FR2946233A1 - APPLICATOR FOR COSMETIC PRODUCT. - Google Patents

Abstract

An applicator (10) for a cosmetic product is provided which comprises: - a first array of applicator elements attached to a first elongated core (14) having a distal end (16) and a proximal end (18), the first network applicator members having free ends (20) defining a first applicator profile; a second network of applicator elements attached to a second elongate core (24) having a distal end (26) and a proximal end (28), the second network of applicator elements having free ends (30) defining a second profile applicator; and - a connector (31) attached to the distal ends (16,26) of the first and second elongated cores (14,24) when the cores are disposed substantially side by side so as to join the distal ends of the cores. In one embodiment, the proximal ends (18, 28) of the first and second elongated webs may be connected to the shaft (32) of a shaft (34).

Description

-1- APPLICATOR FOR COSMETIC PRODUCT FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a cosmetic applicator for a cosmetic product, such as a mascara.

The applicators for cosmetic products generally comprise a core ending in a fiber network defining a brush for the application of the cosmetic product. This fiber network has a particular performance in the application of cosmetics, related to the nature and arrangement of the fibers.

The general idea of providing more than one fiber network in order to vary and improve the performance of the product application is not new. For example, the applicator described in US2008163885 entitled Dual Hemisphere Cosmetic Brush is produced by forming two brushes at the ends of a rod of son twisted continuously, each brush having fibers with different characteristics. Each brush is cut to the core of twisted wires in order to remove 180 ° from the brush, so that by folding the twisted wire rod by the middle, the two cut brushes can be brought one against the other. another to form a 360 ° brush consisting of two 180 ° brushes. This results in an applicator brush for cosmetics with two different fiber characteristics on each half of the applicator brush.

The arrangement described in US2008163885, however, has a number of defects. For example, the manufacturing costs of such a product are too high for the manufacture of this product to be implemented and practical. In addition, the physical limitations related to the length of the twisted wire rod currently available pose another problem. For example, this product requires a twisted wire rod 60 to 70 mm in length to provide a brush length of 25 mm, and sufficient space between the two brushes to allow folded rod resulting from being inserted into a support. There are no such lengths of twisted wire rod, the maximum length currently available is about 45 mm, which would lead eventually to a brush of a length of 15 mm, which is too short. Thus, to be able to manufacture this brush, it would be necessary to design and build a new machine at a prohibitive cost.

Another limitation of the cosmetic applicator disclosed in US2008163885 is that since a single core length of twisted yarns is folded to join the terminal brushes, the resulting brush is limited to two different types of fibers. of brush, each unfolding over 180 ° around the core of twisted wires.

An object of the present invention is therefore to provide a mascara applicator for resolving the defects of the applicator described in US2008163885. In particular, an object of the present invention is to provide a cosmetic product applicator, in a simple and cost-effective manner, which has 2, 3 or more different brush fibers around its core, in the idea of varying and improve the application performance of the cosmetic product. A first aspect of the present invention is to provide a cosmetic product applicator comprising: - a first network of applicator elements attached to a first elongate core having a distal end and a proximal end, the first network of applicator elements having free ends defining a first applicator profile; a second network of applicator elements fixed to a second elongated core having a distal end and a proximal end, the second network of applicator elements comprising free ends defining a second applicator profile; and a connector attachable to the distal ends of the first and second elongated cores when the cores are disposed substantially side by side so as to join the distal ends of the cores.

In one embodiment, the proximal ends of the first and second elongate webs may be connected to the shaft of a shaft.

In one embodiment, the first and second networks of applicator elements extend 180 degrees around the first and second elongate cores, respectively, so that when the cores are arranged side by side, an applicator profile of ° is defined around the first and second souls.

In one embodiment, the first and second applicator profiles vary along the lengths of the first and second elongate webs respectively. In one embodiment, the first and second applicator profiles vary radially about the lengths of the first and second elongate webs respectively.

In one embodiment, the applicator comprises at least one additional network of applicator elements attached to at least one additional elongated core, each core having a distal end and a proximal end, each provided with an additional network of applicator elements. having free ends defining additional applicator profiles.

In one embodiment, the so-called first, second and additional networks of applicator elements are deployed around the elongated cores respectively said first, second and additional, so that when the cores are arranged side by side, a 360 ° applicator profile is defined around souls say first, second and extra.

In one embodiment, the connector includes an applicator end for precise application of the cosmetic product.

In one embodiment, the applicator elements comprise fibers and application teeth.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, a method of manufacturing an applicator for a cosmetic product is provided, the method comprising:

providing a first array of applicator elements attached to a first elongate core having a distal end and a proximal end, the first array of applicator members having free ends defining a first applicator profile;

providing a second network of applicator elements attached to a second elongate core having a distal end and a proximal end, the second network of applicator members having free ends defining a second applicator profile;

the arrangement of souls substantially side by side; and

attaching a connector to the distal ends of the first and second elongated cores so as to join the distal ends of the cores.

