WO2011158173A1

WO2011158173A1 - A device for applying a composition to the eyelashes and/or the eyebrows

Info

Publication number: WO2011158173A1
Application number: PCT/IB2011/052569
Authority: WO
Inventors: Eric Caulier
Original assignee: L'oreal
Priority date: 2010-05-17
Filing date: 2011-06-14
Publication date: 2011-12-22

Abstract

The present application relates to an applicator (3) for applying a cosmetic composition (P) to the eyelashes and/or the eyebrows, said applicator including: • an applicator member (8), comprising: • a support carrying applicator elements over a length (M); and • an additional element (30) that does not have applicator elements, in particular other than a twisted- core brush, which additional element is fitted inside the support and presents a length that is greater than or equal to half the length (M), and presents a greatest transverse dimension that is greater than or equal to one third of a greatest transverse dimension of the support.

Description

A DEVICE FOR APPLYING A COMPOSITION TO THE EYELASHES AND/OR THE EYEBROWS

The present invention relates to applicators for applying a cosmetic composition to the eyelashes or the eyebrows, and more particularly to applicators including an applicator member having at least one portion that is made by molding a material, in particular a thermoplastic material .

Various applicators including a composite applicator member have been made available, said applicators including both a twisted-core brush and a portion made of thermoplastic material, inside which the brush is inserted .

Application FR 2 916 328 and US application No. 2002/0023657 disclose applicators of that type.

Application FR 2 762 494 discloses an applicator member including an open-worked portion that carries a felt tip. The eyelashes are not intended to come into contact with the tip that is situated radially set back from the outside surface of the open-worked portion.

There exists a need to improve still further applicators for applying a cosmetic composition to the eyelashes and/or the eyebrows, and the invention seeks to satisfy this need.

First exemplary embodiments of the invention provide an applicator for applying a composition to the eyelashes and/or the eyebrows, said applicator including:

• an applicator member, comprising:

^• a molded support carrying applicator elements over a length M; and

^• an additional element that does not have applicator elements, in particular other than a twisted- core brush, said additional element having a surface that is accessible by the eyelashes, being fitted inside the support, preferably presenting a length m that is greater than or equal to M/2, and preferably also presenting a greatest transverse dimension w that is greater than or equal to one third of a greatest transverse dimension W of the support.

The length M is defined as the distance, measured along the longitudinal axis of the support, between regions of the applicator elements that are the furthest away from each other along the axis.

Given its dimensions, the additional element is relatively wide and easily accessible by the eyelashes and may come into contact therewith while applying makeup. The additional element may contribute to coating them and/or smoothing the composition over their surface, depending on the kind of composition.

The additional element may be set back from the distal end of the applicator member, the eyelashes accessing the additional element at a distance from the distal end of the support.

The support preferably includes at least three branches .

Various kinds of additional elements may be used. The additional element may be porous, thereby enabling it to absorb the composition applied to the eyelashes .

The additional element may be magnetic, which may be useful in particular when the composition includes magnetic pigments or fibers.

The additional element may include, or be constituted by, a cosmetic composition that is optionally different from the cosmetic composition applied by the support. By way of example, the additional element may be a composition that is applied hot or by means of a solvent .

The support presents at least one open-work cavity and preferably a plurality of open-work cavities that may be of elongate shape along the longitudinal axis of the application member. The angular spread a of the openwork cavity, or of each open-work cavity, is preferably greater than or equal to 30°, better greater than or equal to 45°, the angular opening being measured around the longitudinal axis of the applicator member.

The support may be molded out of elastomer or out of other thermoplastic materials.

The support preferably includes at least two portions that are assembled together after putting the additional element into place between them, and that are held together, e.g. by a stem that supports the applicator member. Said portions may be held in the assembled position in some other way, e.g. by adhesive, by heat-sealing, by over-molding, by snap-fastening, by stapling, or by means of any other added fastener means.

The additional element may be compressed within the support, e.g. being compressed between said at least two assembled-together portions of the support. Making the support with assembled-together portions makes it possible to put an additional element into place, which additional element would otherwise be impossible to put into place.

The support may be made in such a manner as to favor access to the additional element on one side of the applicator member; for example, the support is more open on one side than on the opposite side.

