WO2017093137A1

WO2017093137A1 - Cosmetic applicator

Info

Publication number: WO2017093137A1
Application number: PCT/EP2016/078817
Authority: WO
Inventors: Nicolas Albisetti
Original assignee: L'oreal
Priority date: 2015-12-03
Filing date: 2016-11-25
Publication date: 2017-06-08
Also published as: EP3383222B1; EP3383222A1; BR112018010851A2; FR3044527B1; FR3044527A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to an applicator for applying a product to the skin, comprising an applicator member having an application surface intended to be brought into contact with the skin in order to deposit and or spread a product on the skin, the application surface being defined by a thermoplastic material comprising a plurality of transverse ribs, the sect ion of which in longitudinal section has a toothed profile, the falling front of each tooth, in the direct ion of the proximal end of the applicator member, being less steep than the rising front rising towards the peak of the tooth.

Description

"Cosmetic applicator"

The subject of the present invention is an applicator and a packaging and application device for applying a product to the skin, notably a deodorant of the compacted powder type.

Sponges and brushes are conventionally known from the prior art for picking up and subsequently spreading product in a homogeneous manner. The drawback of these applicator members resides in the fact that they are difficult to clean. The user can also use their fingers to apply the product.

The application EP 0 398 229 describes a lipstick applicator comprising, within the layer of product, projections that can be in the form of waves.

The application US 2011/0052306 describes a soap covered with an elastomer layer having zigzagging reliefs for applying the soap.

Also known, from the American design patent US D538.974, is an applicator having reliefs in the form of waves.

The document FR 2 962 016 discloses a compacted powder applicator for foundation, the application surface of which is textured and forms a pattern.

The object of the invention is to propose a packaging and application device that is effective when it comes to picking up and applying a product in a sufficient and homogeneous layer, and which is furthermore easy to clean and thus reusable if desired.

To this end, the subject of the invention is an applicator for applying a product to the skin, comprising an applicator member having an application surface intended to be brought into contact with the skin in order to deposit and/or spread a product on the skin, the application surface being defined by a thermoplastic material comprising a plurality of transverse ribs, the section of which in longitudinal section has a toothed profile, the falling front of each tooth, in the direction of the proximal end of the applicator member, being less steep than the rising front rising towards the peak of the tooth.

A maximum amount of product can be picked up for application by virtue of the teeth formed by the ribs. It is thus possible to pick up a significant amount in a single go, for example for each armpit in the case of a deodorant. One advantage of the spaces created between the ribs is for example that they can serve as a product reservoir. The peaks of the ribs scrape the product which accumulates on the top of the gentle slope that extends from each rib towards the following rib.

The applicator according to the invention also makes it possible to deposit the maximum amount of product on each armpit, and to apply the product easily. The ribs help to spread the product deposited on the skin better and in a more homogeneous manner by means of such an application surface.

Because only a little product remains on the applicator member after application, the latter is clean, requiring little or no cleaning, and contributing towards good hygiene.

Ribs

In longitudinal section, the plurality of ribs advantageously form a relief in the form of a sawtooth.

The falling front of the teeth defined by the ribs may form an angle of between 8° and 20°, better still between 11° and 14°, with the longitudinal axis of the applicator member. The shallow inclination of the falling fronts falling towards the proximal end of the applicator member makes it possible to store the right quantity of product between the ribs.

The rising front of the teeth defined by the ribs may form an angle of between 40° and 90°, better still between 60° and 90°, with the longitudinal axis of the applicator member.

The falling front of the teeth defined by the ribs may be between 3 and 6 times less steep than the rising front rising towards the peak of the tooth.

The rising front of the ribs may form an angle of between 40° and 70°, better still between 50° and 60°, with the longitudinal axis of the applicator member.

In one variant, the rising front of the ribs is perpend cular to the application surface.

The lower end of the falling front of a rib in front of the rising front of the following rib may extend at a non-zero distance from the base of the application surface from which the rib extends, this distance being for example between 0.2 mm and 2 mm.

In one variant, the falling front of each rib reaches the base of the application surface from which the rib extends before the rising front of the following rib starts. The height of the ribs may be between 0.1 mm and 0.4 mm The height of a rib is measured perpendicularly to the application surface, between the base of the application surface from which the rib extends and the peak of the tooth formed by the latter.

