FR3075011A1 - HYBRID APPLICATOR FOR THE APPLICATION OF A PRODUCT, IN PARTICULAR A COSMETIC PRODUCT - Google Patents

Abstract

 The applicator of a product, in particular of a cosmetic product, comprises:  - a gripping member 14,  a rod 12 integral with the gripping member,  - A first application member 18 defining an application surface S of the product intended to come into contact with a body surface to be treated of a user, and a second application member 20 provided with a plurality of elements d application 44 protruding.  The applicator further comprises a core 16 integral with the rod 12 and at the end of which is mounted the first application member 18. The second application member 20 is mounted at least in part around the core 16 Said core 16 comprises at least one flexible articulation part 30 which is elastically deformable and capable of bending on contact with the application surface S of the first application member 18 against the body surface to be treated.

Description

OF A PRODUCT, ESPECIALLY OF A PRODUCT

Hybrid applicator for the application of a product, in particular a cosmetic product

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

“Cosmetic product” means a 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 invention is particularly suitable for the application of a cosmetic product, such as a make-up or care product intended for the treatment of visible signs of aging and fatigue such as dark circles and periocular bags.

Many applicators are known dedicated to an application of this type of cosmetic product comprising a rod secured to a gripping member and at the end of which is mounted an application member which can tilt relative to the rod during the product application.

For example, patent application FR-A1-2 987 244 describes an applicator comprising an applicator member connected to the rod by means of a ball-type joint.

So as to allow automatic return of the application member after application of the product, patent application WOA2-2015 / 124550 recommends, in particular in the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 6 to 8, to interpose between the member application and between the rod an elastically deformable flexible part which delimits the seat of the ball joint.

The applicators described in these two previous documents have the major drawback of allowing only one type of care, namely the application of the product to the body surface to be treated and the massage of this surface, for example to treat visible signs. aging and fatigue.

To overcome this drawback, it is possible to provide an applicator of the type described in patent application FR-A13 021 511. This applicator comprises an applicator member equipped with a base body comprising a curved end intended to applying the product and massaging the skin around the eyes, and a sleeve mounted on the base body and comprising a plurality of combing teeth for applying the product to the keratin fibers.

However, this applicator does not make it possible to achieve a degree of comfort which is perfectly satisfactory when applying the product to the skin. In addition, during this application, the gesture of use imposed by the applicator requires a certain attention and a certain address, especially given the arrangement of the combing teeth.

The present invention aims to remedy these drawbacks.

The subject of the invention is an applicator of a product, in particular of a cosmetic product, comprising a gripping member, a rod secured to the gripping member, a first application member defining a surface for applying the product. intended to come into contact with a body surface to be treated of a user, and a second application member provided with a plurality of projecting application elements.

The applicator further comprises a core integral with the rod and at the end of which the first applicator member is mounted. The second applicator member is mounted at least in part around the core.

The core comprises at least one flexible part of articulation which is elastically deformable and capable of bending on contact with the application surface of the first application member against the body surface to be treated.

By "projecting application element" is meant an individualizable element intended to come into engagement with the eyelashes and / or eyebrows of the user.

By “elastically deformable” is meant an articulation part capable, by the material used and / or its design, of being deformed under the action of a stress exerted by the user after contact with the application surface. of the first application member against the body surface to be treated, for example around the eye, and to return by elasticity to its initial position after cessation of the stress.

The flexibility of the flexible articulation part of the core allows it to deform reversibly and thus to provide a degree of comfort when applying the first application member against the body surface to be treated. This flexibility also makes it possible, at the same time as applying the product, to massage the body surface to be treated. In addition, the deformable nature of the flexible articulation part makes it easy to move the gripping member away from the eye of the user when applying the product and to create new gestures of use.

Furthermore, the mounting of the second application member around the core allows easy assembly of the applicator and to separate this application member from the first application member.

Thus, it is possible to provide for placing the application elements of the second application member axially between the rod and the application surface of the first application member, that is to say without any axial overlap between the application elements of the second member and the application surface of the first member. This makes it easier to use the applicator.

According to an advantageous arrangement, the flexible articulation part of the core is located in the extension of the free end on which the first application member is mounted. This arrangement makes it even easier to move the gripping member away from the eye of the user during application.

To facilitate the deformation of the flexible articulation part of the core, the latter may have a reduced section compared to the rest of the core.

In one embodiment, the second application member comprises a body provided with a through opening inside which the core extends axially, the application elements being carried by the body and extending in protruding from said body.

