FR2845577A1 - APPLICATOR FOR APPLYING A PRODUCT ON NAILS - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to an applicator for applying a product to the nails, comprising a shank and bristles fixed in a housing (15) of an end portion of the shank, the housing (15) having an opening of oblong cross section. along an axis (X) of greater length, the rod comprising a wall of variable thickness (e) around the housing (15). The rod has, in the end portion, a cross section having an outer contour (16 ) exhibiting no concavity, with the exception of one groove (18) or two grooves (18) located opposite each other, this or these grooves extending along at least a part of the rod and being located substantially, when the rod is observed in cross section, at mid-length along the axis (X) of the housing (15).

Description

The present invention relates to an applicator for applying a product.

on the

  nails, for example a nail polish.

  European patent EP 0 651 955 discloses a nail varnish applicator comprising a rod and bristles fixed in a housing of the rod, this housing being of oblong cross section. In the examples illustrated in the patent, the opening of the housing has in cross section a contour similar to that of the stem, in the shape of a bean or with two main sides slightly concave towards the outside, of

  so that the thickness of the wall surrounding the housing is constant.

  Furthermore, JP-4-28812 discloses a nail varnish applicator, the rod of which has a plurality of longitudinal grooves distributed in a substantially distributed manner.

uniform over its entire periphery.

  There is a need to facilitate the application of a product to the nails and

  allow it to be spread more precisely. The Applicant has indeed found that with known applicators, the product which flows along the rod and reaches the sides of the brush is relatively difficult to spread with precision.

  The applicator according to the invention comprises a rod and bristles fixed in a housing of an end portion of the rod, this housing having an opening of oblong cross section along an axis X of greater length, the rod comprising a

  wall of variable thickness around the housing.

  This applicator can be characterized, according to one aspect of the invention, by the fact that the rod has, in the end portion which comprises the housing which receives the bristles of the brush, a cross section having an outer contour having no concavity , with the exception of a groove or two grooves located opposite one another, this or these grooves extending along at least part of the rod and being located (s ) substantially, when the stem is observed in cross section, at mid-length

along the X axis of the housing.

  The outer contour having no concavity can be convex and

  have, if applicable, at least one flat side.

  Thanks to the invention, the thickness of product surrounding the rod is greater in the groove (s) than on the sides. The product which flows along the rod when the applicator is withdrawn from the container thus gains the bundle of hairs preferentially in a region which is substantially central thereof, so that the product can be spread in

  good conditions. The amount of product reaching the sides of the brush is reduced.

  As mentioned above, the rod may have a second groove

  opposite the first, and the applicator can be symmetrical with respect to a median plane.

  The two grooves can thus be symmetrical with respect to a median plane parallel to the axis X but it is not beyond the scope of the present invention when the

  grooves have different shapes.

  The opening of the housing may advantageously have a substantially rectangular cross section, which makes it possible to obtain a substantially homogeneous distribution of the bristles, but other shapes are possible, for example a cross section

  transverse oval, without departing from the scope of the present invention.

  The end portion of the rod may have, in cross section, two

  opposite sides convex towards the outside, for example in the shape of an arc of a circle, each connecting one of the sides having a groove and the opposite side. The or each groove may have, in cross section, an arcuate contour, for example.

  The housing may have a cross section decreasing closer to its bottom, this reduction can be made according to the desired divergence for the bristles. The bottom of the housing may include a recess in which the bristles are fixed and which opens into a part of the housing which widens in the direction of the opening thereof, this part allowing the bristles to separate from each other. for

  give the brush an enlarged shape.

  In particular, the housing can be arranged so that the bristles

  extend outside the housing over a width, measured parallel to the axis X, greater than the width of the rod at the level of the housing. A relatively large brush 25 is thus obtained.

  The length of the portion of the bristles extending outside the housing of the rod can be between 5 and 20 mm, for example. The free ends of the bristles can substantially describe an arc of a circle, with a radius of curvature between 2 and 15 mm by

  example, in particular between 4 and 10 mm.

  The width of the housing opening, measured perpendicular to the X axis,

  can be less than or equal to 2 mm.

  The wall of the rod, near the longitudinal ends along the X axis of the

  housing, can be relatively thin.

  Thus, in an exemplary implementation of the invention, the rod may have,

  around the housing, a wall whose thickness, measured from a longitudinal end of the housing, is less than the thickness measured from the mid-length of the housing.

  Still in a particular embodiment, the thickness of the wall extending around the housing passes through a minimum at the level of the portions which are adjacent to the

  longitudinal ends, along the X axis, of the housing.

  The largest transverse dimension of the portion of the rod immersed in the product contained in the container when the applicator is in place on it can be

less than or equal to 5 mm.

  The rod can be arranged to be fixed on a closure cap of the

  container; alternatively, the rod can be made in one piece by plastic molding with a closure cap of the container.

