FR2868265A1 - COSMETIC PRODUCT APPLICATOR, TYPICALLY A BRUSH - Google Patents

Abstract

The applicator (1, 1 ', 1' '), typically a makeup brush (1'), comprises a) a so-called lower part (2) forming a manual gripping means of said applicator, b) a so-called central part ( 3), secured to said lower part (2) by its lower end (30), forming a resilient deformation means of said applicator under manual stress, c) a so-called upper part (4) supporting an application material (5) and d) an application material (5) secured to said upper portion (4), characterized in that: 1) said lower (2) and central (3) portions have mean apparent sections, respectively SA, and SB such that the relative deviation ER1 = | SA - SB | SA, ie less than 0.1.2), said lower (2) and central (3) portions form a first longitudinal piece (6) having an axial direction (60), said first piece (6) having a first L / D shape ranging from 3 to 7, L and D respectively denoting the largest axial dimension or axial length of said first piece (6), and the largest dimension or diameter of said first piece (6) perpendicular to said axial direction (60) .Advantages: the applicator allows manual gripping of said applicator (1) over the entire length L of said first piece (6), and provides a high sensitivity and great smoothness of use.

Description

COSMETIC PRODUCT APPLICATOR, TYPICALLY A BRUSH 5 DOMAIN OF

THE INVENTION

  The invention relates to the field of applicators of cosmetic products, in particular brushes intended to apply to the face a solid product in the divided state such as a powder, or brushes for applying to the nails a liquid product such as than a nail polish.

STATE OF THE ART

  Many applicators are already known, such as brushes for applying makeup powder to the face, mascara brushes for applying mascara to the eyelashes, and brushes for applying nail polish.

  These applicators may or may not cooperate with a dispenser of said cosmetic product.

  Generally, these applicators, typically longitudinal, comprise a first portion forming a manual gripping means, a second intermediate portion secured to said first portion at one end and, at the other end, serving as a support for an application material, and a third part forming said application material.

  These applicators may comprise a second flexible part, as known for example in US Pat. Nos. 4,509,540 and 6,341,912.

PROBLEMS POSED

  In many cases, the known applicators only allow, on the one hand, only one type of manual gripping of said applicator, so that these applicators only make it possible to obtain one type of effect on the support.

  On the other hand, they do not allow to modulate or control manually how to use the applicator, so that there is a need for applicators to obtain a high sensitivity and great smoothness. applying said product to said support.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

  According to the invention, the applicator of a product, typically a brush intended to apply a cosmetic product such as a make-up powder to a support such as the skin, comprises a) a so-called lower part forming a manual gripping means , typically rigid, of said applicator, b) a so-called central part, secured to said lower part by its lower end, forming a resilient deformation means of said applicator under manual stress, c) a so-called upper part, typically rigid, supporting a material applying, said upper portion being secured to said central portion at its upper end, and d) said application material secured to said upper portion, and is characterized in that: 1) said lower and central portions have apparent sections averages, denoted respectively SA, and SB such that the relative difference ER1 =! SA - SB1 / SA, is less than 0.1, 2) said lower and central parts form a first longitudinal part having an axial direction, said first part having a first L / D form factor ranging from 3 to 7, L and D respectively denoting the largest axial dimension or axial length of said first piece, and the largest dimension or diameter of said first piece perpendicular to said axial direction.

  The term "apparent section" is what is formed by the most peripheral radial portions, the only ones that can be manually grasped and thus form a gripping surface. Geometrically speaking, it is the envelope surface, typically cylindrical, parallel to said axial direction, in which is inscribed either said lower part in the case of the section SA, or said central part in the case of the section SB.

  An "average section" is considered when the gripping surface of said lower or central portion is not straight but includes a re-entrant portion or a raised portion.

  This applicator solves the problems posed because it allows manual gripping of said applicator over the entire length L of said first part, including thus on said central part, which makes it possible to manually modulate or control, if necessary, said manual stress, and thus to ensure a high sensitivity and great fineness of application of said product on said support, such as the face.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

  Figures 1a to 2f, 4a and 4b are side views of applicators (1) in the form of brushes (1 ').

  In FIG. 1a, the central part (3) with resilient deformation is a helical spring (35) secured to the lower part (2) by means of a central axial projection (22) secured to the lower end (30). ) of said central portion (3), and secured to said upper portion (4) by a first portion (40) forming an axial projection secured to the upper end (31) of said central portion (3).

  Figures lb and comprise as central portion (3) a succession or alternation (34) of solid portions (340) and recessed portions (341).

  In said lower part (2), in the form of dashed circles, are shown SA and SB sections, respectively, of said lower part (2) and of said central part (3).