Preferably, all of the ribs are the same height. In one variant, the ribs are not all the same height, it being possible for the height of one rib to be less than that of the following rib, or vice versa.

The distance between the peak of one rib and the peak of the following rib, measured along the longitudinal axis of the applicator member, may be between 0.5 mm and 3 mm, better still between 1 mm and 1.5 mm.

The ribs are advantageously wavy in the transverse direction.

The ribs may comprise a succession of patterns, preferably a succession of circular arcs, that are preferably all convex towards the proximal end of the applicator member. As seen from above, the application surface has a general pattern of scales.

In one variant, the ribs comprise an alternation of patterns, preferably circular arcs, that are convex towards the proximal end of the applicator member and ones that are concave towards said proximal end. In this embodiment, as seen from above, the application surface has a general pattern of wavelets.

The succession of patterns, notably circular arcs, of at least one rib is advantageously offset in the transverse direction with respect to the succession of patterns, notably circular arcs, of the following rib in the longitudinal direction, the convex part of a circular arc of one rib notably facing the junction between two arcs of the following rib or facing the concave part of the circular arc of the following rib. This makes it possible to create larger regions of product accumulation.

The greatest transverse dimension of the patterns of the ribs, notably of the circular arcs, measured perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the applicator member, may be between 0.5 mm and 5 mm, better still between 1.5 mm and 3.5 mm.

The radius of the patterns of the ribs, when they are circular arcs, may be between 0.25 mm and 2.5 mm, better still between 0.8 and 1.5 mm.

In variants, the ribs are rectilinear, or curved.

The ribs are preferably continuous in the transverse direction.

The shape and dimensions of the ribs are advantageously chosen so as to allow the product to be picked up effectively and to allow comfort on application. Applicator member and application surface

The applicator member may be obtained by moulding, notably being overmoulded on a gripping member of the applicator.

The thermoplastic material defining the application surface is preferably chosen such that the application surface has sufficient flexibility to deform and have a significant contact area so as to pick up and apply the product correctly.

The thermoplastic material may have a Shore A hardness of less than 80, notably being between 55 Shore A and 75 Shore A, for being example equal to 75 Shore A. The hardness of the thermoplastic material advantageously depends on the dimensions of the applicator, notably its transverse dimension and its thickness, so as to be suitably flexible.

The thermoplastic material may be non-porous.

The thermoplastic material is preferably an elastomeric thermoplastic material, in particular SEBS, the coefficient of friction of which is advantageously low. This allows greater comfort on application, notably on account of a more silky material. The application surface may have a finely matted appearance, or an eroded appearance.

In variants, the thermoplastic material is a silicone, latex, a natural rubber, a material having improved slip, butyl, EPDM, a nitrile, a thermoplastic elastomer, a polyester elastomer, a polyamide elastomer, a polyethylene elastomer or a vinyl elastomer, a polyolefm such as PE or PP, in particular low density PE, PVC, EVA, PS, SIS, PET, POM, PU, SAM, PA or PMMA. Such materials have rapid drying characteristics when they are wetted on the surface, notably on account of suitable surface tension characteristics. It is possible in particular to use the materials known under the trade names Teflon®, Hytrel®, Cariflex®, Alixine®, Santoprene®, Pebax® or Pollobas®, this list not being limiting. The material used to produce the applicator member may contain a softening agent and/or a bactericidal agent, such as silver ions, for example.

The ribs are advantageously formed integrally with the thermoplastic material. The application surface is advantageously double faced, having ribs as defined above on each of its faces.

Advantageously, the application surface can be chosen so as to be impermeable to the product. In this case, it is easier to clean since the product does not pass through the applicator member beyond the application surface. This feature also has the advantage of avoiding staining of the user's fingers both when the product is being loaded and during application. This impermeability of the application surface makes it possible to retain a visually clean surface throughout the lifetime of the applicator member, since the surface is easily washable with water, soap or with a makeup remover.

The greatest length of the application surface, measured along the longitudinal axis of the applicator member, may be between 15 mm and 50 mm, better still between 20 mm and 30 mm.

The greatest transverse dimension of the application surface, measured perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the applicator member, may be between 25 mm and 60 mm, better still between 40 mm and 50 mm.

The application surface may have a greatest transverse dimension greater than its greatest length, notably 1.5 to 2 times greater. The application surface may have a rectangular shape that is rounded at its two distal edges.

The thickness of the application surface, measured perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the applicator member, with the applicator member in side view, may be between 0.2 mm and 1 mm.

