FR2902338A1 - Face mask obtaining method for e.g. medical field, involves cutting strip into shape that is adapted to area of skin to be covered, and forming finishing trim adjacent to edge of shape by pressing operation during or after cutting strip - Google Patents

Abstract

The method involves providing a strip comprising yams (2) and an active filler (4) with therapeutically or cosmetically beneficial properties, where the active filler is made of green clay. The strip is cut into a shape that is adapted to an area of a skin to be covered. A peripheral finishing trim (31`) is formed adjacent to an edge of the shape by a pressing operation during or after cutting the strip. An independent claim is also included for a part for covering an external zone of animal or human body.

Description

MASK WITH EDGE FINISH

  This is a piece intended to cover an outer area of a human or animal body and its method of production. The use of clay for medical or beauty purposes has been known for a long time, and the therapeutic or cosmetic properties of certain clays have already been studied.

In this respect, particularly in EP-A-116,240, it has already been proposed an active load band for use in particular for treatment in humans and animals. This strip comprises an aerated structure support carrying a load of clay, in particular green clay, adhered to it. A problem posed here relates to the production of a covering part of a skin zone, this part having a priori a shape other than that of such a strip.

It is indeed useful for the piece to best fit the shape of the area of the body to be covered. It is also useful that the typically filamentous constitution of the web structure to which the active load is bound does not interfere with the use of the workpiece, either in appearance or interference with sensitive areas of the body, such as the eyes, nostrils, lips ... It has also been found useful to prevent the ends of strands from creating parasitic catching areas 30 which can cause the load to detach , locally.

2 2902338 Another aim is to offer at a competitive cost a part as aforesaid likely to meet the requirements of the market and potential buyers, whether in terms of ease and speed of production, ease of packaging, storage, appearance, In these conditions, it is first proposed that the covering part of said body zone comprises a support structure with son retaining an active load therapeutic or cosmetic virtue having a capacity of liquid absorption, the piece having a cut-out shape adapted to the body area to be coated, with a peripheral finishing edge. In a preferred application, it is expected that this piece has a form of facial mask, with two internal cutouts for the eyes, both the outer edge of the mask and the contour of the cutouts for the eyes having said finishing edge. In addition to the part, there is also proposed a favorable method of obtaining. This process will preferably comprise the following steps in which: a) one starts from a band comprising yarns and an active load with therapeutic or cosmetic virtue and having a liquid absorption capacity, this load, which is linked to the yarns; , being then in the dry state, b) cutting in this band a shape adapted to the body area to be covered, c) and, during this cutting, or later, is carried out at the edge or in the immediate vicinity of the edge of said shape a peripheral finishing edge, by pressing.

3 2902338 Favorably, the cut form will be heated towards its edge to obtain the finishing edge. It is advisable that, during step a), the strip from which it is made is made with an aerated support 5 having said yarns and carrying, as active filler, a dry clay filler then adhering to the support and / or that during this step a), the strip peripherally has individual tips of projecting threads.

In order to obtain the shape of the part during step b), provision is made in particular for the use of a punch. Complementarily or alternatively, provision is furthermore made: to substantially simultaneously perform the cutting of step b) and the pressing of step c), to create the cutting zone around the pressing zone of the band that is cut, - and to press this band that is cut from one of its faces, in a groove, so that this face has, after the pressing, said border then formed in recess, the opposite face having a relief edge trace. Regarding the filamentous support of the strip, it is expected that it is favorably an aerated support, particularly a woven or a nonwoven, intimately impregnated by the clay load which is present on both sides of the support, the clay filler being favorably a green clay adhering to the support structure. Among the clays, the properties of green clay have indeed attracted particular attention.

4 2902338 Green clay (therapeutic) has general properties of decongestion, disinfection, healing and alleviation of pain. Thus, the therapeutic green clay closes the wounds 5 without local irritation and without microbial proliferation, which eliminates the risk of inflammation, by removing the mood. It dries burns and closes ulcerous wounds. It improves the circulation of the blood and thus removes the 10 venules and varicose veins. It also works in cases of osteoarthritis and calms pain. It is known that this green clay typically contains the following constituents: silica, iron oxide, aluminum oxide, manganese, zinc oxide, magnesia, potassium, lime, soda, chlorine, sulphates, phosphorus, carbonates, gold, silver and calcium. Among these constituents, phosphorus, in equilibrium with calcium, is involved in bone building. Magnesium is involved in many vital reactions; it provides the energy-rich bonds of carbohydrates and has enzymatic activity. Calcium contributes to the ionic balance of the blood. Potassium is needed for intracellular exchange across membranes and for the release of muscle energy.

The invention makes it possible to obtain a product allowing easy and convenient exploitation of the properties of the clay. The product is particularly simple to use, since it is sufficient for the person who uses it to place the part on the part of the body concerned, the piece, flexible and without mechanical strength, marrying of itself the shape of this part. body, this especially in the wet state.

