WO2015165804A1

WO2015165804A1 - Applicator for cosmetic product, in particular mascara, and method for manufacturing such an applicator

Info

Publication number: WO2015165804A1
Application number: PCT/EP2015/058853
Authority: WO
Inventors: Camille Schreiber
Original assignee: Albea Services
Priority date: 2014-04-28
Filing date: 2015-04-23
Publication date: 2015-11-05
Also published as: US20170042316A1; EP3136905A1; BR212016024552U2; CN106455799A; FR3020253A1; FR3020253B1

Abstract

The invention relates to an applicator (10) for cosmetic product, in particular mascara, comprising a twisted core (12) and fibres which extend radially from the core (12) in directions that are substantially orthogonal to said core, said fibres being held by said core (12), said fibres forming at least one envelope (E) with their free ends, said envelope extending in a direction of longitudinal extension about said core (12), referred to as main axis (X), characterized in that the envelope (E) has a region (Z), along said main axis (X), in which the fibres are straightened so as to produce a local deformation (F1-F4) of the envelope (E). The invention also relates to a method for manufacturing such an applicator (10).

Description

Applicator for a cosmetic product, in particular mascara, and method of manufacturing such an applicator

The invention relates to an applicator for a cosmetic product, in particular mascara. The invention further relates to a method for the manufacture of such an applicator.

The mascara applicators can be injection molded of plastic material, they are then commonly called "plastic brushes". Plastic brushes are usually injection molded. Thus the plastic brushes can present original shapes in order to propose particular makeup effects.

The mascara applicators may also be obtained from fibrous elements held between the longitudinal portions of a twisted metal pin; they are then commonly called "twisted brushes". The ends of said fibrous elements usually form envelopes in a direction of longitudinal extension of said brush. Twisted brushes have, by their method of manufacture, a cylindrical envelope that offers little opportunity in terms of makeup effects. Many solutions have already been proposed to give various forms to twisted brushes but a need for improvement remains.

The invention proposes to make a twisted brush which has at least one original shape to provide a particular makeup effect.

Thus, the invention relates to an applicator for a cosmetic product, in particular mascara, comprising a twisted core and fibers which extend radially from the core in directions substantially orthogonal to said core, said fibers being held by said core, said fibers forming at least one envelope with their free end, said envelope extending in a direction of longitudinal extension around said core, said main axis. According to the invention, the envelope has a zone, along said main axis, in which the fibers are straightened so as to produce a local deformation of the envelope. The invention thus proposes a twisted brush which, with its or its locally deformed envelopes allows, to choose, to make up the eyelids of the user, to emphasize the features of his eyes (effect called "eyeliner" in English) , or to load his eyelashes in a particularly efficient way. The twisted brush of the invention therefore has an original shape, originating from its local deformation or deformations which propose at least one particular makeup effect.

As the fibers are simply straightened, the face or faces are obtained in a particularly simple manner.

The use of a twisted brush allows, in addition, a greater density of fibers than with the pins of the plastic brushes.

Advantageously, said straightened fibers locally form at least one flattened face of the envelope. By "flattened" is meant a face that may be flat or substantially flat, including a regulated surface having a certain curvature.

According to various embodiments of the invention, which may be taken together or separately:

said main axis is rectilinear,

said core extends along said main axis,

the core has a distal end and a proximal end, the proximal end being opposite to the distal end along the main axis,

said fibers are distributed along the core, over a substantial part of its length from the distal end and substantially to the proximal end,

said zone in which the fibers are straightened is located locally along the core,

the envelope is cylindrical, along all or part of said main axis, outside said zone in which the fibers are straightened, said flattened face or faces have an enlarged dimension with respect to the parts of the envelope located in the vicinity, in particular a transverse dimension greater than a diameter of the envelope;

said flattened face is situated in the vicinity of the distal end,

the applicator according to the invention comprises at least two flattened faces arranged to form at least one ridge in the vicinity of the distal end,

said ridge extends the core from the distal end, mainly in the direction of the main axis,

the applicator according to the invention comprises two flattened faces arranged to form a tank bordered by two ridges each comprising one of said flattened faces,

the reservoir is able to carry cosmetic product,

said flattened face is substantially parallel to a plane comprising the main axis,

said core consists of a twisted rod,

said proximal end of the core is extended by a portion of the fiber-free stem,

the applicator forms a brush.