In one embodiment, the method includes connecting the proximal ends of the first and second elongated webs to a shaft of a shaft.

In one embodiment, the method includes the size of the first and second networks of applicator elements, such that the first and second networks of applicator elements extend 180 degrees around the first and second elongate webs respectively. so that when the souls are arranged side by side, a 360 ° applicator profile is defined around the first and second cores.

In one embodiment, the method includes providing at least one additional array of applicator elements attached to at least one additional elongate core, each core having a distal end and a proximal end, and each additional network of applicator elements. having free ends defining applicator profiles, the method comprising arranging all the webs substantially side by side and attaching the connector to the distal ends of the webs so as to join the distal ends of the webs.

In one embodiment, the method comprises the size of the so-called first, second and additional networks of applicator elements, so that when the cores are arranged side by side, a 360 ° applicator profile is defined around the so-called first cores, second and extra.

A third aspect of the present invention is to provide an applicator for a cosmetic product comprising at least three elongated cores arranged side by side, each elongated core defining a distal end and a proximal end and being provided with an array of applicator elements defining applicator profiles for the application of the cosmetic product.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 shows a side view of an applicator for a cosmetic product, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

Figures 2A to 2D schematically show the steps involved in the manufacture of an applicator as shown in Figure 1;

Fig. 3 shows a side view of a connector for use in the applicator shown in Fig. 1; FIGS. 4A-4F show side views of a plurality of lengthwise applicator profiles that can be taken by the applicator shown in FIG. 1;

Figs. 5A-5C show alternative side views of applicator profiles varying in length direction that can be taken by the applicator shown in Fig. 1;

Figure 6 shows another side view of a lengthwise applicator profile that can be taken by the applicator shown in Figure 1; and

FIGS. 7A to 7D show sectional views from the end of a plurality of radially varying applicator profiles that can be taken by the applicator shown in FIG.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to Figure 1, an applicator 10 for cosmetic product comprises a first network of applicator elements 12 attached to a first core 14, generally elongate son twisted. The first elongated core 14 has a distal end 16 and a proximal end 18, the first network of applicator elements 12 having free ends 20 defining a first applicator profile.

The applicator 10 further comprises a second network of applicator elements 22 attached to a second elongate core 24 also having a distal end 26 and a proximal end 28. The second network of applicator elements 22 has free ends 30 defining a second applicator profile. A connector 31 may be attached to the distal ends 16, 26 of the first and second elongated cores 14, 24. Thus, when the cores 14, 24 are arranged substantially side by side, as shown in FIG. 1, the distal ends of the cores 14, 24 are joined together. The connector 31 may be attached to the distal ends 16, 26 by heat sealing or it may be pinched or force-fitted.

In one embodiment, the proximal ends 18, 28 of the first and second elongate webs 14, 24 may be connected to a shaft 32 of a shaft 34.

In one embodiment, the first and second networks of applicator elements 12, 22 extend about 180 ° about respectively the first and second elongated cores 14, 24. Thus, when the cores 14, 24 are arranged side by side, as shown in Figure 1, a 360 ° applicator profile is defined around the first and second cores 14, 24.

Referring now to FIGS. 2A-2D, and according to a second aspect of the present invention, a method of manufacturing the applicator 10 of FIG. 1 is shown. The method includes providing a first array of applicator elements 12 attached to a first elongated core 14 having a distal end 16 and a proximal end 18. As mentioned above, the first array of applicator elements 12 has free ends 20 defining a first applicator profile.

The method further includes providing a second array of applicator elements 22 attached to a second elongated core 24 having a distal end 26 and a proximal end 28. As mentioned above, the second network Applicator elements 22 have free ends 30 defining a second applicator profile.

In a preferred embodiment, the method comprises a size of the first and second networks of applicator elements 12, 24, so that the first and second networks of applicator elements 12, 22 extend over 180 ° around respectively first and second second elongate webs 14, 24. This size can be made in many known ways, but is shown schematically in Figure 2B by scissors 38. Thus, after the size, the souls can be arranged side by side, as is shown in FIG. 2C, so as to define a 360 ° applicator profile around the first and second cores 14, 24.

The process is completed by attaching the connector 31 to the distal ends 16, 26 of the first and second elongated cores 14, 24 so as to join the distal ends 16, 26 of the cores 14, 24 and then to connect the proximal ends 18, 28 the first and second cores 14, 24 to the rod 32 of a handle 34.

In one embodiment, the connector 31 comprises an applicator end 40 in the form of protruding fibers, allowing precise application of the cosmetic product. Such a connector 31 is for example shown in Figure 3. Thus, the connector 31 may be manufactured so as to be itself an application tool, for example by being flocked or having brush fibers. The applicator end 40 may be used, for example, for a user's eye angle, for precise application or combing.