The application elements may be able to retain the product to be applied on the surface, to transport it and to restore it on the surface to be treated. Application elements may include pins, and / or spikes, and / or ridges, and / or bosses, and / or fins.

So as to facilitate the deformation of the flexible articulation part of the core, at least the body of the second application member can be made of a deformable material.

In a particular embodiment, the second application member is configured to be mounted clamped at least partially on the core. For this purpose, according to a first design, the through opening of the body of the second application member can be dimensioned so that said body is mounted clamped at least partly on the core. According to a second alternative design, the opening of the body of the second applicator member may comprise at least one local constriction extending radially inward and dimensioned so that said body is mounted tight at least partly through said shrunk on the soul.

According to a particular arrangement, the second application member is mounted at least partly around the flexible articulation part of the core.

The second application member can come to bear axially on one side against the rod and on the opposite side against the core or the first application member.

In one embodiment, the core extends in the axial extension of the rod. Alternatively, it is possible to provide an arrangement in which the axis of elongation of the core forms at least a non-zero angle with the axis of elongation of the rod. The soul can for example have a generally curved shape.

The invention also relates to a device for packaging and applying a product, in particular a cosmetic product, comprising a container for storing said product, and an applicator as defined above and mounted removably between a sampling position. in which the first and second application members are located inside the container and capable of being at least partially brought into contact with the cosmetic product contained in said container, and an application position in which the applicator is separated of the container.

Conventionally, the storage container has a neck defining an access opening to the internal volume of the container defined by a side wall and a bottom. Advantageously, the neck of the container is provided with a wiping member adapted to scrape the rod, the second application member and / or the first application member during the extraction of the applicator from the container, so as to remove the cosmetic product loaded in excess on these elements, and to leave on these, and in particular on the first and second application members, the right quantity of cosmetic product desired for application on the body surface treat.

The present invention will be better understood on studying the detailed description of embodiments, taken by way of non-limiting examples and illustrated by the appended drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a view in longitudinal section of an applicator according to a first embodiment of the invention,

- Figure 2 is a perspective view of the applicator of Figure 1,

FIG. 3 is a view in longitudinal section of a device for packaging and applying a product comprising the applicator of FIGS. 1 and 2,

FIG. 4 is a detailed view of FIG. 1,

FIG. 5 is a view in longitudinal section of an applicator according to a second embodiment of the invention,

FIG. 6 is a view in longitudinal section of an applicator according to a third embodiment of the invention,

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the applicator of FIG. 6,

FIG. 8 is a view in longitudinal section of an applicator according to a fourth embodiment of the invention, and

- Figure 9 is a perspective view of the applicator of Figure 8.

In Figures 1 and 2 is shown an applicator, designated by the general reference 10, which is intended to allow the application of a cosmetic product according to different application characteristics of the product.

The applicator 10, of longitudinal X-X ’axis, is shown in a supposedly vertical position. The applicator 10 comprises a rod 12, a gripping member 14 secured to the stem, a core 16 secured to the stem and a first application member 18 mounted at the free end of this core.

The applicator 10 also comprises a second applicator member 20 which forms a brush and which is mounted around the core 16. As will be described in more detail below, the core 16 is elastically deformable to obtain in particular a good degree of comfort when applying the product.

The gripping member 14 of the applicator is configured to form a stopper capable of removably closing a container 21 (FIG. 3), containing the cosmetic product to be applied, so as to close it tightly. To ensure a removable mounting on this container, the gripping member 14 here comprises an internal thread intended to come into engagement with an external thread of the neck of the container. Alternatively, it is possible to provide other types of removable fixing, for example by clipping.

Advantageously, the neck of the container 21 is provided with a wiping member (not shown), implementing a wiping lip and suitable for scraping the rod 12, the second applicator member 20 and / or the first member. 18 during the extraction of the applicator from the container 21, so as to remove the cosmetic product loaded in excess on these elements, and to leave thereon, and in particular on the first and second members 18, 20, the right amount of cosmetic product desired for application on the body surface to be treated.

In the illustrated embodiment, the gripping member 14 and the rod 12 are made in one piece, for example by molding a plastic material. Alternatively, it is possible to provide a fixing of the rod 12 on the gripping member 14 by any other suitable means, for example, by gluing, screwing, etc.