Where appropriate, the additional element may include one or more preformed recesses for receiving one or more corresponding branches of the support.

Advantageously, the support includes a film hinge that is situated at the distal end of the applicator member. This makes it possible to make the support having a plurality of portions for assembling together, by molding the support as a single piece.

The greatest transverse dimension w of the additional element is preferably greater than half, better greater than three fourths, of the maximum spacing d between opposite outside surfaces of the branches. The additional element may project out from a line L joining together the closest-together edges of two adjacent branches.

The additional element may extend over more than three fourths of the length.

The additional element may be compressible, thereby making it easier for the branches to deform inwards while passing through the wiper member.

The number of branches disposed around the additional element preferably lies in the range 2 to 8, better in the range 2 to 4.

The additional element may have any shape in cross- section is optionally circularly symmetrical e.g. circular, oval, cross-shaped, kidney-shaped, lens-shaped, flat.

The additional element may be solid or hollow.

The length m of the additional element preferably lies in the range 5 millimeters (mm) to 30 mm, and its greatest transverse dimension w lies in the range 1.5 mm to 8 mm.

The additional element is preferably of longitudinal axis that is rectilinear, but, in a variant, is of longitudinal axis that is curved.

The additional element preferably comprises two assembled-together portions, but, in a variant, this number may be greater.

All of the branches may carry the same arrangement of applicator elements. In a variant, the arrangements of applicator elements are different, the applicator elements carried by one branch being shorter and/or spaced further apart than the applicator elements carried by other branches.

The applicator member may, on one side, have a branch that does not have applicator elements, and, on the opposite side, include a branch that carries applicator elements. The branch that does not have applicator elements may be situated set back from the additional element, thereby making it possible to define two sides having different application characteristics, e.g. one with applicator elements, and the other without applicator elements but with access to the additional element.

In all of the description, "applicator element" means an individualizable element that is used for application, such as a tooth.

Other exemplary embodiments of the invention also provide a packaging and applicator device comprising:

^• an applicator as defined above; and

^• a container containing a cosmetic composition for application to the eyelashes and/or the eyebrows, e.g. mascara .

Initially, the applicator and the container are contained in a single package.

The applicator may constitute closure means for closing the container. The container may be provided with a wiper member.

The invention also provides a method of applying makeup to the eyelashes, wherein the additional element as defined above is brought into contact with the eyelashes .

The invention can be better understood on reading the following detailed description of non-limiting embodiments thereof, and on examining the accompanying drawings, in which:

^• Figure 1 is a diagrammatic longitudinal section of an example of a packaging and applicator device made in accordance with the invention;

^• Figure 2 is a cross-section on II-II in Figure 1;

^• Figure 3 is a larger-scale view of the Figure 1 applicator member;

^• Figure 4 shows the Figure 3 applicator member, after the support has been opened;

^• Figures 5 and 6 are views similar to Figure 2 showing variant embodiments; ^• Figure 5A shows a detail of Figure 5; and

^• Figures 7 and 8 are longitudinal sections showing variant embodiments of the applicator member.

The packaging and applicator device 1 shown in Figure 1 comprises: a container 2 containing the composition P for application to the eyelashes and/or the eyebrows; and an applicator 3. The applicator includes a stem 4 that is provided at one end 5 with an applicator element 8. At its opposite end, the stem 4 is connected to a handle 10 that may also constitute a closure cap for closing the container 2.

The container 2 comprises a body 12 that is provided with a neck 14, e.g. an externally-threaded neck, as shown, and on which the handle 10 may be screw-fastened. In a variant that is not shown, the handle 10 in fastened on the container in some other way.

A wiper member 15 may be fastened in the neck 14 for wiping the stem 4 while the applicator is being removed from the container.

The applicator member 8 is shown more particularly in Figures 2 to 4.

In these figures, it can be seen that the applicator member 8 includes a molded support 20 and an additional element 30 that is disposed inside the support 20.

The support 20 includes an endpiece 21 that is used for fastening it on the stem 4, e.g. in a housing 40 of said stem, which housing opens out at the distal end of said stem.

The support 20 also includes applicator elements 22 that are constituted by teeth that are molded integrally with the body 24 of the support 20.

The distal end 20g of the applicator member 8 is defined by the support 20.