  In FIG. 1b, said succession (34) forms a single piece secured to said lower part (2) by means of a cavity (23) formed at the upper end of said lower part.

  FIG. 1d represents a photograph of a brush (1, 1 ') whose lower (5) and central (3) portions form a said first piece (6) of the same diameter along its entire length, and typically forms a part integrally molded (8).

  In Figure 1c, similar to Figure 1d, said central portion (3) comprises 3 helical threads (32), the core of said central portion (3) being recessed over the entire length of said threads (32).

  In Figure 2a, said central portion (3) has a thinned portion, with a diabolo-shaped axial profile (33).

  In FIG. 2b, said central portion (3) is constituted by a piece made of a flexible material, possibly comprising an elastomer, said part comprising upper (30 ') and lower (31') projections respectively secured to a cavity (23). formed at the upper end of said lower portion (2), and a cavity of said first portion (40) of said upper portion. In this figure, said lower (2), central (3) and upper (4) have the same diameter.

  Figure 2c is a representation corresponding to Figure 1c.

  FIG. 2d shows schematically the case where said lower part (2) and said central part (3) form a single piece (8), formed either of a same plastic material or a same mixture of plastics over its entire length, or with a composition or with a variable concentration gradient over all or part of the length of said monobloc piece, as shown in Figure 4c.

  In this figure, said lower (2), central (3) and upper (4) have the same diameter.

  Figures 2e and 2g illustrate the case where said central portion (3) forms a bellows spring (37), said spring being shown in side view in Figure 2g. This spring (37 cooperates with axial projections, a projection (22) of said lower part and a projection formed by said first portion (40) of said upper portion (4).

  In FIG. 2f, the central part (3) forms, with the lower part (2), a telescopic device (36) which comprises a rod (360) able to move in a cavity (20) formed in said lower part, a helical outer spring (361) exerting pressure against said upper portion (4) bearing against said lower portion (2).

  The cavity (20) was closed at its lower end by an auxiliary applicator (1 ").

  FIGS. 3a and 3b are side views which schematize an applicator pressed against an application support (9), said lower (2), central (3) and upper (4) portions being of rectangular section, so as to present , by rotation of 90, two bends of said central portion (3) of very different amplitude.

  FIG. 3a corresponds to a bending of said central portion (3) forming a portion of beam of "large thickness" relative, while Figure 3b corresponds to a bending of said central portion (3) forming a portion of beam of "weak" "relative" thickness.

  Dashed, above said lower portion (2), the section of said lower (2), central (3) and upper (4).

  FIGS. 4a and 4b illustrate another embodiment in which a rigid ring (21 ') is able to slide from said lower part (2) towards said central part (3), so as to stiffen said central part (3) if necessary. .

  FIG. 4a shows the case where said rigid ring (21 ') is located on the side of said lower part (2), whereas, in FIG. 4b, said central part (3) is covered and stiffened by said rigid ring (21 ').

  FIG. 4c shows the variation of the concentration of two plastics A and B, the plastic material B being more flexible than the plastic material A, with the profiles of the CA and CB concentrations in these two materials A and B as a function of the abscissa or length L, the two plastics A and B being extruded or coextruded forming a mixture or not, and typically injected into a mold.

  FIGS. 5a to 6b illustrate another embodiment of the invention in which said lower part (2) and said central part (3) form a hollow monoblock molded piece (8 ') for said first longitudinal piece (6).

  FIGS. 5a and 5b relate to a first variant in which the first longitudinal part (6) has a L / D form factor of 7.55 (75.5 / 10).

  Figures 5a and 5b relate to a second variant in which the first longitudinal member (6) has a L / D form factor of 4.91 (113/23).

  Figures 5a and 6a are views in axial section of said first longitudinal member (6).

  Figures 5a and 6b are side views of the corresponding brushes (1 ').

  DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

  According to the invention, said central (3) and upper (4) portions may have mean apparent sections, denoted respectively SB and Sc such that the relative distance ER2 = ISB-Sc (/ SB, ie less than 0.1, in such a way that said lower (2), central (3) and upper (4) portions of said applicator (1, 1 ') form a second longitudinal piece (7) of length L' and form factor L'ID> L / D.

  As illustrated in the figures, the applicators of the invention are longitudinal applicators with relatively high L / D or L '/ D form factor, as shown in FIGS. 1d and 1c.

  As illustrated for example in FIGS. 1b to 2e, said central portion (3) forming said resilient deformation means of said applicator under manual restraint may comprise a material selected in kind and / or in section, so that said portion central (3) can deform when said manual stress is exerted typically during said application of said product on said support (9), then is able to return to its original shape as soon as said manual stress ceases.