Rod 12 extends along the X-X axis. The core 16 is mounted on the rod 12 axially on the side opposite to the gripping member 14. The core 16 is therefore connected to the gripping member 14 via the rod 12. The core 16 is mounted at the free end of the rod 12. Said free end of the rod is fitted with a housing 22 inside which the core 16 engages to assemble these two elements.

As shown more clearly in Figure 4, a bead 24 for attachment is formed in the housing 22 to secure the core 16 on the rod 12 by radial interference. Alternatively, the fixing of the core 16 on the rod 12 can be carried out by any other suitable means, for example by screwing, gluing, crimping etc. In the case of a core 16 crimped inside the housing 22 of the rod 12, the core 16 may not include a mounting head 26 and the end of the intermediate section 30 located on the side of the rod 12 is directly crimped inside the housing 22 as shown in the alternative embodiment illustrated in Figure 5 in which the identical elements have the same references.

Referring again to Figure 4, the core 16 extends along the axis X-X 'and protrudes from the rod. The core 16 is of rectilinear shape. The applicator member 18 is mounted on the core 16 axially on the side opposite to the rod 12. The applicator member 18 is connected to the gripping member 14 via the core 16 and the rod 12. The applicator member 18 is mounted at the free end of the core 16.

The core 16 comprises a mounting head 26 engaged inside the housing 22 of the rod and an end section 28 defining the free end of said core. The core 16 also includes an intermediate section 30 extending between the head 26 and the end section 28 and connecting said section and said head.

The core mounting head 26 includes a rib 32 for securing to the bead 24 of the rod housing. The mounting head 26 comprises, at its lower end, a shoulder 33 which bears against the second application member 20 as will be described in more detail below.

The intermediate section 30 of the core extends from the shoulder 33 and protrudes from the rod 12. The intermediate section 30 has a reduced section relative to the rest of the core. In the illustrated embodiment, the end section 28 delimits a housing 34 inside which the application member 18 engages to assemble these two elements.

Similarly to the attachment of the core 16 to the rod 12, a bead 36 for attachment is formed in the housing 34 of the end section and cooperates with a rib 38 of the applicator member 18 to ensure the fixing said organ to the core. Again, the attachment of the applicator member 18 of the core on the rod 12 could be carried out as a variant by any other suitable means, for example by screwing, gluing, crimping etc.

The end section 28 comprises, at its lower end, a shoulder 40 for the axial positioning of the second application member 20 on the core.

The applicator member 20 is mounted around the core 16 while being disposed axially between the applicator member 18 and the rod 12. In other words, the applicator member 20 and the applicator member 18 are arranged upstream downstream relative to the rod 12 of the applicator. The core 16 supports the application member 20. The application member 20 comes to bear axially on one side against the shoulder 40 of the end section of the core, and on the other side against the shoulder 33 of the mounting head of said core and against the rod 12.

In the illustrated embodiment, the applicator member 20 comprises a sleeve or body 42 provided with a longitudinal through opening 42a inside which the core 16 extends, and a plurality of elements d application 44 extending projecting from said body. The body 42 may have in cross section a circular, elliptical, polygonal profile, etc. Advantageously, the opening 42a can be dimensioned so that the body 42 is mounted tight on the mounting head 26 and on the end section 28 of the core. In this exemplary embodiment, a radial clearance remains between the intermediate section 30 of the core and the body 42 of the application member.

The body 42 of the applicator member is axially bearing against the shoulder 40 of the end section of the core, and on the opposite side against the shoulder 33 of the mounting head of said core and against the rod 12. The external surface of the body 42 is flush with the external surface of the rod 12. The part of the body 42 which includes the application elements 44 is disposed mainly around the intermediate section 30 and the end section 28 of the core . In the exemplary embodiment illustrated, the body 42 of the sleeve is extended by an annular skirt 46 mounted around the head 26 for mounting the core and engaging inside the housing 22 of the rod.

As can be seen in the variant of FIG. 5, the body 42 of the second application member 20 can also have a part 47 devoid of application elements 44. This part 47 devoid of application elements 44 is advantageously located on the side of the rod 12 and has a constriction or a portion of reduced thickness 49 situated around the intermediate section 30, in the vicinity of the rod 12. Thus, this portion of reduced thickness 49 of the part of the body 42 without application elements 44, forms a preferred deformation zone for the intermediate section 30, this zone preferably being located in the vicinity of the rod 12. In this alternative embodiment, the intermediate section 30 of the rod has a section which gradually decreases from the end section 28.

