 0,3 mm and 1 mm and have a diameter of less than 0.35 mm. All the applicator extensions 5 are inclined in the same direction with respect to the portion of the application surface 4 carrying them. The respective longitudinal extension axis AE forms an angle of 50° or less and ideally of 40° or less with the surface of said application surface 4.
-
The application surface 4 of the shown embodiment is a substantially planar surface which is preferably designed in such a way that its outer regions project beyond the diameter of the stem portion. As it can be seen in Fig. 3, the applicator extensions 5 can not only be placed in the planar surface of the application surface 4, but also on the transition of the planar surface to the applicator body 2.
-
The applicator extensions 5 are preferably formed in rows of applicator extensions 5 arranged directly one behind the other (see Fig. 2), wherein the majority of the rows are curved. In the embodiment shown in the figures, only the central row is straight, while the other rows are curved. The rows also become increasingly longer from the center of the application surface 4 towards its both side edges and it is preferable that rows lying further outside enclose rows lying further inside.
-
Fig. 1 also shows that some of the free ends of the applicator extensions 5 end at essentially the same height. Yet, sometimes it is preferred that the length of the applicator extensions 5 along their longitudinal axis AE is substantially the same of all of the applicator extensions 5. The applicator extensions 5 also preferably are in the area of the applicator that is not a planar surface, but the transition into the applicator body 2, which transition is preferably rounded. Therefore, those applicator extensions 5 do not have to end at the same height as the applicator extensions 5 that are placed on the planar surface of the application surface 4.
-
As it already was mentioned above, it does not have to be the case that the whole application surface 4 is planar. Furthermore, it is also possible that not even a portion of the application surface 4 is planar.
-
The applicator extensions 5 preferably all end in a pent roof-like inclined surface, such that the pent roof-like inclined surfaces are all oriented essentially parallel to the longitudinal axis AP of the applicator 1. As Fig. 1 shows, that pent roof-like surfaces do not have to be over the whole diameter of the applicator extension 5. It is sometimes even preferred that the free ends of the applicator extensions 5 are rounded or at least partly rounded, wherein the rounding transitions to another shape, like the pent roof-like shape. That rounding or partly rounding leads to an even better tactile feeling of the applicator extensions, when touching the skin.
REFERENCE LIST
-
- 1
- Applicator
- 2
- Applicator body
- 3
- Stem portion
- 4
- Application surface
- 5
- Applicator extensions
- AE
- Longitudinal extension axis
- AP
- Longitudinal axis of the applicator