The invention also relates to a process for the manufacture of an applicator for a cosmetic product, in particular mascara, said process comprising:

A step of positioning a plurality of fibers between longitudinal portions of a spindle, and

A first step of twisting said pin to form a twisted pin having fibers extending radially around it, the ends of said fibers forming at least one cylindrical envelope extending in a direction of longitudinal extension around the said pin and then

A step of deformation and heating of the fibers, so that the envelope has, along said main axis, an area in which the fibers are straightened so as to produce at least one local deformation of the envelope. The purpose of the heating is to maintain the orientation of the fibers which has been given to them by the deformation.

The above method will advantageously comprise an additional step between said positioning step and said twisting step, said additional step being a step of shifting the fibers transversely to the longitudinal portions of the spindle so as to form groups of fibers, said groups being offset transversely relative to each other along the spindle.

The applicator thus manufactured has the advantage of presenting an area in which the fibers are straightened so as to produce a local deformation, this using an operation which remains simple to implement, namely, a deformation step and heating said fibers.

The invention also relates to a receptacle for a cosmetic product, in particular mascara, comprising an applicator as described above.

The invention will be better understood, and other objects, details, features and advantages thereof will become more clearly apparent in the following detailed explanatory description of at least one embodiment of the invention given to As a purely illustrative and non-limiting example, with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings.

On these drawings:

FIG. 1 is a front view of a first embodiment of the applicator according to the invention,

FIG. 2 is a side view of FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a front view of a second embodiment of the applicator according to the invention,

FIG. 4 is a side view of FIG. 3,

FIG. 5 is a partial front view of a third embodiment of the applicator according to the invention,

FIG. 6 is a side view of FIG. 5, FIG. 7 is a slightly inclined isometric view of the first embodiment,

- Figure 8 is a slightly inclined isometric view of the second embodiment.

The invention relates to an applicator 10 for a cosmetic product, in particular mascara, comprising a twisted core 12. The core 12 is here formed by a metal rod, or pin, comprising two branches, or longitudinal portions, possibly interconnected by a part curved. Said metal rod is, for example, folded in two so as to form a "U", the branches of the U is then twisted together.

Fibers 1, 2 extend from the core 12 between a distal end 1 6 and a proximal end 13 of the core 12. The said fibers 1, 2 have been shown only in FIGS. 1 and 2 in order to do not burden others. The fibers 1, 2 each have a free end and form an envelope E with.

Figures 1 to 8 illustrate, in particular, three embodiments of applicators according to the invention. The envelope printing E will of course be more or less present depending on the density of the fibers.

The applicator 10 extends in a main direction of longitudinal extension, or main axis, which is marked X in FIGS. 1 to 8. This axis X is also advantageously the axis of the core 12. The core 12 here is rectilinear. The soul may alternatively have a curvature between the distal end 1 6 and proximal 13.

According to the invention, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 6, the envelope E has, along said main axis X, a zone Z in which the fibers 2 are straightened so that the envelope E presents locally a local deformation F1 -F4.

In other words, the fibers 1 extend from the core 12 in an organized manner, radially and orthogonally to said core 12, except in zone Z at which they are disorganized, or else in which the fibers 2 are oriented in different directions from each other, being straightened in the direction of the core 12. In other words, the fibers extend non-radially from the core 12 in said zone Z. Outside the zone Z, the fibers 1 form in particular a substantially cylindrical envelope E along the main axis X.

The presence of fibers 2 straightened, at least locally, has the advantage of providing a zone Z which has many points of contact with the eyelashes of a user. Thus, in said zone Z, the applicator 10 allows a greater load of the eyelashes. Indeed, when the fibers extend only radially from the core 12, they are organized in the same direction and offer only a limited number of points of contact with the eyelashes of the user.

In addition, said zone Z confers a volume effect to the eyelashes.

The first embodiment, illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 7, shows an applicator 10 according to the invention which comprises two flattened faces F1, F2 arranged to form a ridge C1 in the vicinity of the distal end 1 6. FIGS. and 2 illustrate the applicator 10 which extends along the X axis towards the proximal end 13. Said proximal end 13 is opposed to the distal end 16 along said X axis.

Figures 1, 2 and 7 illustrate the face F1 of the envelope E; said face F1 is located in the zone Z. FIG. 2 shows that the end of the twisted metallic rod 12 is continued, over a height h, by fibers which extend from the core 12 according to the direction of the main axis X. Said height h does not include a rod portion and consists solely of fibers. This has the advantage of preventing the user from getting injured with the end of the twisted metal rod forming the core 12.