In FIG. 1, the first and second applicator profiles are shown as being pointed from the proximal ends 18, 28 towards the distal ends 16, 26. However, it is clear that it is possible to provide many different applicator profiles varying along the lengths of the first and second elongated cores 14, 24 to respond to a specific function. These will now be briefly described with reference to Figs. 4A-4F, 5A-5C and 6.

FIG. 4A shows an applicator profile 42 pointed at the distal end on one of the cores, and an applicator profile 44 pointed at the distal and proximal ends on the other core.

Figure 4B shows an applicator profile 46 pointed at the distal end on one of the cores, and a curvilinear applicator profile 48 on the other core.

FIG. 4C represents an applicator profile 50 pointed at the distal end on one of the cores, and a rectangular applicator profile 52 on the other core.

Figure 4D shows an applicator profile 54 pointed at the distal and proximal ends on one of the cores, and a curvilinear applicator profile 56 on the other core.

FIG. 4E shows a rectangular applicator profile 58 on one of the cores, and an applicator profile 60 pointing at the distal end and in the form of a half-arrow at the proximal end on the other core.

Figure 4F shows an applicator profile 62 pointed at the distal end on one of the cores, and an applicator profile 64 in the form of a half-arrow at the distal end on the other core.

FIGS. 5A, 5B and 5C show side views of a mascara brush in which each of the applicator profiles is adapted to the application of mascara on the eyelashes of either the right eye or the left eye of the eye. 'user. In particular, FIG. 5A shows an applicator profile 66 widening towards the distal end on one of the cores, and an applicator profile 68 narrowing toward the distal end on the other core. Figure 5B shows an applicator profile 70 pointed at the proximal end on one of the cores, and an applicator profile 72 pointed at the distal end on the other core. Finally, FIG. 5C shows an applicator profile 74 in the form of a half-arrow pointing towards the distal end on one of the cores, and an applicator profile 76 in the form of a half-arrow pointing towards the proximal end on the other soul.

FIG. 6 shows yet another side view of a lengthwise applicator profile that can be adopted by the applicator shown in FIG. 1, namely an applicator profile 78 pointed at the distal end on the one of the souls, and an applicator profile 80 crenellated on the other soul. In this embodiment, for example, the applicator members of the narrowest sections 82 of the profile 80 may differ from the applicator members of the widest sections 84 of the profile 80.

In addition, with reference now to Figs. 7A-7D, the first and second applicator profiles may vary radially about the lengths of the first and second elongate webs 14, 24, respectively. These figures will now be briefly described.

FIG. 7A represents a semicircular applicator profile 86 on one of the cores, and a triangular applicator profile 88 on the other core.

FIG. 7B represents a semicircular applicator profile 90 on one of the cores, and a semicircular applicator profile 92 of smaller diameter on the other core.

FIG. 7C represents a semicircular applicator profile 94 on one of the cores, and a rectangular applicator profile 96 on the other core. Finally, FIG. 7D represents a semicircular applicator profile 98 on one of the cores, and a semicircular applicator profile 100 shifted with a smaller diameter on the other core.

It is clear that it is possible to provide a combination of applicator profiles varying both along and radially around the lengths of the first and second elongate webs 14, 24.

In one embodiment, the applicator 10 may comprise at least one additional network of applicator elements attached to at least one additional elongate core, in addition to the first and second networks of applicator elements 12, 22 previously described. Each additional core will have a distal end and a proximal end, each with an additional network of applicator elements having free ends defining additional applicator profiles.

In this embodiment, the so-called first, second and additional networks of applicator elements are deployed around the elongated cores respectively said first, second and additional, so that when the cores are arranged side by side, a 360 ° applicator profile is defined around souls say first, second and extra. Accordingly, the manufacturing method described above should be slightly modified so as to accommodate the additional network of applicator elements. In particular, the method will include arranging all the webs substantially side by side and attaching the connector to the distal ends of the webs so as to join the distal ends of the webs.

In addition, the method will include the size of the so-called first, second and additional networks of applicator elements, so that when the cores are arranged side by side, a 360 ° applicator profile is defined around the so-called first, second and additional cores. . Thus, for example, in the case of 3 cores, the first, second and third networks of applicator elements will, for example, be cut so as to be each deployed over 120 ° around each core, so that when they are grouped, they together form the required 360 ° applicator profile. Similarly, in the case of 4 souls, the first, second, third and fourth networks of applicator elements will for example be cut so that each unfolds on 90 °. It is estimated that 4 cores will be sufficient to provide the application performance of the required cosmetic product.

It is obvious that for applicators comprising 3 or 4 cores, it is preferable to use a relatively thinner stainless steel wire, in order to avoid that the final assembled applicator is too massive.