  The invention will be better understood on reading the detailed description

  which follows, examples of non-limiting implementation thereof, and on examination of the appended drawing, in which: - Figure 1 is a schematic view, in axial section, of a device for 20 l application of a product to the nails, - Figure 2 partially shows the applicator of the device of Figure 1, - Figure 3 shows in isolation, in axial section, the rod of the applicator of Figure 1, - the Figure 4 shows a detail of the housing receiving the bristles of the brush, - Figure 5 is a cross section along VV of Figure 4, Figures 6 to 12 show in section along VV alternative embodiments of the end portion of the rod, - Figures 13 and 14 illustrate two configurations of the housing, corresponding to different distributions of the bristles outside the rod, - Figure 15 shows in isolation an end portion of the bristles of the brush, and - Figure 16 is a partial longitudinal section of the stem e t of a cap

  made in one piece with it.

  FIG. 1 shows a device 1 for applying a product to the nails, for example a nail polish V, this device comprising a container 25 containing the varnish V and an applicator 3 comprising a rod 4 in plastic material, provided at one end with a flat brush 5 and at the other end with a gripping member 10

  also constituting a closure cap for the container 2.

  The container 2 also includes a ball 6, for example metallic,

  allowing the varnish V to be homogenized before application, by shaking the device 1.

  If one refers to FIGS. 2 to 5, it can be seen that the rod 4 has at its upper end a skirt 8 allowing it to be fixed in a housing of the cap 10,

  the latter being configured to be screwed onto the neck 11 of the container 2.

  A flange 12 is produced at the base of the skirt 8 to come into abutment against

  the upper edge of the neck 11 when the applicator is in place on the container 2.

  The rod 4 has under the flange 12 a conical portion 13 which can contribute to sealing the closure of the container 2 when the applicator 3 is in place on the latter. Sealing could also be obtained by cooperation of surfaces of the

cap 10 and container neck.

  The rod 4 also comprises a lower end portion 14 which is provided with a housing 15 inside which the bristles of the brush 5 are fixed, by

  example by stapling, gluing, fusion or overmolding.

  A chamfer 20 can be made at the free end of the rod 4, as can be

see it in figure 4.

  The rod 4 comprises, in the example illustrated, over a major part of its length up to its distal end 17, two opposite longitudinal grooves 18.

  The housing 15 has an opening of rectangular cross section, of

  elongated shape along an axis X perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the rod 4.

  The outer contour of the rod 4 and the housing 15 are in the example considered symmetrical with respect to the axis X and with respect to a median axis Y 30 perpendicular to the axis X. It can be seen in FIG. 5 that the thickness of material surrounding the housing 15

is not constant.

  Apart from the grooves 18, the outer contour 16 of the rod 4, when the latter is observed in cross section, is convex. More particularly, in the example considered, the contour of the rod 4 is delimited at the level of the grooves 18 by portions of circle 16a, the latter being joined on the sides by portions of circle 16b which are convex towards the outside and moreover smaller radius of curvature than portions 16a. The housing 15 may have, as can be seen in Figure 4, a

  cross section which decreases towards the bottom 19 of the housing.

  The bristles of the brush 5 move apart when the brush is applied to the nail.

  Depending on the shape given to the housing 15, it is possible to obtain a more or less wide bundle of bristles 10, as illustrated in FIGS. 13 and 14.

  It can be seen in FIG. 13 that by giving the housing 15 a substantially constant cross section, a brush is obtained whose bristles are relatively tight, while by giving the housing 15 a shape diverging towards the outside, the bristles are allowed

  to move further apart from each other to form a relatively wide beam.

  The housing 15 can be made with at its bottom a recess 15a in which the bristles are fixed on the rod; this recess can lead to a part i5b flaring towards the opening of the housing 15, allowing the bristles to spread apart

each other.

  The housing 15 can thus be produced in such a way that the maximum transverse dimension 12 of the brush, measured parallel to the axis X, is greater than the transverse dimension la of the rod of the level of the housing 15, as seen on the

figure 14.

  The free ends of the bristles of the brush 5 can be located, for example, as can be seen in FIG. 15, along a substantially circular curve C. Alternatively, the free ends of the bristles could lie substantially along a

right, for example.

  The length I of the portion of the bristles which extends outside the housing 15 is by

example between 5 and 20 mm.

  The device 1 is used in the following manner.

  The user shakes the container 2 to allow the ball 6 to homogenize the varnish V then the user unscrews the plug 10 and uses the brush 5 to apply the product. When the applicator 3 is removed from the container 2, product is present on the rod 4 and the latter flows by gravity towards the brush 5. The thickness of the product is greater at the grooves 18, which can retain by capillarity more product. The product flows preferentially in the central region of the brush, which makes it possible to spread it more easily and more precisely.