As indicated, the favorable aeration of the support of the product obtained must allow the penetration of the clay throughout the thickness of the support and thus a better adhesion between the clay and this support, as well as obtaining a piece lined with a layer of clay on both sides. This aerated support can be in natural or synthetic fibers; but an aerated cotton support (gauze) seems particularly suitable.

The base band which will therefore preferably be used to obtain the desired piece may be in lengths of 3 or 5 meters, for example. It will then suffice for the user to extend the band to (un) cut off the form (s) retained (s), depending on the intended use. It has been found that satisfactory results of treatment are typically obtained by the application on the part concerned of a said piece, soaked with water, left in place between hours and two hours.

If desired, other products or treatment agents may be incorporated into the web, or piece, to obtain, for example, a specific therapeutic or cosmetic effect. In order to adhere the clay sufficiently and definitively to the filamentary support of the strip and / or the part, reference may be made to EP-A-116 240. Thus, it will be possible to produce a suspension of clay (green). preferably) in a liquid medium formed by an adhesive and a solvent or dispersing agent for it, so as to form a pasty or sufficiently viscous mass that will be applied to the support, in particular by coating. The assembly will then dry to cause removal of the solvent or dispersant agent. The suspension can be prepared by introducing a clay powder into a liquid consisting of the solvent or dispersing agent and the adhesive. It is possible to use an organic solvent or dispersing agent, such as methylene chloride. The adhesive incorporated in this solvent or dispersant is suitably a cellulosic product, such as a cellulose ether.

This pasty filler can be produced from 50 to 60 liters of solvent per 100 kg of clay, and about 2 kg of glue per 100 kg of clay. The pasty or viscous mass obtained can then be applied to the support, for example at a scraping station, at a rate of 400 to 600 g of clay per square meter. The scrolling of the support to the coating station and its favorably ventilated nature favor the intimate penetration of the pasty mass into its structure and the attachment. At the outlet of the coating station, the product formed is conveyed through a drying tunnel, for removal of the solvent or dispersing agent. The temperature may be of the order of 40 C in the case of methylene chloride. It is also possible to dry the product in air at room temperature. After drying, the produced strip can be cut to the required width and wound around a core, then cut to the desired length, or it can be cut directly into short strips held flat.

An exemplary implementation will be given hereinafter, in particular making it possible to understand the process according to the invention, in relation to the accompanying figures in which: Preferably, from strip 1 which has has been shown above and that it is seen that figure 5 can be prepared in part 3 of FIGS. 3 and 4. The strip is therefore thin (a few mm thick) and made of a flexible material. that it is untied and can be easily pulled and unrolled on the tray, or conveyor belt, 5 of the preparation machine 7 schematically shown in Figure 1. This band therefore comprises a ventilated support 15 made of flexible son 2 intertwined (a gauze for example based on cotton) incorporating and retaining an active load 4 having a liquid absorption capacity, here a green clay load. The load, and therefore the band are in the dry state. Ends of projecting threads 6 appear on the periphery of the band. Above the plate 5, the preparation machine 7 comprises an enclosure 9 defining a volume of cleanliness limited by walls 11. Inside is disposed a cutting device 25 and a pressing device 15. Favorably, as here these two devices are grouped together in the same tool 17, so that they will act together on the strip 1. The tool 17 comprises a matrix 19 disposed at the location of an area of the plate 5. The matrix 19 comprises a slot 21 lined internally by a recessed shape, or groove, 23.

The slit 21 draws the outer contour of the part 3 to be obtained. It is definitely deeper than the throat. The recessed shape 23 follows this contour, a priori in a manner immediately adjacent to the slot 21. Opposite this die is a movable punch 25 which moves alternately up and down and, as shown in FIG. vertical arrows marked there.

The punch 15 comprises a cutting knife 27 which defines a punch device, with the slot 21 into which it enters the lower cutting position. The punch also includes a raised, domed shape 29 arranged slightly recessed with respect to the knife 27; see Figure 1. The raised form 29 is complementary to the recessed form or groove 23 and has the same contour as it. The raised form 29 is peripherally bordered, a priori immediately adjacent, by the knife 27. Suppose that the piece 3 to be obtained is a face mask, as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4. The contours of said slots and hollow form of The die 19 and those of said knife and raised form of the punch 25 will then be adapted to the drawing of the outer contour of this mask, to reproduce or follow it, as shown schematically in Figure 2 for the knife 27 of the punch, the embossed form of the pressing device 30 has not been illustrated so as not to overload the figure.

If, as in FIGS. 3, 4, the mask 3 comprises openings 30a, 30b for the eyes, there will be found a cutting knife having this shape on the punch side 25 and a complementary slot on the die side 19 5 to cut this shape into the band 1, the same for any other form to cut. Preferably each knife / slot assembly will be lined internally by the pressing means, such as the relief / recessed shape assembly, which will make it possible to produce the finishing edge 31 expected at the edges of the blanks of the part 3, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the movable cutting knife 27 will therefore have a closed shape 27a corresponding to the outer contour of the mask, if such a mask is to be produced from the strip 1. Two others internal cutting contours (not shown) will define the cut to be made for the eyes, 30a, 30b.

