WO1999009858A1

WO1999009858A1 - Method for making a support coated with compressed powder for cosmetic use and support obtained by said method

Info

Publication number: WO1999009858A1
Application number: PCT/FR1998/001776
Authority: WO
Inventors: François Lhuisset
Original assignee: Lvmh Recherche
Priority date: 1997-08-21
Filing date: 1998-08-07
Publication date: 1999-03-04
Also published as: FR2767458A1; FR2767458B1

Abstract

The invention concerns a method for making a support coated with compressed powder and the support obtained by said method. Said support (1) constitutes the end of a prehensile handle (3) and has the shape of a nipple (5) with protuberances (6), an isostatic pressing being carried out on the powder around the support (1) so that it is coated with compressed powder (2). Such a support can in particular be coated with compressed powder for cosmetic use for face make-up.

Description

METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING A COMPACT POWDER COATED MEDIUM FOR COSMETIC USE AND MEDIUM OBTAINED THEREBY

The present invention essentially relates to a process for manufacturing a support coated with compacted powder for cosmetic use in particular.

It also relates to a support with compacted powder, obtained by this process.

It is already known to compress a mass of powder for cosmetic use in order to produce an object in compacted powder, such as for example a small rectangular block which is placed in a case or a case and which allows, for example, make-up of the face, eyelids of the eye etc ...

However, it has not yet been proposed to compact a powder, for example for cosmetic use, on a support which will constitute a gripping support to allow the handling and application of the compacted powder secured to the support, directly on such or such zone of the face which one wishes to make up.

Therefore, the present invention aims to fill this gap.

To this end, the subject of the invention is a process for the manufacture of a support coated with compacted powder for cosmetic use for example, characterized in that it consists in carrying out a substantially isostatic compression on the powder surrounding said support substantially completely .

This support constitutes the end of a grip handle.

It can be made integral with the end of the handle by means of a connection integral with the support.

According to one embodiment, the aforementioned support has the shape of a nipple whose periphery has asperities of any shape and such as for example a diamond point shape.

Thus, the powder iscstatically compressed on the support will be strongly attached to it.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the aforementioned support is a bellows-shaped envelope which is introduced, in the retracted state, into a mass of powder enclosed in a mold and which is then inflated to compact the powder on said envelope. According to yet another embodiment, the aforementioned support is a form introduced into a bladder or the like containing powder, which bladder is externally and isostatically compressed to compact the powder onto said conical shape, after which the bladder is released to allow extracting said powder-coated conical shape from the bladder.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the aforementioned support is a plastic tablet which is inflated by means of a hollow rod in a cavity containing powder so that said tablet forms a bubble coated with compacted powder.

According to yet another embodiment, the aforementioned support is a mass of plastic material which is injected under pressure and hot in a cavity containing powder.

The method of this invention is further characterized in that before bringing the support into contact with the powder, a housing is made in the powder, by driving in a tool, to facilitate the insertion of the support.

This process is further characterized in that the powder is vibrated before and / or during compression on the support.

Of course, the invention relates to a support coated with compacted powder with the process corresponding to one and / or the other of the above characteristics.

This support can be in the form of a nipple with roughness, a bellows, a conical piece, a bubble or a plastic mass, and can be connected to a handle.

However, other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear better in the detailed description which follows and which refers to the appended drawings, given solely by way of example, and in which: FIG. 1 is a view in elevation of a first support embodiment, which is coated with compacted powder and is connected to a rod forming a grip handle shown partially and in axial section. Figures 2, 3 and 4 illustrate successively and in section how the compacting of a powder is carried out on a support different from that of Figure 1 and constituting a second embodiment of support. Figure 5 illustrates schematically and in section this support with powder compacted on it, in the finished state.

Figures 6 to 9 schematically illustrate in section and successively how the compacting of a powder is carried out on another or third type of support. Figure 10 is a sectional elevation view, in the finished state, of this third embodiment of support carrying a mass of compacted powder.

Figures 11 to 13 illustrate schematically and in section how the compacting of a powder is carried out on a tablet which is inflated.

FIG. 14 is a view in the finished state of the swollen pellet or bubble carrying a mass of compacted powder.

Figures 15 to 17 schematically illustrate in elevation and section how a support is made with compacted powder starting from a mass of plastic material injected under pressure into powder.

FIG. 18 illustrates, in the finished state, the plastic support coated with compacted powder.

Referring in particular to Figures 1, 5, 10, 14 and 18, there is shown a support 1 which is coated with compacted powder 2 and which, according to the invention can take different forms.

To manufacture such a support, isostatic compression is carried out on powder which substantially completely surrounds said support.