The body 24 may include a plurality of branches 26, e.g. four in number, as shown, namely front and rear branches 26b and two side branches 26c. Advantageously, the branches 26c and 26b are molded integrally with a first portion 29a of the applicator member 8, which first portion is stationary relative to the stem 4 after it has been mounted on the stem, and a hinged portion 29b that is connected to the portion 29a via a film hinge 28.

By way of example, the portion 29b is molded integrally with the portion 29a in a single mold, in the open position, as shown in Figure 4, then the portion 29b is folded onto the portion 29a so as to close the support 20 over the additional element 30 that may be put into place, before the support is closed, in the cavity 33 formed between the branches 26c and 26b.

The support 20 may be made out of any thermoplastic material that is compatible with the composition P contained in the container 2.

For example, in order to mold the applicator member

8, it is possible to use any thermoplastic material that is optionally relatively rigid, e.g.: styrene-ethylene- butylene-styrene (SEBS) ; a silicone rubber; latex rubber; a material having good slip; butyl rubber; ethylene- propylene terpolymer rubber (EPDM) ; a nitrile rubber; a thermoplastic elastomer; a polyester, polyamide, polyethylene, or vinyl elastomer; a polyolefin such as polyethylene (PE) or polypropylene (PP) ; polyvinyl chloride (PVC) ; ethyl vinyl acetate (EVA) ; polystyrene (PS); SEBS; styrene-isoprene-styrene (SIS); polyethylene terephthalate (PET) ; polyoxymethylene (POM) ; polyurethane (PU) ; styrene acrylonitrile (SAN) ; polyamide (PA) ; or polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) . It is also possible to use a resin, e.g. a urea formaldehyde type resin, possibly a material filled with graphite. In particular, it is possible to use materials known under the trade names Teflon®, Hytrel®, Cariflex®, Alixine®, Santoprene®, Pebax®, Pollobas®, this list not being limiting. Other than the above materials, it is possible to use a ceramic, e.g. an alumina-based ceramic, in order to make the additional element. The additional element 30 may be received, without perceptible clearance, inside the cavity formed between the branches 26a, 26b, and 26c. Each of said branches carries a row of teeth 22 that may be connected substantially perpendicularly to the outside surface of each branch, as shown.

By way of example, the number of teeth 22 lies in the range 10 to 50 on each branch.

The portions 29a and 29b of the support 20 may be held together by the stem 4, or, in a variant, by additional fastener means, e.g. by snap-fastening one portion onto the other. Said portions may also be held together by heat-sealing, by adhesive, or by riveting, this list not being limiting.

The additional element 30 preferably extends over more than half of the length M of the portion of the applicator member carrying teeth 22, better over more than three fourths of the length.

The additional element 30 disposed inside the support may be a foam or any other porous element that is suitable for retaining the composition.

Thus, the additional element 30 may be made out of a material that is different from the material out of which the support 20 is made.

The element 30 is arranged in such a manner as to be able to come into contact with the eyelashes during application. To this end, a greatest transverse dimension w of the additional element 30 is greater than or equal to one third of the greatest transverse dimension W of the support 20, measured, in the embodiment under consideration, between the tips of the teeth 22 carried by the side branches 26c.

The greatest transverse dimension w of the additional element 30 is preferably greater than half, better greater than three fourths, of the maximum spacing d between opposite outside surfaces of the branches. An open-work cavity 45 formed between two adjacent branches makes it possible to access the additional element 30.

In the embodiment in Figure 2, the additional element 30 is in contact with the inside surface of all of the branches of the support 20.

The angular spread a, measured around the longitudinal axis X of the support, between two adjacent branches, is preferably greater than 30°, better greater than 45°, so as to form, at each open-work cavity 45, a relatively large surface that is free of additional elements .

By way of example, the width t of a branch is less than or equal to 7 mm, better less than or equal to 2 mm or less than or equal to 1.5 mm.

In the variant shown in Figure 5, the number of branches of the support 20 is equal to 3. Figure 5a shows a detail of Figure 5. In this figure, it can be seen that the additional element 30 projects out from a line L joining together the closest-together edges of two adjacent branches. The maximum thickness e by which the additional element 30 projects may be greater than the maximum thickness r of a branch. In order to enable the additional element 30 to project, it is possible to use an elastically-deformable material to make the additional element 30, which additional element is compressed locally by the branches.