The dimensions of the application surface are advantageously appropriate for the dimensions of an armpit, when the product to be applied is a deodorant.

Application device

A further subject of the invention is a packaging and application device for applying a product to the skin, comprising an applicator according to the invention, as defined above, and a part that forms a container for the product, the applicator being mounted so as to be able to move, for example in translation, relative to the part of the device that forms a container.

The part that forms a container advantageously comprises a housing, the applicator being configured such that the applicator member fits into this housing.

The product is preferably a compacted powder, notably being a deodorant, and is advantageously contained in a compartment formed in the part of the device that forms a container.

The packaging and application device according to the invention is very flat and has limited bulk. The gripping member of the applicator may have a fiat, for example configured to take one or more fingers.

The part that forms a container and the gripping member of the applicator may be made of a thermoplastic material, such as PP, ABS, PCTA, or PS.

Detailed description

The invention may be better understood from reading the following detailed description of non-limiting illustrative embodiments thereof and from examining the appended drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows an application device according to the invention in the open configuration,

Figure 2 shows the application device from Figure 1 in the closed configuration,

Figure 3 schematically shows the application surface of the application device from Figure 1 on its own,

- Figure 4a shows a detail of the application surface from Figure 3,

Figure 4b is a longitudinal section along B-B in Figure 4a, Figure 5a illustrates a detail of a variant embodiment of the application surface according to the invention,

Figure 5b is a partial longitudinal section along B-B in Figure 5a,

- Figure 6a illustrates a detail of another variant embodiment of the application surface according to the invention, and

Figure 6b is a partial longitudinal section along B-B in Figure 6a.

A packaging and application device 1 according to the invention is shown in the open configuration in Figure 1.

This device 1 comprises an applicator 2 and a part 4 that forms a container for the product P, the applicator 2 being mounted so as to be able to move in translation relative to the part 4 of the device that forms a container. The part 4 that forms a container comprises a housing 5 having a shape complementary to that of the applicator member 3 of the applicator 2, in order that it fits in the housing 5, as shown in the closed configuration in Figure 2.

Preferably, and in the example described, the product P is a deodorant of the compacted powder type and is contained in a compartment 6 formed in the part 4 of the device that forms a container. A cup, made for example of plastic or metal, containing the product P may be disposed inside the compartment 6, it being possible for said cup to be held inside the compartment 6 by snap-fastening or adhesive bonding.

In a variant that is not illustrated, the product P is in the form of a solid or semi-solid cake. Such a solid block can be fitted in the compartment 6 directly in its solid form Alternatively, the product P can be poured into the compartment 6 in the hot or cold state, and can take on its solid form after solidification or setting of the composition.

In the example in question, the applicator 2 and the part 4 that forms a container are made of a thermoplastic material, such as PP.

The applicator 2 comprises a gripping member 7 on which an applicator member 3 having an application surface 10 is overmoulded. On the applicator member side, the gripping member 7 has a portion 23 with a smaller section so as to be fitted in a lightly clamped manner inside the edge delimiting the opening 9 of the housing 5 of the part 4 that forms a container.

In the example in question, the gripping member 7 has a flat 24 that is able to take a finger, for example the index finger, making the device 1 easy to open. In the example described, the flat 4 has circular reliefs 25 that make it easy to hold. In a variant that is not shown, the gripping member 7 is solid and does not have a flat.

Preferably, and as in the example described, the applicator member 3 is obtained in one piece by moulding.

The application surface 10 is defined by an elastomeric thermoplastic material having a Shore A hardness of less than 80, for example equal to 75 Shore A.

The greatest length L_s of the application surface 10 may be between 20 mm and 30 mm, being for example equal to 22 mm.

The greatest transverse dimension D_s of the application surface 10, which is

1.75 times greater than the greatest length L_s in the example described, may be between 25 mm and 60 mm, being for example equal to 43 mm.

As can be seen in Figure 3, the application surface 2 according to the invention comprises a plurality of ribs 14 that are continuous and wavy in the transverse direction and which, in the example in question, are formed integrally with the thermoplastic material defining the application surface 10. As can be seen in Figures 4b, 5b and 6b, the section in longitudinal section of the plurality of ribs 14 has a toothed profile, the falling front 14b of each tooth 14a, in the direction of the proximal end 3a of the applicator member 3, being less steep than the rising front 14c rising towards the peak 14d of the tooth 14a. This configuration makes it possible to create significant regions that form a reservoir for the product P, as denoted by an arrow in Figure 4b.