This support 1 can constitute the end of a rod forming a gripping handle identified at 3 in FIG. 1.

The support 1 can therefore constitute an integral part of the handle 3, or else, as shown in FIG. 1, be made integral with the end of this handle by means of a connector 4.

According to the embodiment shown, the connector 4 is in the form of a cross which is integral of the support 1 and which is forcibly inserted, and possibly with bonding, in the hollow end of the handle 3. Obviously, any method of fixing the support 1 on the handle 3 could be envisaged, without departing from the scope of the invention .

It can be seen in FIG. 1 that the support 1 has substantially the shape of a nipple 5, the surface of which is provided with multiple roughness 6. According to the embodiment shown, the roughness 6 takes the form of diamond points, but any other shape roughness could be adopted, without departing from the scope of the invention, from the moment the roughnesses in question ensure good attachment of the isostatically compressed powder to the support 1 by surrounding it. As can still be seen in FIG. 1, as well as in the other figures, after isostatic compression, the mass of compacted powder 2 has a contour substantially in the form of a warhead, it being understood that another form of contour would be perfectly possible. Thus, a user holding the handle 3 in her hand can perfectly apply the compacted powder 2 directly to a part of her face to make up the eyelids, for example.

The support 1 may have a shape other than that of FIG. 1, as will now be described with reference to the following figures.

As can be seen in FIG. 5, and according to another embodiment, the support 1 has the form of a bellows 7, that is to say an accordion structure on which the compacted powder 2 can hang. .

The structure visible in FIG. 5 is obtained in the following manner.

As can be seen in FIG. 2, a mold M is filled, in two parts for example, with powder, the internal cavity 8 of the mold M of course having the shape which it is desired to obtain for the mass of compacted powder. on the bellows 7, as seen in FIG. 5. Then, as can be seen in FIG. 3, an envelope 9 in the form of a bellows in the crushed state is introduced into the cavity 8 of the mold M containing the powder. This envelope 9 is introduced through the orifice 10 of the mold M and is carried by a flange or the like 11 which obscures the orifice 10.

Then, as is clear from the figure

4, a part 12 for connection to a pressure source (not shown) is placed on the flange 11 and on the mold M. A pressurized fluid, preferably a liquid, is injected in the direction of the arrow F into the casing 9, so that said casing will be pressurized to thereby achieve isostatic compression of the powder on the casing, in order to 'end, after demolding by opening the mold M, to the structure visible in Figure 5 and ready to be fixed for example on a rod or a handle such as 3.

A support 1 has therefore been produced in the form of a bellows 7 which, by deployment and concomitant compression of the powder in a mold and by attachment of the powder in the accordion folds of the bellows, is of a particularly simple and effective design for the makeup.

It will be observed that, if necessary, a surface treatment, such as for example an adhesive coating can be deposited on the external face of the envelope 9.

According to the embodiment visible in FIG. 10, the support 1 can be a conical shape 13 full or possibly comprising an axial orifice 14, on which is compressed isostatically a mass of powder 2.

To do this, we proceed as follows. As can be seen in FIG. 6, a bladder or the like 15 is placed in a compression enclosure 16, and this bladder is filled by the filling orifice 17 with powder.

Then, as can be seen in FIG. 7, the conical and rigid shape 13 is introduced through the orifice 17 into the powder contained in the bladder 15, and this while making the seal at the orifice 17.

Then, the enclosure 16 is pressurized using an appropriate fluid, preferably a liquid, which causes the deformation of the bladder wall 15 and the isostatic compression of the powder in the bladder around the conical shape 13, as can be seen in FIG. 8.

Then, as shown in FIG. 9, the enclosure 16 is depressurized, which causes the wall of the bladder 15 to loosen, so that the conical shape 13 coated with the compacted powder 2 can be extracted through the orifice 17 of the compression enclosure, to finally obtain the product visible in FIG. 10, which product is ready to be mounted on a rod or a handle for example, and this very easily, since it can be manipulated by the base of the conical shape 13 which is made of plastic for example.

It will be observed here that the chimney or vent 14 can advantageously participate in the good attachment of the powder to the conical shape 13.

In the embodiment of FIG. 14, the support 1 is constituted by a plastic bubble 18 whose wall is marked at 19 and which is coated with a layer of compacted powder 2. To achieve this structure, the procedure is to the following way.

As can be seen in FIG. 11, a mold M, as already described with reference to FIGS. 2 to 4, is filled with a pre-granulated powder, and with the aid of a tool 20, operating in the same way as '' a dibbler, a visible housing is made in the powder at 21 in FIG. 12.

