FR3066684A1 - COSMETIC MASK - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a cosmetic mask (1) comprising a body (2) made from at least one substrate forming a flexible sheet, characterized in that said body comprises a frame (4) in the form of a closed loop made from a flexible material, said armature being deformable between an unfolded configuration in which the loop forms a closed turn and a folded configuration in which the loop forms at least two superimposed turns.

Description

Cosmetic mask

The present invention relates to a cosmetic mask intended to be applied to a body surface of a user.

The present invention relates more particularly to a facial mask intended to be applied to the face of the user.

Such a mask is in particular intended to wear a cosmetic product with a view to its application on the body surface. Examples of such cosmetic masks are described in particular in documents US2016227905 and FR2971933.

“Cosmetic products” means any product as defined in Regulation (EC) No. 1223/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of November 30, 2009, relating to cosmetic products.

The cosmetic composition can be, in particular, in the form of a homogeneous or heterogeneous liquid, such as for example an oil, a direct or reverse emulsion, a solution, a gel, an anhydrous oil, a lotion or a cream.

In particular, the composition is a skin care composition, in particular a hydrating, whitening, or anti-aging composition.

Depending on the material used for the production of the mask, a cosmetic mask, in particular a facial mask, can also be used without cosmetic composition, for the purpose, for example, of absorbing an excess of sebum.

Thus, in general, a cosmetic mask comprises a sheet of a substrate, whether or not impregnated with a cosmetic composition.

Depending on the desired cosmetic properties as well as the absorption - impregnation and / or release properties desired, different materials can be used for the production of the substrate sheet forming the mask.

The substrate can for example be made from a textile or net, woven or nonwoven. The textile can be made from natural or synthetic fibers, such as cellulose, polypropylene, polyethylene, or nylon fibers, or even a mixture of several types of fibers.

The substrate can also be produced from a canvas, a strip, for example aluminum, or a polymer film. The substrate can also be produced in the form of a thin layer, in particular having a thickness of less than 2 mm, of an elastomeric material or of a foam, such as a polyurethane foam.

Among other things, the substrate sheet may have occlusive properties and / or particular permeability properties with respect to one or more substances, in particular air and / or water.

The substrate sheet can be monolayer or multilayer, the different layers then preferably being made of different materials. It is possible in particular to provide an impregnation layer, intended to contain the cosmetic composition and to come into contact with the skin surface to be treated, and an external occlusion layer.

The substrate sheet is dimensioned and shaped so as to be able to substantially cover the target surface area of the body. For a facial mask, the substrate sheet may in particular have a generally circular general shape.

In particular, for a face mask, the substrate sheet will advantageously include openings corresponding substantially to the mouth, nose and eyes of a user.

In order to protect the mask and / or the cosmetic composition, the masks, in particular impregnated, are generally packaged individually, typically in a sachet. Furthermore, the masks are generally packaged in a folded state.

When using the mask, the substrate sheet in its folded state is extracted from its individual packaging, and must be unfolded before it can be applied to the body surface to be treated.

In the case of a mask impregnated with a cosmetic composition, the presence of said cosmetic composition makes the substrate sheet particularly wet and / or sticky. As a result, it is often difficult for the user to manipulate and unfold the substrate sheet simply with his fingers.

Specifically, it may be difficult for the user to find the edge of the folded backing sheet, resulting in wasted time for the user. In addition, it may be difficult for the user to keep the edge moist and / or sticky which can then easily bend or fold.

In the worst case, the substrate sheet can also tear and must therefore be handled with care.

Finally, during deployment, part of the substrate sheet can spontaneously curl and come to stick to another part of the sheet. The positioning of the mask on the skin is then even more difficult since the user will have to take off the adherent part while maintaining the rest of the mask.

It should also be noted that, unlike wipes, which are not intended to remain in prolonged contact with the skin, a cosmetic mask is intended to remain on the skin for several minutes or even tens of minutes. It is therefore important that such a mask can be easily manipulated and positioned precisely on the area to be treated.

Various solutions have been proposed in order to improve the handling and the fitting of such a cosmetic mask.

It has in particular been proposed to provide the substrate sheet with lateral gripping lugs (e.g. US6702792).

There are also many techniques for folding and unfolding cosmetic masks aimed at facilitating their handling (e.g. PCT / JP2011 / 070308).

It has also been proposed to package the cosmetic mask in a state wrapped around a rod and not folded (e.g. KR101684594 and KR101684595).

There is still a need for a solution to facilitate the deployment of a cosmetic mask.

To do this, the present invention relates to a cosmetic mask comprising a body made from at least one substrate forming a flexible sheet, characterized in that said body comprises a frame in the form of a closed loop made from a flexible material, said frame being deformable between an unfolded configuration in which the loop forms a closed turn and a folded configuration in which the loop forms at least two superimposed turns.