  According to the invention, and as illustrated in FIGS. 3a and 3b, said deformation may comprise a flexion.

  As illustrated in FIG. 2f, said deformation may comprise axial compression.

  But, in the case of Figure 1a, said deformation can include both bending and compression.

  According to one embodiment of the invention, and as illustrated for example in FIG. 2b, said lower (2) and central (3) parts may comprise or be formed of different materials, respectively a first and a second material, said second material having mechanical characteristics, typically flexural or compressive modules lower than the flexion or compression modules of said first material.

  Said first material may consist of or comprise a plastic material, typically a non-elastomeric thermoplastic material, and said second material may comprise or comprise an elastomer.

  However, as illustrated in FIG. 2d, said lower (2) and central (3) portions may comprise or be formed of a same material, typically an elastomer or a polymer mixture comprising an elastomer.

  Typically, said lower (2) and central (3) portions may have a same section, and form a first piece (6) typically cylindrical, which is advantageous for easy manual gripping, and to obtain different application effects according to that the gripping fingers are more or less distant from said upper portion (4).

  According to a variant of the invention, illustrated for example in FIGS. 1b and 1c, said central portion (3) may have, over all or part of its axial length, a minimum section of material SBm, typically less than 0.5. SA, chosen to obtain said deformation under manual stress.

  According to another variant illustrated in Figures 1c and 2c, said central portion (3) may comprise a plurality of N threads (32) axial or helical, each thread (32) having a section of material SF, so that SBm is equal at N.SF, with N typically ranging from 2 to 6.

  According to another variant illustrated in FIG. 2a, said central portion may have an axial profile in the form of a diabolo (33), the minimum section of said diabolo (33) being SBm.

  According to another variant illustrated in FIGS. 1b and 1c, said central portion (3) may have an axial succession or alternation (34) of solid portions (340) and recessed annular portions (341) that are typically annular, said recessed portions ( 341) having said material section SBm.

  According to another variant illustrated in FIG. 1a, said central portion (3) may form or comprise a helical spring (35), either metal or plastic, forming a helix of outside diameter DH, which is typically close to D. According to variant illustrated in FIG. 2f, said central portion (3) can form a telescopic system (36) with a central rod (360) able to penetrate into an axial cavity (20) formed in said lower part (2) and a helical spring ( 361), either metal or plastic, surrounding said central rod (360).

  As illustrated in FIGS. 1c, 1d, 2a, 2c, 2d and 4d, said lower (2) and central (3) parts can form a one-piece molded part (8).

  As illustrated in FIGS. 5a to 6b, said one-piece molded part (8) may be a hollow part, typically made of elastomer, preferably made of silicone resin, said central part forming a typically corrugated surface having greater bending capacity than that said lower portion (2) not wavy.

  However, as illustrated in FIGS. 1a, 1b, 2b and 2e, the said lower (2) and central (3) parts may form separate parts secured by an assembly means (61), typically by snap-fastening, gluing or by or solder.

  In an applicator (1) according to the invention, and as illustrated in most of the figures: a) said application material (5) may comprise an absorbent material of said cosmetic product, and typically a plurality of bristles (50), typically parallel and oriented in said axial direction (60), and, b) said upper portion (4) can form a double sleeve (4 '), with a first portion (40) of attachment to said central portion, and with a second portion (41) for securing said plurality of bristles (50) so as to form a brush (1 ') or a brush (1 ").

  Typically, said lower (2), central (3) and upper (4) portions may have a round or oval or polygonal outer cross section, typically constant over said length L or L '.

  However, said lower (2), central (3) and upper (4) portions may have a flattened outer cross-section with a thickness e such that D / e is between 2 and 6, so as to form a two-dimensional applicator suitable for to be housed in a dispenser of said cosmetic product.

  According to another variant of the invention, said minimum section of material SBm may be a rectangular section of length 1 and width 1 ', with a form factor 1/1' ranging from 2 to 4, so that said applicator (1; 1 ', 1 ") has two distinct levels of flexural strength depending on whether said bending stress is exerted parallel to the direction of said length 1 or said width 1'.

  Figures 3a and 3b illustrate the case where sections SA and SB have such a rectangular side section 1 and 1 '.

  As illustrated in FIGS. 4a and 4b, said lower portion (2) may comprise a locking means (21), typically a sliding ring (21 '), so as to prevent, if need be, said central portion (3) from undergoing said deformation under said manual constraint.

  Another object of the invention is constituted by a method of manufacturing an applicator according to the invention, in which said one-piece piece (8) can be formed typically by injection molding in sequence of said first and second materials.