Also, the networks of applicator elements can be cut so that, once joined by the connector 31, they do not deploy over the entire 360 °. Thus, for example, it is possible to cut 3 networks of applicator elements on 3 cores, at 90 °. This would leave 3 empty zones of 30 ° between the applicator elements in which the mascara can be trapped, thus providing a loading effect when applying the mascara.

The applicator elements generally consist of fibers, as shown in the figures, but may also take the form of application teeth which are generally injection molded from a plastic material.

Finally, the applicator 10 can be part of a device for rotary mascara, of the type covered by the European application pending simultaneously number 08356132.4. This arrangement would treat the eyelashes gradually, so that as and when the rotation of the brush, the various applicator profiles come into contact with the eyelashes one after the other. Thus, simply by maintaining the rotary applicator, the eyelashes will for example be loaded, combed, loaded, etc., depending on the characteristics of each applicator profile present in the applicator. Once the rotation is complete, the applicator end 40 may be used to complete the application as necessary, as described above.

The present invention thus provides an applicator for a cosmetic product that can be provided with 2, 3 or more types of different brush fibers around its core, with the idea of varying and improving the performance of the application of the cosmetic product. . Thus, instead of making a double brush which is then cut and folded into shape, as described in US2008163885, the present invention involves the manufacture of individual brushes which are then assembled. In particular, no new brush machine equipment is needed. Also, the principle of the assembly used according to the invention makes it possible to use more than two brushes to produce a multizone applicator, as described above. -15-

Claims (14)

REVENDICATIONS1. An applicator (10) for a cosmetic product, comprising a first array of applicator elements (12) attached to a first elongate core (14) having a distal end (16) and a proximal end (18), the first array of elements applicators having free ends (20) defining a first applicator profile, characterized in that it also comprises a second network of applicator elements (22) attached to a second elongate core (24) having a distal end (26) and a proximal end (28), the second array of applicator members having free ends (30) defining a second applicator profile, and a connector (31) attachable to the distal ends (16, 26) of the first and second elongate webs ( 14,24) when the souls are arranged substantially side by side, so as to join the distal ends of the souls. An applicator according to claim 1, wherein the proximal ends (18, 28) of the first and second elongate webs may be connected to the shaft (32) of a shaft (34). An applicator according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first and second networks of applicator members extend 180 ° about the first and second elongated webs, respectively, so that when the first and second webs are arranged side by side, a 360 ° applicator profile is defined around the first and second cores. An applicator according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first and second applicator profiles vary along the lengths of the first and second elongate webs respectively. An applicator according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first and second applicator profiles vary radially about the lengths of the first and second elongate webs respectively. An applicator according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising at least one additional network of applicator elements attached to at least one additional elongate core, each additional elongate core having a distal end and a proximal end, and each additional network of applicator elements having free ends defining additional applicator profiles. An applicator according to claim 6, in which the so-called first, second and additional networks of applicator elements are deployed around the elongated first, second and additional elongate cores respectively, so that when the cores are arranged side by side, a profile 360 ° applicator is defined around the so-called first, second and additional souls. An applicator according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the connector (31) comprises an applicator end (40) for precise application of the cosmetic product. An applicator according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the applicator element is selected from the group consisting of fibers and application teeth. A method of manufacturing an applicator (10) for a cosmetic product comprising: providing a first array of applicator elements attached to a first elongated core (14) having a distal end (16) and a proximal end (18). ), the first network of applicator elements having free ends (20) defining a first applicator profile; and characterized in that it further comprises: providing a second array of applicator elements attached to a second elongated core (24) having a distal end (26) and a proximal end (28), the second array of applicator elements having free ends (30) defining a second applicator profile; the arrangement of souls (14,24) substantially side by side; and attaching a connector (31) to the distal ends of the first and second elongate cores to join the distal ends (16,26) of the cores (14,24). The method of claim 10 including connecting the proximal ends of the first and second elongate webs to a shaft (32) of a shaft (34). 12. The method of claim 10 or claim 11, comprising the size of the first and second networks of applicator elements, so that the first and second network of applicator elements are deployed over 180 ° around the first and second respectively. the second elongate souls, so that when the souls are arranged side by side, a 360 ° applicator profile is defined around the first and second cores. The method of any one of claims 10 to 12, comprising: providing at least one additional array of applicator elements attached to at least one additional elongated core, each core having a distal end and a proximal end, each provided with an additional network of applicator elements having free ends defining additional applicator profiles; and arranging all the webs substantially side by side and attaching the connector to the distal ends of the webs so as to join the distal ends of the webs. 14. The method of claim 13, comprising the size of said first, second and additional networks of applicator elements, so that when the cores are arranged side by side, a 360 ° applicator profile is defined around the so-called first cores, second and additional.