Thus, by providing a flexible frame foldable in superimposed turns, it is possible to fold the cosmetic mask while keeping the frame in a state of tension which forms a sort of spring tending to return to its unfolded configuration and thus allowing rapid unfolding and easy of said mask.

Indeed, by releasing the frame, it naturally tends to unfold (due to the twists applied during folding) to regain its substantially flat shape.

Depending on the desired state of tension, the frame can be more or less elastic deformable.

Such folding systems are known and used for tents (e.g. FR2928953A1) as well as for bicycle protections (FR2998251A1) for example. For more information on the operating principle and folding techniques, reference can be made to these documents incorporated by reference.

According to a preferred embodiment, the body of the mask is impregnated with a cosmetic composition.

Advantageously, the frame is located on a face of the body opposite to a surface for applying said mask intended to come into contact with the surface of the skin or face to be treated.

The folded mask with its armature under tension can be kept in the folded configuration by any means, for example by a removable or other attachment. Preferably, the folded mask will be kept in the folded configuration by its packaging bag. Thus, the cosmetic mask will unfold upon extraction from the sachet.

Preferably, the frame is at least partially peripheral, preferably entirely peripheral. The peripheral character is understood in relation to the main body and does not prevent the presence of lugs, in particular of grip which would protrude from the frame and extend slightly beyond the periphery of the main body.

According to one embodiment, the frame can be made from glass fibers or carbon fibers. These materials are known for their great elastic flexibility and high spring effect, and are conventionally used in the aforementioned applications.

However, in particular in the case of a mask impregnated with cosmetic composition, it will be advantageous to use a material having a relaxation and a less significant spring effect, this in order to limit the risks of projection of cosmetic composition during deployment.

Thus, according to a preferred embodiment, the frame is made of plastic, in particular from a thermoplastic material, for example polyethylene or polypropylene. The use of a plastic material having a lower elasticity will make it possible to obtain a more or less significant conformation of the frame maintained in the folded position. The spring effect will be less important but the frame will always naturally tend to unfold and the deployment of the mask remains extremely simple and facilitated. The frame may be fixed to the body of the mask by any means, in particular by gluing or welding. Two-component adhesives or quick-drying UV adhesives may preferably be used, such adhesives having increased resistance to humidity and to substrate impregnation compositions.

In particular, and preferably, for a frame made of a thermoplastic material, the frame can be fixed to the body of the mask by ultrasonic welding or heat welding, the plastic material being slightly melted so as to bind or mix intimately with the material. of the substrate, in particular when the latter is a porous or fibrous material. This avoids the addition of an adhesive which could present compatibility problems with the cosmetic composition. In addition, it is also possible to bond the plastic frame to the substrate directly in a mold by a technique called "in mold" allowing to overmold part of the frame to the body of the mask. This is especially possible for a plastic frame obtained according to an injection molding process which can thus be carried out directly on the substrate.

According to a first embodiment, the frame is made by extruding plastic. The extruded profile is then cut to an appropriate length and its ends are joined to form the frame loop.

According to a second embodiment, the frame is produced by injection molding. In this way the frame can be made in one piece. Its strength and elasticity are thereby increased and it is not necessary to provide a cutting step and a step of joining / closing the loop.

Advantageously, it is possible to integrate into the frame at least one lateral element for fixing a mask holding member to the area to be treated. In particular for a facial mask, it may be a headrest or ear support to help keep the mask in place on the face. The lateral fastening element may be in the form, for example, of an eyelet for fixing a string or an elastic band around the head or around the ear. The fixing element can also be a head circumference directly integrated into the injected plastic material or even be a head circumference directly made of plastic material and extending the frame.

Advantageously, the frame comprises a base for connection to the body of the mask surmounted by a contour profile. Preferably, the connecting base is substantially planar. The bonding base can be continuous or discontinuous and be discretely bonded to the substrate.

The contour profile may have different sections, in particular substantially circular or rectangular, the shape of the section being able to be adapted according to the material used and the flexibility / elasticity sought.

According to an advantageous embodiment, the frame, and in particular the contour profile, has a hollow section. Such a profile generally has greater flexibility.

According to a first variant, the hollow section is a closed hollow section. Thus the frame and in particular the contour profile can have a substantially cylindrical section. Such a frame can be produced by extrusion. The presence of such a hollow section can also make it possible to facilitate the junction of the two ends of the frame after extrusion, in particular by insertion and local fixing of a junction bridge, for example, plastic or metal between the two ends.

Alternatively, the hollow section is an open hollow section, for example in a U or V. Such shapes can be obtained by an injection molding process. The sections obtained by such a process will generally be less flexible.