The falling front 14b of the ribs 14 forms an angle a of between 8° and 20° with the longitudinal axis X of the applicator member 3, being equal to 9° in the example in Figures 4a and 4b, to 19.75° in the example in Figures 5a and 5b, and to 12.9° in the example in Figures 6a and 6b.

The height h_n of the ribs 14 is between 0.1 mm and 0.4 mm, being equal to 0.26 mm in the example in Figures 4a and 4b, to 0.22 mm in the example in Figures 5a and 5b, and to 0.4 mm in the example in Figures 6a and 6b.

Preferably, and as shown in the examples described, all the ribs 14 are the same height hn. In a variant that is not illustrated, the ribs 14 are not all the same height, it being possible for the height of one rib to be less than that of the following rib, or vice versa.

The distance D_c between the peak 14e of one rib 14 and the peak 14d of the following rib is between 0.5 mm and 3 mm, being for example equal to 0.63 mm.

In the example in Figures 3, 4a and 4b, the ribs 14 comprise a succession of patterns in the form of circular arcs 15 which are convex towards the proximal end 3a of the applicator member 3.

As can be seen in Figure 4a, the succession of circular arcs 15 of one rib 14 is offset in the transverse direction with respect to the succession of circular arcs of the following rib in the longitudinal direction, the convex part 15a of a circular arc 15 of one rib 14 facing the junction 15b between two arcs 15 of the following rib.

The greatest transverse dimension D_a of the circular arcs of the ribs is between 2 mm and 3.5 mm, being equal to 2.5 mm in the example in question.

The radius r_a of the circular arcs 15 of the ribs 14 is between 0.25 mm and 2.5 mm, being equal to 1.25 mm in the example in question.

In the variants illustrated in Figures 5a and 6a, the ribs 14 comprise an alternation of circular arcs 17 that are convex towards the proximal end 3a of the applicator member 3 and circular arcs 16 that are concave towards said proximal end 3a. The convex part 17a of the convex circular arcs 17 of one rib 14 advantageously faces the concave part 16a of the concave circular arc 16 of the following rib.

In the example in Figures 4b and 6b, the lower end 14e of the falling front 14b of a rib 14 in front of the rising front 14c of the following rib extends at a non-zero distance df from the base 10b of the application surface 10 from which the rib 14 extends, for example equal to 1 mm.

In the variant illustrated in Figure 5b, the falling front 14b of each rib 14 reaches the base 10b of the application surface 10 from which the rib 14 extends before the rising front 14c of the following rib starts.

In the example in Figure 4b, the rising front 14b of the ribs 14 forms an angle β of between 40° and 70° with the longitudinal axis X of the applicator member 3.

In the variants in Figures 5b and 6b, the rising front 14b of the ribs 14 is perpendicular to the application surface 10.

In the example described, the application surface 10 is double faced, having ribs 14 as defined above on each of its faces.

In order to use the device 1 according to the invention, the user exerts a relative pulling movement on the applicator 3 with respect to the part 4 that forms a container, so as to bring about the mutual disengagement of the coupling means of the two elements by sliding along the longitudinal axis X. In the process, the applicator member 3 is withdrawn from the housing 5. Holding the applicator 2 by way of the gripping member 7, used in the manner of a handle, the user picks up product P contained in the compartment 6 of the part 4 by means of the application surface 10 of the applicator member 3. The user applies it to the surface to be treated in a conventional manner, for example to each armpit in the case of a deodorant, using the two feces of the application surface, one face for each armpit. The ribs 14 of the application surface 10 make it possible both to pick up and to deposit the right quantity of product P and to apply it effectively.

After application, the user returns the applicator member 3 to the inside of the housing 5 by sliding the applicator 2 along the longitudinal axis X with respect to the part 4 until the coupling means are engaged again. The device 1 is then ready to be used again and can be transported easily inside a handbag or toilet bag for example. This type of device has the advantage of affording a dry deposit of product, not containing inhalable particles, unlike sprays, for example. The comparative table below shows the results of performances obtained with applicators according to the invention for applying a deodorant P to the armpits. For the three examples, the thermoplastic material defining the application surface 10 is SEBS CE 3620. For Examples 1 and 2, its Shore A hardness is equal to 65, and for Example 3, the Shore A hardness is equal to 75. Example 1 corresponds to ribs 14 comprising an alternation of circular arcs 17 that are convex towards the proximal end 3a of the applicator member 3 and circular arcs 16 that are concave towards said proximal end, as described with respect to Figures 5a and 5b. Examples 2 and 3 correspond to ribs comprising a succession of circular arcs 15 that are all convex towards the proximal end 3a of the applicator member 3, as described with regard to Figures 3 to 4b. The applicator in Example 3 appears to provide the most satisfactory performance.

