MXPA97006563A - Powder product applicator and application manufacturing procedure - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a powder product applicator (1) characterized in that it comprises a support (2) of which at least a part of the surface is covered by flocking a mixture of coating fibers (3) and powder (4). ) of the indicated product to be applied. The invention also relates to a method of manufacturing the applicator according to the invention. Application to cosmetic powders

Description

POWDER PRODUCT APPLICATOR AND APPLICATOR MANUFACTURING PROCEDURE DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The invention refers to applicators of products, in particular for the care and topical treatment of the skin, including the makeup of the skin, nails, hair and mucous membranes. The invention is particularly directed to a powder applicator, ready for use, easy to handle, single use and having an efficiency at least equivalent to that of traditional products. hermore, the invention relates to an easy and inexpensive device to be made, as well as to a method for obtaining the applicator according to the invention. The invention can be applied mainly as a tester or sample of cosmetic products, such as skin care or makeup powders (color tones, eyelid shadow, blush, kohl, eyeliner, eraser or wrinkle eraser, etc.) or such as products dispensed in doses, easy to transport. It is already known to make samples of cosmetic products, in particular, from adhesive bands on which the product to be tested is sprayed. On the other hand, testers that are previously pressed on the powder are known to obtain ready-to-use samples that have only one covered face. Also known are applicators having a core comprising a coating by flocculation on which a powder is compacted. All these systems present mainly the disadvantage of not offering a good conservation of the powder on its support in the course of transport. On the other hand, when applied on the skin, the transfer is often uneven, thus performing a makeup of insufficient quality. Likewise, the comfort of the application leaves much to be desired. The patent application 95/11111 deposited on September 27, 1995 in the name of the applicant and REF: 25429 entitled "Foam applicator for the care and topical treatment of the skin" describes, as shown in Figure 1, a small foam applicator for the care and topical treatment of the skin, nails, hair and mucous membranes, constituted by two foam plates 11, of size and of substantially identical contours, superimposed edge to edge, between which a powder 12 of a cosmetic, dermatological or pharmaceutical, hydrossluble or water-emulsifiable product has been encapsulated, the two plates 11 being held in a secured manner by at least one weld in the vicinity of its periphery or on it. Such a system is not, however, completely satisfactory, since it presents a braked restitution of the powder through the meanders of the cells constituting the foam. Accordingly, one of the objects of the present invention is to make a powder product applicator ready for use, and that does not present the aforementioned drawbacks, in particular offering a good conservation of the powder on the applicator in the course of its transport, as well as a good transfer of the powder in its application on a surface under treatment, thus making a homogeneous application. Other objects of the present invention will appear, in detail, in the description that follows. According to the invention, these objects are achieved by means of a powder product applicator characterized in that it comprises a support, at least part of whose surface is covered by a mixture of coating and powder fibers of said product which is apply, having deposited said mixture on the support by flocculation. By way of example, the mixture comprises between 0.1 and 40% powder of said product, and preferably between 5 and 20% powder. The support can be constituted by a material such as paper / textile, plastic, elastomer or honeycomb. Advantageously, the fibers are nylon, cotton, rayon, polyamide, or polyester fibers, or any mixture of these different categories. The invention also relates to a method for manufacturing a powder product applicator consisting in applying, by flocculation, on at least a part of the surface of a support, a mixture of coating fibers and powder of said product to apply . Advantageously, the application by flocculation comprises the following steps: a) in given proportions, mix the powder of the product to be applied with coating fibers suitable for electrostatic application; b) covering at least a part of the surface of the support with a liquid adhesive; c) by electrostatic attraction, deposited on the surface of the support thus covered the mixture obtained in the course of step a), thus orienting the particles forming the mixture substantially perpendicular to the surface of the support and d) pass the support Coated through drying media. Advantageously, the product powder is an encapsulated powder of pigments. By way of example, we will say that a polyethylene powder coated with polyurethane, and with pigments, or a talcum powder coated with urea-formol and pigments is used. The powder can be porous and impregnated with agents that make it electrostatic. Also by way of example, we will say that the powder can be constituted at least in part with a non-mineral powder of the Rilsan type "" (polyamide powder 11) or Expansel '*'. According to another aspect of the invention, an application assembly of a powder product is also realized, characterized in that it comprises an applicator according to the invention. Such an application assembly may comprise an applicator, one end of which carries an application member formed on a support, the other end constituting gripping means, a cover having been provided for sealingly enclosing at least said application member. In the detailed description that follows, reference will be made to the drawings, among which: Figure 1 schematically illustrates an applicator as written in the French patent application 95/11111; Figures 2a-2c represent different embodiments of the applicator according to the invention; - Figures 3a-3c illustrate the main steps of the process for manufacturing the applicators according to the invention. The applicator according to the invention arises from the observation that, surprisingly, a powder particle can be treated in the same way as a fiber (or hair) and advantageously applied on a support by the same flocculation technique. Figure 2a to which we will refer now, represents a view in longitudinal section