  Of course, the invention is not limited to the example which has just been given.

  One can in particular modify the shape of the housing and / or that of the portion

  end of the rod in which this housing is made.

  By way of example, FIGS. 6 to 12 show different forms of 10 possible housings, among others.

  It can be seen in FIG. 6 that the rod can have only one groove 18.

  We see in Figure 7 that the opening of the housing can have a section

  transverse not rectangular but oblong, for example elliptical.

  It can be seen in FIG. 8 that the opening of the housing can have a cross section having two slight concavities 1 5c on the long sides, these two

  concavities being however less pronounced than those formed by the grooves 18.

  It can be seen in FIG. 9 that the grooves 18 can be relatively narrow,

  in order for example to further increase product retention by capillarity.

  It can be seen in FIG. 10 that the grooves 18 can have, in cross section, a triangular profile.

  In FIG. 11, it has been illustrated that the thickness el of the wall near the longitudinal ends of the housing 15 can be less than the thickness e2 of the wall substantially at mid-length of the housing 15. The thickness el may, where appropriate, correspond to a minimum. A small thickness e1 makes it possible to produce a housing 15 having a larger dimension along the axis X, which makes it possible to obtain a very fine brush.

  wide or able to expand easily.

  Figure 12 illustrates the possibility of having two grooves 18 having different shapes.

  The rod 4 can also be produced in one piece with the closure cap of the container, as illustrated in FIG. 16.

  Throughout the description, the expression "comprising a" must be understood

  as being synonymous with "comprising at least one", unless otherwise specified.

Claims (18)

  1. Applicator for applying a product to the nails, comprising a rod (4) and bristles (5) fixed in a housing (15) of an end portion (14) of the rod, the 5 housing (15) having an oblong cross section opening along an axis (X) of greater length, the rod (4) comprising a wall of variable thickness (e) around the housing (15), applicator characterized in that the rod (4 ) has, in the end portion (14), a cross section having an outer contour (16) having no concavity, except for a groove (18) or two grooves (18) located at 10 l 'opposite one another, this or these grooves extending along at least a part of the rod (4) and being located (s) substantially, when the rod is observed in section   transverse, halfway along the axis (X) of the housing (1 5).   2. Applicator according to claim 1, characterized in that the rod   has two grooves (18) located opposite each other.   1 5 3. Applicator according to claim 2, characterized in that the grooves   are symmetrical with respect to a median plane parallel to the axis (X).   4. Applicator according to claim 2, characterized in that the grooves   have different shapes.   5. Applicator according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the opening of the housing (15) has a cross section substantially rectangular.   6. Applicator according to any one of the preceding claims,   characterized in that the end portion (14) of the rod has, in cross section, two opposite convex sides (16b) each connecting one of the sides (16a) 25 comprising the groove (18) to the side (16a ) opposite.   7. Applicator according to any one of the preceding claims,   characterized in that the housing (15) has a cross section decreasing in   approximation of the bottom (19) of the housing.   8. Applicator according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the bottom of the housing has a recess (1 Sa) in which   the bristles are fixed and which opens into a part (15b) of the housing which widens out   opening direction of it.   9. Applicator according to any one of the preceding claims,   characterized in that the length of the portion of the bristles which extends outside the housing (15) is between 5 and 20 mm.   10. Applicator according to any one of the preceding claims, 5 characterized in that the free ends of the bristles substantially describe an arc of a circle (C), with a radius of curvature between 2 and 15 mm, in particular between 4 and 10 mm .   11. Applicator according to any one of the preceding claims,   characterized by the fact that the width of the housing opening, measured   perpendicular to the axis (X), is less than or equal to 2 mm.   12. Applicator according to any one of the preceding claims,   characterized in that the largest transverse dimension of the portion of the rod immersed in the product contained in the container when the applicator is in place on   this is less than or equal to 5 mm.   13. Applicator according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the rod has, around the housing, a wall whose thickness   (el) measured from a longitudinal end of the housing (15) is less than   the thickness (e2) measured from the mid-length of the housing.   14. Applicator according to any one of the preceding claims,   characterized in that the thickness of the wall extending around the housing passes through a minimum at the level of the portions which are adjacent to the longitudinal ends according to the axis (X) of the housing.   15. Applicator according to any one of the preceding claims,   characterized in that the rod is arranged to be fixed on a closure plug (10) of a container.   16. Applicator according to any one of claims 1 to 14, characterized   by the fact that the rod is made in one piece by plastic molding with   a closure cap for a container.   17. Applicator according to any one of the preceding claims,   characterized in that the bristles extend outside the housing over a width (12), measured parallel to the axis (X), greater than the width (11) of the rod at the level of the housing (15).   18. Device (1) for applying a product to the nails, characterized in that it comprises a container containing the product to be applied and an applicator such as   defined in any one of the preceding claims.