Referring again to FIG. 4, the application elements 44 of the second application member 20 have a function of separation and combing of the keratin fibers of the user and delimit between them spaces for the passage of these fibers . Each application element 44 extends radially from the body 42.

The application elements 44 are produced here in the form of pins. The applicator elements 44 may have other shapes, for example teeth, and / or spikes, and / or ridges, and / or bosses, and / or fins, etc. The applicator elements 44 are here arranged on the body 42 in the form of rows, each row comprising aligned applicator elements. The application elements 44 can alternatively be arranged according to any other type of arrangement. As an indication, the height of the application elements 44 can be between 1 and 6 mm. Application elements 44 may have an equal height or may have a variable height along the X-X ’axis. It is also possible to provide application elements which are different from one another by at least one of their shape, thickness, height, orientation, color and / or material.

The applicator member 20 is obtained by molding at least one thermoplastic material. The body 42 and the application elements 44 can be molded from the same synthetic material, or as a variant can be made from at least two different synthetic materials. The application elements 44 may for example be made in one piece by molding with the body 42 or by overmolding on said body, or else be fixed to the body by any suitable means, for example by gluing, flocking, crimping, etc.

As an indication, to mold the second applicator member 20, it is advantageous to use a flexible synthetic material such as SEBS, a silicone, latex, butyl, EPDM, a nitrile, a thermoplastic elastomer, etc.

As previously indicated, the applicator member 18 engages inside the housing 34 of the core. The applicator member 18 comprises a mounting head 48 mounted inside said housing 34 and provided with the bead 36, and an applicator part 50 which extends the head 48. The applicator part 50 defines an application surface S intended to come into contact with the body surface to be treated of the user. The application surface S has a convex shape, here hemispherical. Advantageously, the application surface S is devoid of roughness so as to offer gentle contact with the body surface to be treated. Preferably, at least the applicator part 50 of the application member is made of a material capable of producing a feeling of cold when it comes into contact with the body surface to be treated. The material may for example contain at least one element chosen from glass, ceramic, mineral and metal. Preferably, the element is a metal, for example chosen from stainless steel, aluminum, or an alloy, in particular an alloy of zinc, aluminum and magnesium and optionally copper (ZAMAC) or their mixtures.

As indicated above, starting from the rod 12 of the applicator, the second application member 20 and then the first application member 18 are successively disposed on the core 16. There is no axial overlap between the part applicator 50 of the first application member and the application elements 44 of the second application member, considering the axis XX ′.

So as to obtain an applicator which is comfortable and easy to use, the core 16 is made of an elastically deformable material so as to be able to flex when it comes into contact with the application surface S of the applicator part 50 of the first member. application against the body surface to be treated. As an indication, the core 16 can for example be made of a flexible synthetic material such as SEBS, a silicone, latex, butyl, EPDM, a nitrile, a thermoplastic elastomer, etc. The core 16 can thus be obtained at lower cost by molding in one piece.

In addition, as indicated above, the intermediate section 30 here has a reduced section relative to the rest of the core 16, which promotes deformation of the latter in this area. Alternatively, it could also be possible to produce only the intermediate section 30 in an elastically deformable material.

The applicator 10 allows the first application member 18 and the second application member 20 to be used independently.

When the user wishes to treat the visible signs of aging and fatigue such as dark circles and periocular bags, he applies the first application member 18 against the body surface to be treated, for example by making rotational movements around the eye. Beforehand, the applicator was inserted inside the associated storage container to load the two application members 18, 20 with product.

During the contact of the first application member 18 with the body surface to be treated, taking into account the flexible nature of the core 16, the latter deforms elastically by bending, mainly at the level of the intermediate section 30, and thus provides a softness on application and allows, concomitantly with the application of product, to perform a massage of the body surface to be treated. The intermediate section 30 forms a flexible articulation part of the core 16. In addition, the flexibility of the core 16 makes it easier to separate the gripping member 14 from the axis of the eye, which makes application easier. When the first application member 18 is no longer in contact with the body surface to be treated, the core 16 resumes its initial shape by elasticity.

When the user wishes to apply the product to keratin fibers, such as the eyelashes and the eyebrows, he uses the second application member 20 with an orientation of the rod 12 and of the core 16 parallel to the eyes and lashes.

The embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7, in which the identical elements bear the same references, differs mainly from the first example described in that the core 16 and the second application member 20 have a curved shape whose concavity is oriented on the side of the axis XX '. The applicator member 20 includes applicator elements 52 projecting from the body 42 on the side opposite this concavity.