  Thus was manufactured the applicator according to Figure 1 d.

  According to another embodiment of this method, and as illustrated in FIGS. 4c and 4d, it is possible to form said one-piece piece (8) typically by injecting simultaneous molding of said first and second materials, A and B, with CA and CB concentration profiles. predetermined along said length L of said one-piece piece, said CA 1 o profile being relative to said first material and said CB profile being relative to said second material, so that said one-piece piece typically has a minimum of flexural strength in said central portion.

EXAMPLES OF REALIZATION

  Brushes (1, 1 ') according to FIGS. 1a-2f, according to FIGS. 3a to 4b, and according to FIG.

  For this purpose, on the one hand, said first longitudinal pieces (6) 20 constituted by said lower (2) and central (3) parts have been manufactured.

  On the other hand, these upper parts (4) provided with said application material (5) have been manufactured or supplied.

  These longitudinal parts (6) are then assembled, by snap-fastening or gluing, to said upper parts, provided with said application material (5), so as to form said applicators (1, 1 ').

  Said first longitudinal parts (6) constituted by said lower (2) and central (3) parts have been formed with the materials indicated in the following table, with regard to said lower (2) and central (3) parts: Brush according to figure Lower part (2) Central part (3) Other material PP = A Metal spring lb PP PP PP 1 d PP Elastomer = B PP PP 2a PP PP 2b PP = A Elastomer = B 2c PP = A PP 2d A + B A + B 2nd PP Elastomer spring 2f PP PP Metal spring 3a and 3b PP = A Elastomer = B 4a and 4b PP = A Elastomer = B Rigid metal ring 4c and 4d PP = A Elastomer = B 5a and 5b Elastomer = B = Elastomer = same silicone resin part (2) 6a and 6b Elastomer = B Elastomer = same as part (2)

LIST OF REFERENCES

  Applicator 1 Brush 1 'Auxiliary Applicator 1' Lower part of 1 = Gripping 2 Axial cavity 20 Grinding medium 3 21 Sliding ring 21 'Axial projection 22 Cavity 23 Central part = Resilient deformation ...

3 Bottom end 30 Bottom projection 30 'Top end 31 Top projection 31' Axial or helical threads 32 Axial diabolo-shaped 33 Succession or alternation 34 Solid parts 340 Recessed parts 341 1 o Coil spring 35 Telescopic device 36 Rod 360 Spring 361 Spring bellows 37 Upper part = support of 5 4 Double-flange sleeve 4 'First portion bound to 3 40 Second support portion of 5 41 Application material 5 Plurality of bristles // to 60 50 First longitudinal part 2 + 3 6 Axial direction 60 Means of assembly between 2 and 3 61 Second longitudinal part = 2 + 3 + 4 7 One-piece molded part = 2 + 3 8 One-piece hollow molded part 8 'Application support 9

Claims (25)