of a first embodiment of the applicator 1 according to the invention. This mainly comprises a central core 2, which does the job of support and which can have different shapes, lengths and thicknesses. In the represented embodiment, the support has an elongated shape, substantially sharp at one of its ends. The support can be made of plastic, elastomer, foamed material, frit, textile / paper or any other suitable material. It presents on at least a part of its surface, an area of application 6 of the product obtained according to the invention by flocculation of a mixture of fibers 3 and powder 4. As shown, the fibers are essentially oriented in a perpendicular arrangement to the surface of the support to which they adhere by means of a layer of glue 5. The powder particles 4 are in turn deposited on the support in the course of the same flocculation operation 2. Most of the dust particles they are located at the base of the fibers on the support along which they can rise substantially to their end. The fibers are chosen to favor the coupling of the powder. By way of example, depending on the powder that is to be loaded on the applicator, we will say that Nylon, rayon, polyamide, polyester, etc., or any mixture of such fibers will be used. In the illustrated embodiment, one end 7 of the support is left bare, to define a grasping area for a user, or to be hooked by any appropriate organ. The layout and size of the grip / application zones is defined in an industrial process, for example by means of well-known covering techniques. The applicators according to the invention can also be mounted on a handle 30 or any other means of grip that allows their use. Equally, the applicator may comprise a cover 31 capable of covering at least the portion containing the powder. Such a cover is advantageously presented in the form of a sleeve closed at one of its ends and whose internal wall houses substantially the shape of the applicator. The cover can then be mounted on the applicator, either by screwing, or by means of an annular impeller cooperating with an annular groove disposed in the applicator. Sealing means 32 can be provided to allow a watertight packaging of the product. Similarly, the powder may be identical in color to the coating fibers, or of a different color. Typically, the mixture applied by flocculation on the support comprises 0.1 to 40% powder, and preferably 5 to 20% powder. By way of indication, the powder particles have an average size between 0.5 and 500 μm, and preferably between 10 and 100 μm. Such powder may comprise active, fatty substances, superabsorbents of moisture or fat. By way of example also, the powder may be constituted by a dehydrated emulsion. Within the field of cosmetics, we can cite the powders for the care of the skin, the color tones, the products of the type of eyelid shadow, blush, etc. Figure 2b represents a variant of the embodiment of figure 2a and is distinguished from the latter because the hairs in which the powder has been incorporated have different lengths. In the same way, fibers of different natures and / or diameters can be used, which allow to vary the smoothness of the application, the amount of powder loaded on the applicator, etc. Thus, in the course of using the applicator according to the invention, the free powder located essentially at the base of the hairs and along the hairs, can be applied on the desired surface. The tests carried out have shown that the applicator according to the invention offers a remarkable maintenance of the powder on the applicator during its transport, as well as a better transfer of the powder to the skin by applying a slight pressure. Figures 3a-3c illustrate a preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention. In a first step, (figure 3a) the support 2 is transported by an appropriate mechanism 20 to the level of a bath of liquid adhesive 21, in which the area of application of the applicator is submerged. By way of example, we will say that a monomeric, acrylic, vinyl, water based or solvent based adhesive is used. Alternatively, the coating with adhesive of the support is carried out by spraying (by spray). The fiber / powder mixture is treated (electrically charged) so that it can be applied electrostatically. Depending on the percentage of powder to be applied, only the fiber coating (flocculation), or at the same time powder and flocculation will be treated. The powder can be made fit to be electroscopically charged, for example by coating particles, binders, or pigments capable of being charged. The mixture obtained is maintained under agitation by suitable agitation means, adjusted, however, so as not to affect in a sensitive manner the electrostatic charge of the mixture. In a second step, (Figure 3b), the fiber / powder mixture 3, 4 is applied on the coated part of the support 2 by application of an electrostatic field. The particles that constitute the mixture remain in suspension in the air and are deposited on the impregnated surface of the applicator by electrostatic attraction. Thus, in most cases, these particles are oriented substantially perpendicular to the impregnated surface. Finally, in a third stage (Figure 3c) the element thus coated is passed through drying means 21 (a stove, for example). In the case of a monomer adhesive, drying will allow the adhesive to be polymerized. Advantageously, after cooling, the excess of particles (at the same time the product powder and the fibers) is eliminated by aspiration. Various containers for such an applicator can be considered. By way of example, it can be packaged in thermoformed trays, which have an opening operculum, or in the form of individual sachets. In the case of an applicator of substantially longitudinal shape (of the type of pen or pencil) and one of whose ends is reserved for grasping, it is advantageous to provide clamping devices (criterium type) for taking the applicator for its untreated part. These types of packaging are only given as an indication. It is evident that other modalities are possible, depending on the form and the use of the applicator. In the foregoing description, reference has been made essentially to preferred embodiments of the invention. It is clear that variants can be provided without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed below. It is noted that in relation to this date, the best method known to the applicant to carry out the aforementioned invention, is that which is clear from the present description of the invention. Having described the invention as above, property is claimed as contained in the following