Figure 6 shows a variant in which the support 20 is more open on one side than on the other. The number of branches 26 of the support 20 is thus greater on one side than on the other. The user may select the side that is best suited to achieving the desired result.

Figure 7 shows a variant embodiment of the support 20, in which the support presents a branch 50 that is molded integrally with the remainder of the support 20, and the additional element 30 is engaged on the branch 50. By way of example, the branch 50 is made with a portion of the support that is assembled with another portion of the support and that is preferably connected thereto by a film hinge.

Figure 8 shows a variant in which the applicator member is generally ball shaped.

Naturally, various modifications can be applied to the embodiments described above, without going beyond the ambit of the present invention.

In particular, the support could be made integrally with the stem by molding thermoplastic material. It is also possible to modify the shape of the additional element or of the support.

The expression "comprising a" should be understood as being synonymous with "comprising at least one" unless specified to the contrary.

Claims

1. An applicator (3) for applying a cosmetic composition (P) to the eyelashes and/or the eyebrows, said applicator including:

· an applicator member (8), comprising:

^• a support (20) carrying applicator elements (22) over a length (M) , including at least three branches carrying the applicator elements (22); and

^• an additional element (30) that does not have applicator elements, in particular other than a twisted-core brush, which additional element is fitted inside the support and presents a length (m) that is greater than or equal to half the length (M) , and presents a greatest transverse dimension (w) that is greater than or equal to one third of a greatest transverse dimension (W) of the support (20) .

2. An applicator according to claim 1, the additional element being set back from the distal end (20g) of the applicator member (8) .

3. An applicator according to any preceding claim, the additional element (30) being porous.

4. An applicator according to any preceding claim, the additional element (30) being magnetic.

5. An applicator according to any preceding claim, the additional element (30) containing a cosmetic composition or being constituted by a cosmetic composition .

6. An applicator according to any preceding claim, the support (20) presenting one or more open-work cavities (45) .

7. An applicator according to any preceding claim, the support (20) being molded out of elastomer.

8. An applicator according to any preceding claim, the support including at least two portions that are held together by a stem (5) that supports the applicator member ( 8 ) .

9. An applicator according to any preceding claim, the additional element (30) being compressed between at least two portions of the support (20) .

10. An applicator according to any preceding claim, the support including a film hinge (28) that is situated at the distal end (20g) of the applicator member.

11. An applicator according to any preceding claim, the greatest transverse dimension (w) of the additional element (30) being greater than half, better greater than three fourths, of the maximum spacing (d) between opposite outside surfaces of the branches.

12. An applicator according to any preceding claim, the additional element (30) projecting out from a line (L) joining together the closest-together edges of two adjacent branches.

13. An applicator according to any preceding claim, the additional element (30) extending over more than half of the length (M) of the portion of the applicator member carrying applicator elements (22), better over more than three fourths of the length.

14. A method of applying makeup to the eyelashes, wherein the additional element (30) of an applicator (3) as defined in any preceding claim is brought into contact with the eyelashes.

An applicator (3) for applying a cosmetic composition (P) to the eyelashes and/or the eyebrows, said applicator including:

^• an applicator member (8), comprising:

^• a support (20) carrying applicator elements (22), the support including a film hinge (28) that is situated at the distal end (20g) of the applicator member, and that connects together at least two portions of the support; and

^• an additional element (30) that does not have applicator elements, in particular other than a twisted-core brush, which additional element is fitted inside the support, between said portions.

^• an applicator member (8), comprising:

^• a support (20) carrying applicator elements (22 ) ; and

^• an additional element (30) that is compressed between at least two portions of the support (20) , which additional element does not have applicator elements, in particular other than a twisted-core brush, and is fitted inside the support.

17. An applicator (3) for applying a cosmetic composition (P) to the eyelashes and/or the eyebrows, said applicator including:

^• an applicator member (8), comprising:

^• a support (20) carrying applicator elements (22) and including at least three branches; and

^• an additional element (30) that does not have applicator elements, in particular other than a twisted-core brush, which additional element is fitted inside the support.

18. A packaging device comprising:

^• an applicator as defined in at least one of the preceding claims; and

· a container containing the composition for application to the eyelashes or the eyebrows.