In addition, the ridge thus formed makes it possible to draw the contours of the user's eyes.

An additional advantage lies in the possibility of using one of the flattened faces F1, F2, forming the peak C1, to make up the eyelids of the user.

The applicator 10 according to this first embodiment will, moreover, particularly adapted to the make-up of the user's corner of the eyes because it makes it possible to reach areas that are not accessible by a cylindrical envelope E only. The second embodiment, illustrated in FIGS. 3, 4 and 8, shows an applicator 10 according to the invention which comprises four flattened faces, F1-F4 arranged to form two peaks C1, C2 in the vicinity of the distal end 1 6.

Figure 3 illustrates the flattened face F4 of the envelope E; said face F4 is located in the zone Z. FIG. 4 shows that the end of the twisted metal rod is continued, over a height h, by fibers which extend from the core 12 in the direction of the main axis X. Figure 4 also shows that the applicator 10 comprises two flattened faces F2, F3 arranged to form a reservoir. Said reservoir is bordered by the two peaks C1, C2.

Like the applicator 10 according to the first embodiment, the second embodiment has the advantage of preventing the user from getting injured with the end of the twisted metal rod forming the core 12 because said height h does not It has no stem portion and consists only of fibers. It also has the advantage of being able to use one of the flattened faces F1, F4 not forming the reservoir in order to make up the user's eyelids (see FIG. 8).

In addition, the applicator 10 according to the second embodiment will be particularly advantageous in order to load the user's eyelashes in a consequent manner, especially locally, since his reservoir is able to carry a high quantity of cosmetic product and then restore it to places difficult to reach by applicators to envelopes E only cylindrical.

The third embodiment, illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, shows an applicator 10 which has at least one flattened face F1, along the main axis X, between its distal ends 1 6 and proximal 13. FIGS. 5 and 6 are partial views not illustrating said ends 13, 16.

The flattened face F1 is delimited, as shown in FIG. 5, by lateral edges 21, 22. Said edges 21, 22 have the advantage of hooking the eyelashes of the user and therefore of participating in their elongation. Said flattened face F1 preferably extends over a height h 'along the main axis X.

On the other hand, the applicator 10 of this embodiment may advantageously have several flattened faces F1 along the main axis X, and all around the envelope E (alternative not shown here). The said flattened face (s) F1 will be substantially parallel to a plane comprising the axis main. Thus, the zone or zones Z which will comprise one of said flattened faces F1 will be areas in contact with which the eyelashes are loaded accordingly. Alternatively, the flattened faces F1, F2, F3, F4, seen from the front, have a dimension in a plane orthogonal to the core greater than the diameter of the cylinder formed by the envelope E outside the zone or zones Z. In other words at the zone or zones Z, the envelope formed by the applicator is enlarged. This alternative is compatible with the three embodiments that have just been described. This alternative makes it possible to delimit the zone Z, in particular with respect to the envelope E, in order to make it particularly visible to the user.

The invention also relates to a process for the manufacture of an applicator 10 for a cosmetic product, in particular mascara, for example that which has just been described.

This method first comprises a step of positioning a plurality of fibers between longitudinal portions of a spindle (not shown). The fibers are distributed in such a way that said longitudinal portions pass substantially in the middle of each of said fibers.

The next step of said method is a first step of twisting said pin to form a twisted pin having fibers extending radially around it. The ends of said fibers then form at least one cylindrical envelope E extending in a direction of longitudinal extension X around said pin. The fibers are distributed as fiber turns because of the twisting of the spindle.

The following step is a step of deformation and heating of the fibers, so that the envelope E has, along said main axis X, a zone Z in which the fibers are straightened so as to produce at least one deformation envelope E.

Thanks to the heating, the memory of shape of the fibers disappears, and these retain the orientation which was given to them by the deformation.

It should be noted that this deformation does not come from the torsion step, nor from an additional torsion step which would be localized in the zone where the fibers are straightened. Said deformation is made at the level of the fibers themselves. The fibers are deformed by any known means, for example by heating (non-limiting example).

Advantageously, the method described above may comprise an additional step (alternative not illustrated here, alternative combinable with all of the embodiments described above). This additional step is between said positioning step and said twisting step. It consists in shifting the fibers transversely to the longitudinal parts of the spindle so as to form groups of fibers, said groups being shifted transversely relative to each other along the spindle.