The application elements 52 are presented here in the form of successive striations and spaced apart from each other by considering the axis X-X ’. The application elements 52 extend over a limited angular sector which is less than 180 °. The applicator elements 52 also have here a function of separation and combing of the user's keratin fibers and delimit between them spaces for the passage of these fibers.

The curvature of the core 16 and of the second application member 20 makes it possible to move the application elements 52 away from the axis XX ′ of the rod 12 and thus facilitate the application of product to the keratin fibers. , in particular by clearing the user's field of vision. In this exemplary embodiment, the second application member 20 is molded onto the core 16. As a variant, the second application member 20 may be a separate piece, for example mounted tightly on the core 16. The member d application 20 here axially bears on one side against the first application member 18, and on the other side against the shoulder 33 of the mounting head of said core and against the rod 12.

In this embodiment, during the contact of the first applicator member 18 with the body surface to be treated, the core 16 and the applicator member 20 are deformed and flex together so as to provide softness on application , and then resume their initial shape by elasticity when the application stops.

The embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9, in which the identical elements bear the same references, differs from the first example described in that the intermediate section 30 of the core 16 has a reduced axial length and the end section 28 has an increased axial dimension. The intermediate section 30 is in the form of a short constriction whose section is substantially smaller than that of the rest of the core 16. Similarly to the first embodiment, the intermediate section 30 of the core forms the part articulation flexible which is elastically deformable. The intermediate section 30 is located in the vicinity of the rod 12. In this embodiment, the part of the body 42 equipped with the application elements 44 is arranged around the end section 28 of the core.

The second applicator member 20 covers the end section 28, the intermediate section 30 and part of the core mounting head 26. The second application member 20 is mounted tightly on the core 16. The second application member 20 is in shape agreement with the parts of the core 16 which it covers. In another embodiment, the second application member 20 could be molded onto the core 16.

Thanks to the invention, there is an applicator making it possible to carry out with the same product two different types of care, such as an application to the eyelashes and eyebrows and an application to the skin, with a particularly satisfactory degree of comfort. and allowing new gestures of use.

Claims (13)

1. Applicator of a product, in particular of a cosmetic product, comprising: a gripping member (14), a rod (12) integral with the gripping member, a first application member (18) defining an application surface (S) of the product intended to come into contact with a body surface to be treated by a user, and a second applicator member (20) provided with a plurality of projecting applicator elements (44; 52), characterized in that the applicator further comprises a core (16 ) integral with the rod (12) and at the end of which the first application member (18) is mounted, the second application member (20) being mounted at least in part around the core (16) , said core comprising at least one flexible articulation part (30) elastically deformable and capable of bending on contact with the application surface (S) of the first application member against the body surface to be treated. 2. Applicator according to claim 1, wherein the application elements (44; 52) of the second application member are arranged axially between the rod (12) and the application surface (S) of the first application member . 3. Applicator according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the flexible articulation part (30) of the core is located in the extension of the free end on which is mounted the first application member (18). 4. Applicator according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the flexible articulation part (30) has a reduced section compared to the rest of the core. 5. Applicator according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the second application member (20) comprises a body (42) provided with a through opening (42a) inside which extends axially the core (16), the application elements (44; 52) being carried by the body and projecting from said body. 6. Applicator according to claim 5, wherein at least the body (42) of the second application member (20) is made of a deformable material. 7. Applicator according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the application elements (44; 52) comprise pins, and / or spikes, and / or ridges, and / or bosses, and / or fins. 8. Applicator according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the second application member (20) is configured to be mounted clamped at least in part on the core (16). 9. Applicator according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the second application member (20) is mounted at least in part around the flexible articulation part (30) of the core. 10. Applicator according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the second application member (20) comes to bear axially on one side against the rod (12) and on the opposite side against the core (16) or the first application member (18). 11. Applicator according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the core (16) extends in the axial extension of the rod (12). 12. Applicator according to any one of claims 1 to 10, in which the axis of elongation of the core (16) forms at least a non-zero angle with the axis of elongation of the rod (12). 13. Device for packaging and applying a product, in particular a cosmetic product, comprising a container (21) for storing said product, and an applicator (10) according to any one of the preceding claims removably mounted between a sampling position in which the first and second application members (18, 20) are located inside the storage container (21) and able to be at least partially brought into contact with the cosmetic product contained in said container, and an application position in which the applicator is separated from the container.