Claims (22)

1. - Powder product applicator, characterized in that it comprises a support, at least part of whose surface is coated with a mixture of coating and powder fibers of the said product to be applied, said mixture being deposited on the support by flocculation

2. Applicator according to claim 1, characterized in that the mixture comprises between 0.1 and 40% powder of said product.

3. Applicator according to claim 2, characterized in that the mixture comprises between 5 and 20% powder of said product.

4. Applicator according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the support is constituted by a plastic, elastomer, textile / paper or honeycomb material.

5. Applicator according to any of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the fibers are fibers of Nylon, cotton, rayon, polyamide, or polyester.

6. Applicator according to any of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that said mixture comprises fibers of different length and / or of different nature and / or diameter.

7. Applicator according to any of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the support has a non flocculated portion in order to allow grasping or catching said applicator.

8. Applicator according to claim 7, characterized in that it comprises a cover intended to cover at least the flocculated part, there being sealing means that ensure a tight packaging of the product.

9. Applicator according to any of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the average size of the particles constituting the powder of said product is between 0.5 um and 500 um.

10. Applicator according to claim 9, characterized in that the average size of the particles constituting the powder of said product is between 10 um and 100 um.

11. Applicator according to any of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the powder is identical in color or different from the color of the coating.

12. Applicator according to any of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the product is a shade of color, blush, a product for eyelid shadow, a draft of wrinkles or dark circles, a kohl, etc ...

13. Applicator according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the powder product is constituted by an encapsulated powder of pigments.

14. Application set of a powder product characterized in that it comprises an applicator according to any of the preceding claims.

15. Application assembly according to claim 14, characterized in that it comprises an applicator, one end of which carries an application member formed on a support, the other end forming grasping means, a cover having been provided to contain in a sealed manner at least said application body.

16. Process for manufacturing a powder product applicator, consisting in applying by flocculation on at least a part of the surface of a support, a mixture of coating fibers and powder of said product to be applied.

17. Process according to claim 16, characterized in that the application by flocculation comprises the following steps: a) in given proportions, mixing the product powder to be applied with coating fibers, the coating fibers and possibly the powder being electrostatically charged; b) covering at least a part of the surface of the support of a liquid adhesive; c) by electrostatic attraction, deposit on the surface of the support thus coated the mixture obtained in the course of the stage, thus orienting the particles forming the mixture substantially perpendicular to the surface of the support, and d) passing the support thus coated through drying means.

18. Process according to claim 17, characterized in that it also comprises the following step: e) after cooling, remove excess particles by aspiration.

19. Process according to claim 17 or 18, characterized in that the coating of liquid adhesive is carried out by dipping or by spraying.

20. Process according to any of claims 16 to 19, characterized in that the mixture comprises between 0.1 and 40% powder of said product.

21. Process according to any of claims 16 to 20, characterized in that the mixture comprises between 5 and 20% powder of said product.

22. Process according to any of claims 16 to 21, characterized in that said mixture comprises fibers of different length and / or of different nature and / or diameter.