The shape of the cutting elements constituting the knife 27 will therefore be adapted according to the shape to be cut. Concerning the pressing elements, it will be noted that they will very favorably enable hot pressing of the strip, or cut piece 3. For this, it is expected that electric heating resistors 33 are arranged at the location of the pressing form 29 carried by the punch. The hot pressing means, such as 29, 30 will favorably, during pressing and cutting of the strip 1 to heat it to about 60-100 C, and preferably around 80 C, if a band 2902338 as described at the beginning of the description is used. 3 and 4, it will be noted that the mask 3 obtained has a finishing edge adjacent to each cutout 31, 31a and 31b. On one side, Figure 3, these borders are recessed relative to the rest of the surface of the mask. On the opposite side, FIG. 4, the corresponding finishing edges 31 ', 31a', 31b 'are slightly convex and thus define the counter-shape of the recesses of the first face. Preferably, the different borders will be continuous and therefore extend over the entire periphery of the cutouts.

Optionally, one could imagine dashed borders; less favorable solution, as well as hollows on both sides. From the illustrations of FIGS. 1 and 2, the method of obstruction of the part 3 will be favorably the following one: the strip 1 is unrolled on the plate 5. Traction and holding means, not shown, hold it on this tray. The band portion between the die 19 and the punch 25 is then cut to the shape and the (x) contour (s) of the workpiece 3; and preferably at substantially the same time this portion of the web is pressed to make the finishing edge 31 at the edge of the workpiece 3. The heating at about 80 ° C of the press tool 15 helps to obtain a border clean, compact, and therefore a clean outline.

With the cutter 13 described, it will therefore be favorably to cut the piece 3 by punch.

The piece 3 obtained thus bears, printed by the press, a compression trace which constitutes the aforementioned finishing edge. For the conditioning of the parts 3 obtained downstream of the tool 17, it was possible to place a sheet 35 under the part of the strip disposed facing this tool (see FIG. 1). It may be a plastic sheet interposed between two parts 3 belonging to a stack of such parts.

On the body area to be covered, the part 3 will be wetted, so that it will naturally follow the shape of this zone, with the load active directly to its contact. 15 12

Claims (6)

  A method of obtaining a workpiece for covering an area of a human or animal body, said method comprising steps in which: a) starting from a web (1) comprising threads (2) and a web active filler (4) with therapeutic or cosmetic virtue and having a liquid absorption capacity, this load, which is linked to the yarns, then being in a dry state, b) cutting into this strip a form (3) adapted to the body area to be covered, c) and, during this cutting, or subsequently, is made at the edge or in the immediate vicinity of the edge of said shape a border (31) peripheral finish, by pressing.   2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that to obtain the finishing edge (31), the cut form is heated towards its said edge.   3. Method according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that, in order to carry out the pressing, a hot press (15) is moved towards the strip (1) to be cut, or to the form (3) already cut. ) which is adapted to imprint the strip, or the shape, and which, when removed, once the imprint is marked, leaves the border as a trace on the strip or shape. 30   4. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, during stage 290a, the strip (1) from which one starts has been made with a ventilated support having said threads and carrying, as active filler, a load of dry clay then adhering to the support and / or, in step a), the strip peripherally has protruding ends of son (6).   5. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that during step b), the form (3) is cut by punch (13).   6. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that: - is made substantially at the same time the cut 15 of step b) and the pressing of step c) - one creates a cutting zone (21, 27) around the pressing zone (23, 29) of the band which is cut, - and is pressed in a groove (23), and from one of its faces this band that is cut, so that this face has, after pressing, said hollow edge, the opposite face having a relief edge trace (31 ', 31a', 3lb '). 10. A method according to claim 4, or 5 or 6 attached to claim 4, characterized in that the aerated support is a woven or a nonwoven impregnated intimately by the clay load (4) which is present on the two faces of the support, the clay load being a green clay. 11. A part intended to cover an outer zone of a human or animal body and obtained by the implementation of the process according to any one of the preceding claims. 9. Part intended to cover an outer zone 5 of a human or animal body and comprising a support structure with yarns (2) retaining an active load (4) with therapeutic or cosmetic virtue having a liquid absorption capacity, the piece having a shape (3) cut adapted to the body area to be covered with a peripheral finish edge (31) marked recessed on at least one face. 10. Part according to claim 9, characterized in that it has a form of face mask (3), with two internal cutouts (30a, 30b) for the eyes, both the outer edge of the mask and the contour of the cutouts for the eyes having said finishing edge (31, 31 '). 11. Part according to any one of claims 9 to 10, characterized in that the active load is a green clay load adhering to the support structure. 12. Part according to one of claims 9 to 11, characterized in that, charged with dry clay, it is flexible, without holding, so that, wet, it naturally marries the shape of the body against which it is placed. 30