Advantageously, the opening is oriented towards the body of the mask. The ends of the open section (legs of the U or of the V) can then advantageously have a flattened end forming the connection base.

Preferably, the frame forms a continuous loop. Advantageously, the frame is made in one piece.

The present application also relates to the cosmetic mask in its folded state in which the frame comprises at least two superposed turns.

The present invention also relates to a packaging assembly for a mask according to the present application, the packaging assembly comprising a bag containing at least one mask in the folded configuration.

The present invention also relates to a method for folding a cosmetic mask according to the present application, characterized in that said folding method comprises the steps aimed at forming, from the unfolded frame, at least two turns, in particular by twisting, then fold the two turns one on the other.

Advantageously, three turns are formed from the unfolded frame, the three turns being successively folded over each other. An even more compact mask in the folded position is thus obtained and having greater elasticity returning to its unfolded configuration.

The present invention will be better understood in the light of the detailed description which follows with reference to the appended drawing in which: - Figure 1 is a schematic representation of a cosmetic mask according to the present application. - Figures 2 to 5 are schematic representations of the different stages of folding the mask of Figure 1. - Figures 6a and 6b are representations of different plastic frame profiles produced by an extrusion process. - Figures 7a and 7b are representations of different plastic frame profiles produced by an injection process. - Figures 8 to 10 are schematic representations of variants of the mask of Figure 1 incorporating various attachment features.

Figure 1 shows a cosmetic mask 1 according to the invention.

The mask 1 comprises a body 2 made from at least one substrate forming a flexible sheet.

As indicated above, the substrate may in particular be a textile, woven or non-woven, produced from natural or synthetic fibers, such as cellulose, polypropylene, polyethylene, or nylon fibers, or even a mixture of several types of fibers.

The substrate sheet is dimensioned and shaped so as to be able to substantially cover the target surface area of the body. In this case, Figure 1 shows a facial mask 1. The substrate sheet thus has a generally substantially circular general shape.

In addition, the body 2 advantageously has openings 3a, 3b, 3c corresponding substantially respectively to the mouth, the nose and the eyes of a user.

In accordance with the present application, the body 2 comprises an armature 4 in the form of a closed loop.

In this case, as shown in Figure 1, the frame is peripheral, more precisely completely peripheral. The frame 4 is made from a flexible material which can be deformed between an unfolded configuration (FIG. 1) in which the loop forms a closed turn and a folded configuration (FIG. 5) in which the loop forms at least two superposed turns, in hopefully three overlapping turns. The frame 4 forms a continuous loop.

The folding of the mask 1 can be carried out as illustrated in FIGS. 2 to 5.

Initially (Figure 2), and whatever the folding method, the mask 1 is unfolded and substantially flat, the frame 4 forming a single closed loop.

The mask 1 is then folded over as shown in FIG. 3 so that the frame 4 forms three loops (crossing of the frame: a central loop and two side loops) located substantially in the same plane. One of the side loops is then folded over the central loop (Figure 4, thus forming two superimposed turns), then the second side loop is folded over the two previous loops so as to obtain three superimposed turns (Figure 5). Other folding methods consisting in forming, from the unfolded frame 4, at least two turns, in particular by twisting, and then folding the two turns one on the other are possible.

Depending on the flexibility of the frame 4 and its length, it is thus possible to twist the frame 4 in the manner of a single oo to form two turns which are then folded over one another. It is also possible to twist the frame in adjacent double oo (twist to obtain a small loop and a large loop, the large loop then being itself twisted to obtain three flat loops) or successive (twist to obtain an 8 whose the loops are folded down, the double whorl is then folded again into an 8).

Yet another possibility is to fold the substrate and the reinforcement in half along a transverse or longitudinal line, in a substantially symmetrical manner. Two extreme points of the frame joining and being held together. The two extreme points of the reinforcement in the other direction, longitudinal or transverse, are then folded down to meet so as to form the three superimposed turns.

Such folding systems are known and used for tents (e.g. FR2928953A1) as well as for bicycle protections (FR2998251A1) for example. For more information on the operating principle and folding techniques, reference can be made to these documents.

As explained above, the flexible frame 4 foldable in superimposed turns makes it possible to fold the cosmetic mask 1 while keeping the frame in a state of tension which forms a sort of spring tending to return, at least partially, to its unfolded configuration and allowing thus quick and easy unfolding of said mask.

Thus folded, the mask 1 can be packaged in its packaging (not shown), typically a sachet, this packaging ensuring the maintenance in the folded position.