The invention is not limited to the examples described, and it is possible notably to combine the features of the different embodiments with one another. For example, any one of the forms of pattern of the ribs 14 and/or type of alternation or succession of the patterns can be used with different dimensions of the patterns and of the application surface 10.

The invention is not limited to the described configuration of the applicator 2 and of the part 4 that forms a container, it being possible for the applicator member 3 according to the invention to be configured in some other way in order to be used in any packaging and application device.

Claims

1. Applicator (2) for applying a product (P) to the skin, comprising an applicator member (3) having an application surface (10) intended to be brought into contact with the skin in order to deposit and/or spread a product on the skin, the application surface (10) being defined by a thermoplastic material comprising a plurality of transverse ribs (14), the section of which in longitudinal section has a toothed profile, the falling front (14b) of each tooth (14a), in the direction of the proximal end (3a) of the applicator member (3), being less steep than the rising front (14c) rising towards the peak (14d) of the tooth.

2. Applicator according to Claim 1, wherein the falling front (14b) of the teeth (14a) defined by the ribs (14) forms an angle (a) of between 8° and 20°, better still between 11° and 14°, with the longitudinal axis (X) of the applicator member (3).

3. Applicator according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the rising front (14c) of the teeth (14a) defined by the ribs (14) forms an angle (β) of between 40° and 90°, better still between 60° and 90°, with the longitudinal axis (X) of the applicator member (3).

4. Applicator according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, wherein the falling front (14b) of the teeth (14a) defined by the ribs (14) is between 3 and 6 times less steep than the rising front (14c) rising towards the peak (14d) of the tooth.

5. Applicator according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the height (hn) of the ribs (14) is between 0.1 mm and 0.4 mm.

6. Applicator according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the distance (D_c) between the peak (14d) of one rib (14) and the peak of the following rib is between 0.5 mm and 3 mm, better still between 1 mm and 1.5 mm.

7. Applicator according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the ribs

(14) are wavy in the transverse direction.

8. Applicator according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the ribs

(14) comprise a succession of patterns, preferably circular arcs (15), that are preferably all convex towards the proximal end (3a) of the applicator member (3).

9. Applicator according to any one of Claims 1 to 7, wherein the ribs (14) comprise an alternation of patterns, notably circular arcs, that are convex (17) towards the proximal end (3a) of the applicator member (3) and ones that are concave (16) towards said proximal end.

10. Applicator according to Claim 8 or 9, wherein the succession of patterns, notably circular arcs (15, 16, 17), of at least one rib (14) is offset in the transverse direction with respect to the succession of patterns, notably circular arcs, of the following rib in the longitudinal direction, the convex part (15a, 17a) of a circular arc (15, 17) of one rib (14) notably facing the junction (15b) between two convex arcs (15) of the following rib or facing the concave part (16a) of the concave circular arc (16) of the following rib.

11. Applicator according to any one of Claims 8 to 10, wherein the greatest transverse dimension (D,) of the patterns of the ribs (14), notably of the circular arcs (15,

16, 17), is between 0.5 mm and 5 mm, better still between 1.5 mm and 3.5 mm.

12. Applicator according to any one of Claims 8 to 11, wherein the patterns of the ribs (14) are circular arcs (15, 16, 17) with a radius (r,) of between 0.25 mm and 2.5 mm, better still between 0.8 mm and 1.5 mm.

13. Applicator according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the ribs

(14) are continuous in the transverse direction.

14. Applicator according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the applicator member (3) is obtained by moulding, notably being overmoulded on a gripping member (7) of the applicator (2).

15. Packaging and application device (1) for applying a product (P) to the skin, comprising an applicator (2) according to any one of the preceding claims and a part

(4) that forms a container for the product (P), the applicator (2) being mounted so as to be able to move, notably in translation, relative to the part (4) of the device (1) that forms a container.