Thus, after the twisting step, a brush is obtained having fibers extending radially around it, the ends of said fibers then forming two cylindrical envelopes nested around said pin with a first envelope having a radial extension less than that of the second envelope.

Advantageously, the method described above, as well as its alternative, will comprise a further step, the result of which is not illustrated here but which is applicable to all the embodiments described above. This is a step that follows the step of deformation and heating of the fibers. During this step, the fibers 1 forming the cylindrical envelope or envelopes E undergo a cut. Thus, the zone or zones Z having straightened fibers 2 have an enlarged dimension relative to the parts of the envelope E situated in the vicinity, in particular a transverse dimension greater than a diameter of the envelope E. Advantageously, a portion of the fiber-free pin 14 which extends the proximal end 13 will be attached to the inside of a hollow rod, itself linked to a handle by which the user will manipulate said applicator 10 (the rod and the handle are not represented here). This portion 14 is twisted or not.

It should be noted that the applicator 10 of the invention advantageously forms a brush. It should also be noted that the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 8 can advantageously be combined in order to combine the effects of make-up, or even in order to obtain new ones. In particular, it is possible to provide a plurality of zones Z in which the fibers are straightened, in particular an end zone Z and one or more zones Z along said main axis, distant from each other. The envelope or envelopes E may advantageously retain their cylindrical configurations between said zones Z.

The fibers will advantageously be made of plastic, of polyamide type, such as "nylon". Alternatively, the fibers will be advantageously polyester, because softer to the touch for the user.

It should be noted that the Z zone or zones described above are not obtained by a cutting step (shearing or grinding) but only by deformation and heating of the fibers.

Claims

claims

1. An applicator (10) for a cosmetic product, in particular mascara, comprising a twisted core (12) and fibers which extend radially from the core (12) in directions substantially orthogonal to said core, said fibers being held by said core core (12), said fibers forming at least one envelope (E) with their free end, said envelope extending in a direction of longitudinal extension around said core (12), said main axis (X), characterized by the fact that the envelope (E) has a zone (Z), along said main axis (X), in which the fibers are straightened so as to produce a local deformation (F1-F4) of the envelope.

2. Applicator (10) according to claim 1 wherein said rectified fibers (2) locally form at least one flattened face (F1, F2, F3, F4) of the envelope (E).

3. Applicator (10) according to claim 2 wherein the said flattened face (s) (F1, F2, F3, F4) have an enlarged dimension relative to the parts of the envelope (E) located in the vicinity.

An applicator (10) according to any one of claims 2 or 3, wherein the core (12) has a distal end (1 6) and a proximal end (13), the proximal end (13) being opposite at the distal end (1 6) along the main axis (X), said flattened face (F1) being located in the vicinity of the distal end (1 6).

5. Applicator (10) according to claim 4, comprising at least two flattened faces (F1, F2) arranged to form at least one ridge (C1) in the vicinity of the distal end (1 6).

6. Applicator (10) according to the preceding claim, wherein said ridge (C1) extends the core (12) from the distal end (1 6).

7. Applicator (10) according to claim 4, comprising two flattened faces (F2, F3) arranged to form a reservoir bordered by two peaks (C1, C2) each comprising one of said flattened faces (F2, F3).

8. Applicator (10) according to the preceding claim, wherein the reservoir is suitable for shipping the cosmetic product.

9. Applicator (10) according to any one of claims 2 to 8, wherein said flattened face (F1) is substantially parallel to a plane comprising the main axis (X).

Process for the manufacture of an applicator (1 0) for a cosmetic product, in particular mascara, said process comprising:

a step of twisting said pin to form a twisted pin having fibers extending radially around it, the ends of said fibers forming at least one cylindrical envelope (E) extending in a direction of longitudinal extension around said pin, said main axis (X), then

a step of deformation and heating of the fibers, so that the envelope (E) has, along said main axis (X), a zone (Z) in which the fibers are straightened so as to produce at least one local deformation of the envelope (E).

1 1. Method according to the preceding claim comprising an additional step between said positioning step and said twisting step, said additional step being a step of shifting the fibers transversely to the longitudinal portions of the spindle so as to form groups of fibers, said groups being offset transversely to each other along the spindle.

12.Appliquer (10) for a cosmetic product, especially for mascara obtained by the method according to any one of claims 10 or 11.

13. Receptacle for cosmetic product, including mascara, comprising an applicator (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 9 or according to the preceding claim.