Advantageously, in the case of a mask 1 impregnated with a cosmetic composition, the impregnation may take place directly in the packaging of the mask in the folded position. The frame 4 will be as thin as possible so as not to disturb the application of the mask 1 and to remain very easily foldable.

The section of the frame 4 will preferably be less than 2 mm, preferably less than 1 mm, possibly excluding the connection platform to the body 2 which may be wider, typically up to 5mm.

According to a preferred embodiment, the frame 4 is made of plastic, in particular from a thermoplastic material, in particular polyethylene or polypropylene. The frame 4 is fixed to the body 2 of the mask 1 by ultrasonic welding or heat welding, the plastic material being slightly melted, in a discrete or continuous manner on at least part of the periphery, so as to bind or mix intimately to the material of the substrate, in particular when the latter is a porous or fibrous material. This avoids the addition of an adhesive which could present compatibility problems with the cosmetic composition.

According to a first embodiment, the frame 4 is produced by extruding plastic material. The extruded profile is then cut to an appropriate length and its ends are joined to form the frame loop.

According to a second embodiment, the frame is produced by injection molding. In this way the frame can be made in one piece in a continuous loop. Its strength and elasticity are thereby increased and it is not necessary to provide a cutting step and a step of joining / closing the loop.

As shown in FIGS. 8 to 10, it is possible to integrate into the frame 4 at least one lateral element for fixing a mask holding member to the area to be treated. In particular for a facial mask 1, it may be a headrest or ear support which helps to keep the mask in place on the face.

Thus, FIG. 8 shows a mask 1a comprising a frame 4 integrating lateral eyelets 5 suitable for allowing the mounting of an elastic or holding string 6 intended to be passed around the ears or the head of a user.

FIG. 9 shows a mask 1b in which the frame 4 has lateral extensions 7, preferably molded directly with the frame 4, said side extensions 7 forming earhooks.

Figure 10 shows a mask 1b according to the same principle as Figure 9, the frame having an extension 8 forming a head circumference.

Figures 6a, 6b and 7a, 7b show different reinforcement profiles 4.

Figures 6a, 6b show profiles made by extruding plastic. The extruded profile is then cut to the correct length and the two ends are joined to form the loop of frame 4.

Figures 7a, 7b show profiles made by injection of plastic. The frame can thus be made in one piece in the form of a continuous loop.

Each frame profile 4 has a base 4a for connection to the body of the mask 1, said connection base 4a being surmounted by a contour profile.

The connection base may be entirely peripheral and follow the contour profile or be discreet and distributed over said periphery.

Depending on the desired flexibility, the section of the contour profile and more generally of the frame 4 can be adapted.

In particular, the frame may have a hollow or solid section.

A hollow section will generally allow greater flexibility of the reinforcement.

The hollow section can be closed (Figures 6a, 6b) or open (Figure 7a), a closed section, hollow or not, providing greater rigidity.

Preferably, the section is cylindrical.

The open section may in particular have a U-shaped section (FIG. 7a) or a V-shaped section. The opening of the section is oriented towards the body 2 of the mask. The connecting base 4a can then be in the form of lugs at each end of the branches of the U or V. As alternatives, the section can also have a T or W profile.

Claims (13)

1. Cosmetic mask (1) comprising a body (2) produced from at least one substrate forming a flexible sheet, characterized in that said body comprises a frame (4) in the form of a closed loop produced from a flexible material, said frame being deformable between an unfolded configuration in which the loop forms a closed turn and a folded configuration in which the loop forms at least two superimposed turns. 2. Cosmetic mask (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the frame (4) is at least partially peripheral, preferably entirely peripheral. 3. Cosmetic mask (1) according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the frame (4) is made of plastic. 4. cosmetic mask (1) according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the frame (4) incorporates at least one lateral fixing element (5) of a holding member (6) of the mask on a user's face. 5. cosmetic mask (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the frame (4) comprises a connecting base (4a) to the body of the mask surmounted by a contour profile (4b) . 6. Cosmetic mask (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the frame (4) has a hollow section. 7. Cosmetic mask (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that the hollow section is a closed hollow section. 8. Cosmetic mask (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that the hollow section is an open hollow section, the opening being preferably oriented towards the body (2) of the mask. 9. Cosmetic mask (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the frame (4) forms a continuous loop. 10. Cosmetic mask (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that it is in a folded configuration, the frame (4) forming a closed loop having at least two turns, preferably three turns , superimposed. 11. Packaging assembly for a mask (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a sachet containing at least one mask in the folded configuration. 12. A method of folding a cosmetic mask (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that said folding method comprises the steps aimed at forming, from the unfolded frame (4), at least two turns, then fold the two turns one over the other. 13. A folding method according to claim 12, characterized in that it is formed three turns from the unfolded frame, the three turns being successively folded over each other.