To the right of this housing, there is a hollow rod 22, provided at its end with a plastic pad 23 which, as can be seen in FIG. 12, somehow closes the entrance to the housing 21.

Then, as can be seen in FIG. 13, the hollow rod 22 being connected to a source of pressurized gas (not shown), the tablet 23 is blown, which causes the tablet 23 to be transformed into a bubble 18 and, concomitantly, the isostatic compression of the assembly. Then, after having stopped blowing, the mold M is opened, to finally obtain the product visible in FIG. 14.

In the embodiment visible in FIG. 18, the support 1 is constituted by a mass of plastic material 24 comprising on its outer face the mass of compacted powder 2. To obtain such a structure, the procedure is as follows.

First of all, as seen in FIG. 15, and as has already been said in connection with FIG. 11, the cavity of a mold M is filled with powder and, using a tool 20 forming a dibbler, a housing 21 visible in FIG. 16 is produced in the powder.

In this figure, it can be seen that the mold M is closed by a part 25 comprising a nozzle 26 for injecting a plastic material 27.

Thus, as can be seen in FIG. 17, the hot pressure injection of the plastic material 27 into the housing 21 will cause isostatic compression of the assembly at the end of injection. More precisely, the injection will make it possible to produce in one piece the mass of plastic material 24 as well as a base 28 in the form of a rod for this mass.

Then simply remove the part 25 and open the mold to obtain the compacted powder support visible in FIG. 18.

Having thus described the various embodiments of compacted powder support according to this invention, the following additional observations should be made. The dibble forming tool 20 used to produce the structure visible in FIGS. 14 and 18 could perfectly be used to produce the structure visible in FIG. 5. In other words, before introducing the envelope into the cavity 8 of the mold M 9 in the form of a bellows, in this case, a housing would be produced in the powder contained in the mold to facilitate the insertion of said envelope.

Furthermore during the manufacture of all the compacted powder supports which have just been described. that is to say before and / or during isostatic compression, the powder can be vibrated using any device generating vibrations and which is not shown in the figures. Such a vibration of the powder can allow a good volume distribution of the powder before and / or during isostatic compression.

It should also be observed that to further improve the attachment by isostatic compression of the powder on the support, any more or less adhesive material may be added to the support and / or to the powder.

A compacted powder applicator has therefore been produced according to the invention which is particularly simple and inexpensive to manufacture and which is easy to handle for making up. Of course, the invention is in no way limited to the embodiments described and illustrated which have been given only by way of example.

On the contrary, the invention includes all the technical equivalents of the means described as well as their combinations if these are carried out according to the spirit.

Claims

claims

1. A method of manufacturing a support (1) coated with compacted powder for cosmetic use for example, characterized in that it consists in carrying out a substantially isostatic compression on powder (2) substantially completely surrounding said support.

2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the aforementioned support (1) constitutes the end of a grip handle (3).

3. Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the aforementioned support (1) is made integral with the end of the handle (3) via a connector (4) integral with said support.

4. Method according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the aforementioned support (1) has the shape of a nipple (5) whose external surface comprises asperities (6) of any shape and such as for example a diamond point shape.

5. Method according to claim 1, 2, or 3, characterized in that the aforementioned support (1) is an envelope (9) in the form of a bellows (7) which is introduced, in the retracted state, into a mass of powder enclosed in a mold (M) and which is then inflated to compact the powder on said envelope.

6. Method according to claim 1, 2 or 3 characterized in that the aforementioned support (1) is a form (13) introduced into a bladder or the like (15) containing powder, which bladder is externally and isostatically compressed to compact the powder on said conical shape, after which the bladder (15) is released to allow the extraction of said conical shape (13) coated with powder (2), from the bladder (15).

7. Method according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the aforementioned support (1) is a pellet

(23) of plastic material which is inflated using a hollow rod (22) in a cavity containing powder so that said pellet forms a bubble (18) coated with compacted powder (2).

8. Method according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the aforementioned support (1) is a mass of plastic material (24) which is obtained by injection under pressure and hot in a cavity containing powder.

9. Method according to claim 5, 7 or 8, characterized in that before bringing the support (1) into contact with the powder, there is produced in the powder, by driving in a tool (20), a housing ( 21) to facilitate the insertion of the support.

10. Method according to one of claims 4 to 9, characterized in that the powder is vibrated, before and / or during compression on the support (1).

11. Support coated with compacted powder and obtained by the method according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that it has the shape of a nipple (5) with asperities

(6), a bellows (7), a conical piece (13), a plastic bubble (18), or a plastic mass (24).

12. Support according to claim 11, characterized in that it is connected to a handle (3).