  1. Applicator (1, 1 ', 1 ") of a product, typically a brush (1') for applying a cosmetic product such as a make-up powder to a support (9) such as the skin, comprising a ) a so-called lower portion (2) forming a manual gripping means, typically rigid, said applicator, b) a so-called central portion (3), secured to said lower portion (2) by its lower end (30), forming a means resiliently deforming said applicator under manual stress, c) a so-called upper (4), typically rigid portion, supporting an application material (5), said upper portion (4) being secured to said central portion (3) at its upper end (31), and d) said application material (5) secured by its base (51) to said upper part (4), characterized in that: 1) said lower (2) and central (3) have average apparent sections, denoted respectively SA, and SB such s that the relative distance ER '= ISA-SBI / SA, is less than 0.1, 2) said lower (2) and central (3) parts form a first longitudinal part (6) having an axial direction (60 ), said first piece (6) having a first form factor LID ranging from 3 to 7, L and D respectively denoting the largest axial dimension or axial length of said first piece (6), and the largest dimension or diameter of said first piece (6) perpendicular to said axial direction (60), so as to allow manual gripping of said applicator (1) over the entire length L of said first piece (6), and modulate or manually control, if necessary, said manual constraint, and thus to ensure a high sensitivity and great fineness of application of said product on said support (9).   An applicator according to claim 1 wherein said central (3) and upper (4) portions have average apparent sections, denoted respectively SB and Sc such that the relative deviation ER2 = ISB-Sc! I SB, less than 0.1, so that said lower (2), central (3) and upper (4) portions of said applicator (1, 1 ') form a second longitudinal piece (7) of length L and form factor L '/ D> L / D.   An applicator according to any one of claims 1 to 2 wherein said central portion (3) forming said resilient deformation means of said applicator under manual stress comprises a material selected in kind and / or in section, so that said central part (3) can deform when said manual stress is exerted typically during said application of said product on said support (9), and then be able to resume its original shape as soon as said manual stress ceases.   An applicator according to any of claims 1 to 3 wherein said deformation comprises bending.   An applicator according to any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein said deformation comprises axial compression.   An applicator according to any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein said lower (2) and central (3) portions comprise or are formed of different materials, respectively a first and a second material, said second material having mechanical characteristics, typically flexural or compression moduli lower than the flexural or compression moduli of said first material.   The applicator of claim 6 wherein said first material is or comprises a plastic material, typically a non-elastomeric thermoplastic material, and wherein said second material is or comprises an elastomer.   The applicator of any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein said lower (2) and central (3) portions comprise or are formed of the same material, typically an elastomer or a polymer blend comprising an elastomer.   9. Applicator according to any one of claims 1 to 8 wherein said lower (2) and central (3) have a same section, and form a first piece typically cylindrical.   10. Applicator according to any one of claims 1 to 8 wherein said central portion (3) has, over all or part of its axial length, a minimum material section SBm, typically less than 0.5.SA, chosen to obtain said deformation under manual stress.   11. The applicator of claim 10 wherein said central portion (3) comprises a plurality of N threads (32) axial or helical, each thread (32) having a section of material SF, so that SBm is equal to N.SF with N typically ranging from 2 to 6.   12. The applicator of claim 10 wherein said central portion has a diabolo-shaped axial profile (33), the minimum section of said diabolo (33) being SBm.   13. The applicator of claim 10 wherein said central portion (3) has an axial succession or alternation (34) of solid portions (340) and recessed annular portions (341) typically annular, said recessed portions (341) having said section. SBm material.   14. An applicator according to claim 10 wherein said central portion (3) forms or comprises a helical spring (35), either metal or plastic, forming a helix of outside diameter DR, typically close to D. 15. The applicator of claim 10 wherein said central portion (3) forms a telescopic system (36) with a central rod (360) adapted to penetrate into an axial cavity (20) formed in said lower portion (2) and a spring helical (361), either metal or plastic, surrounding said central rod (360).   An applicator according to any one of claims 1 to 13 wherein said lower (2) and central (3) portions form a one-piece molded piece (8).   An applicator according to claim 16 wherein said one-piece molded part is a hollow part, typically an elastomer, preferably a silicone resin.   18. Applicator according to any one of claims 1 to 15 wherein said lower portions (2) and central (3) form separate parts secured by an assembly means (61), typically by snapping, gluing or welding or by .   An applicator according to any one of claims 1 to 18 in which a) said application material (5) comprises an absorbent material of said cosmetic product, and typically a plurality of bristles (50), typically parallel and oriented in said axial direction ( 60), b) said upper part (4) forms a double sleeve (4 '), with a first portion (40) of attachment to said central portion, and with a second portion (41) for securing said plurality of bristles ( 50), so as to form a brush (1 ') or a brush (1 ").   20. An applicator according to any one of claims 1 to 19 wherein said lower (2), central (3) and upper (4) have a round or oval or polygonal outer cross section, typically constant over said length L or L '.   An applicator according to any one of claims 1 to 20 wherein said lower (2), central (3) and upper (4) portions have a flattened outer cross-section with a thickness e such that D / e is between 2 and 6 , so as to form a two-dimensional applicator adapted to be housed in a dispenser of said cosmetic product.   22. An applicator according to any one of claims 10 to 21 wherein said minimum section of material SBm is a rectangular section of length 1 and width l ', with a form factor 1 / l' ranging from 2 to 4, so as to said applicator (1, 1 ', 1 ") has two distinct levels of flexural strength according to whether said bending stress is exerted parallel to the direction of said length 1 or said width 1'.   23. Applicator according to any one of claims 1 to 22 wherein said lower portion (2) comprises a locking means (21), typically a sliding ring (21 '), so as to prevent, if necessary, said central portion ( 3) to undergo said deformation under said manual stress.   24. A method of manufacturing an applicator according to claims 7 and 17 wherein said one-piece piece (8) is formed by injection molding in sequence of said first and second materials.   25. A method of manufacturing an applicator according to claims 7 and 17 in which said one-piece piece (8) is formed by injection molding said first and second materials, A and B, simultaneously, with predetermined CA and CB concentration profiles. along said length L of said one-piece piece, said CA profile being relative to said first material and said CB profile being relative to said second material, so that said one-piece piece typically has a minimum of resistance to bending in said central portion.