WO2023144452A1

WO2023144452A1 - Applicator device for applying a fluid or paste product to keratin fibres

Info

Publication number: WO2023144452A1
Application number: PCT/FR2022/050156
Authority: WO
Inventors: Eric DE BARDONNECHE
Original assignee: Societe Industrielle De Matieres Plastiques; HCP Packaging
Priority date: 2022-01-27
Filing date: 2022-01-27
Publication date: 2023-08-03

Abstract

The invention relates to an applicator device for applying a fluid and/or paste product to keratin fibres, comprising a core (1) and a plurality of protuberances (3a, 3b, 3c) connected directly or indirectly to the core (1), these protuberances (3a, 3b, 3c) being arranged along a surface (S'), the shape of which corresponds to the surface defined by the keratin fibres intended to receive said product.

Description

APPLICATOR DEVICE FOR FLUID OR PASTY PRODUCT ON KERATIN FIBERS

The invention relates to the field of applicators for applying a fluid or pasty product to keratin fibers such as eyelashes or eyebrows.

[0002] In particular, the applicators covered by the invention make it possible to apply a cosmetic, make-up or care product to the hairs, eyelashes or eyebrows. They can also make it possible to apply a cosmetic product to an individual's skin.

[0003] In known manner, these applicators, which in particular include mascara brushes, essentially comprise two elements: an elongated core on which is arranged at least one row of teeth or spikes or protuberances. This constitutes the simplest embodiment of this type of applicator.

[0004] A constant problem with these applicators is to make it possible, with very simple gestures, and therefore with a minimum of operations, to apply the cosmetic product in a sufficient quantity and in a harmonious manner to the keratin fibers of the individual.

[0005] Numerous applicators, and in particular mascara brushes, exist in the state of the art, making it possible to more or less satisfactorily solve the aforementioned problem.

The present invention thus aims in particular to provide an applicator, and more particularly a mascara brush, which makes it possible to solve this problem more satisfactorily than the solutions proposed to date.

This object of the invention is achieved, as well as other advantages which will result from the presentation which will follow, with a device for applying a fluid and/or pasty product to keratin fibres, comprising a core and a plurality of protuberances connected directly or indirectly to this core, these protuberances being arranged in a surface whose shape corresponds to the surface defined by the keratin fibers intended to receive said product.

[0008] Thanks to these characteristics, the protrusions of the applicator device, intended to be loaded with the product to be applied to the keratin fibers, can perfectly match the profile defined in space by these fibers, and thus allow homogeneous application of the product on these fibers in a single step.

[0009] According to other optional characteristics of the applicator device according to the invention, taken alone or in combination:

[0010] - this applicator device comprises at least one flexible arch connected at least at one of its ends to said core, this flexible arch supporting a plurality of said protuberances: the presence of such a flexible arch allows on the one hand a easier passage of the applicator through the neck of the container containing the product to be applied, without significant loss of this product during this passage, and on the other hand a flexible contact with the part of the body of the individual with which the device applicator must come into contact;

- This applicator device comprises two flexible arches arranged on either side of said core: this arrangement allows the applicator device to be used with the same ergonomics to treat a right eye or a left eye;

[0012] - this applicator device comprises at least one groove formed in said core, and extending along the length of the latter: such a groove constitutes a reservoir for the product to be applied, thus making it possible to increase the load of product of the applicator device, and therefore to reduce the number of passages necessary over the fibers to be treated;

[0013] - at least a part of said protrusions are arranged on the edge of said groove: this arrangement allows a direct flow of the product to be applied from the inside of the groove to the outer surface of the protrusions, and thus a more effective discharge of this product on the fibers to be treated; [0014] - this applicator device is formed from a single piece of plastic material by injection molding: thanks to this manufacturing technique using appropriate moulds, this applicator device can be manufactured industrially at high speeds and at low cost ;

[0015] - said at least one arch and said protuberances have a lower hardness than that of said core: these characteristics allow each part to fulfill its function perfectly.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will become apparent on reading the following description, with reference to the appended figures, which illustrate:

[Fig. 1]: a perspective view of an applicator device according to the invention,

[Fig. 2]: another perspective view of this applicator device, represented in a simplified way without protuberances, and with highlighting of a distribution surface of some of these protuberances,

[Fig. 3]: a side view of the applicator device of Figure 1,

[Fig. 4]: another side view of this applicator device, the latter having pivoted around its longitudinal axis with respect to the view of FIG. 3,

[Fig. 5]: a perspective view of a typical protuberance of this applicator device,

[Fig. 6]: a cross-sectional and perspective view of this applicator device,

[Fig. 7]: a view similar to that of figure 6, taken from a slightly different angle,

[Fig. 8]: four perspective views of an individual's eye and eyelashes,

[Fig. 9]: a perspective view of one side of the applicator device, showing in particular the arrangement in space of the protrusions of this applicator device.

[0017] For greater clarity, identical or similar elements are identified by identical or similar reference signs in all of the figures. We now refer more particularly to Figures 1, 3 and 4.

As can be seen in these figures, the applicator device according to the invention comprises a core 1 extending substantially along a longitudinal axis XX', and intended to be connected to a handle not shown in these figures.

On this core 1 are arranged directly or indirectly a plurality of protrusions 3, extending in a generally radial direction with respect to this core.

Preferably, and as is particularly visible in Figure 2, at least two flexible arches 5a, 5b, extending substantially in the longitudinal direction XX ', are connected at each of their ends to the core 1 , and arranged on either side, that is to say substantially diametrically opposite, with respect to this core 1.

[0022] Longitudinal grooves 7a, 7b can also be formed in the core 1.

The protrusions 3, which may be in the manner of pins or teeth of generally slender shape as shown in Figure 5, may locally have a particularly suitable conformation in particular to the nature of the product to be applied.

In the particular example shown in Figure 5, it can thus be seen that at least part of the protrusions of the applicator device according to the invention have a shape which tapers from their base 9 intended to be connected to the core, up to their free end 11, as well as a substantially planar face 13.

Of course, this example of shape is in no way limiting, and it can be seen in particular in Figure 9 that other protuberances 3b can have, for example, a concave zone 17 along their length.

[0026] The presence of protrusions of different shapes arranged in different zones of the applicator device makes it possible to use this applicator device according to different modes of application of the product, and for areas of the body that may have different geometries: it is then sufficient, to switch from one mode of application of the product to another, and/or from one area of the body to another , to modify the orientation of the applicator device, by rotating it about its longitudinal axis XX'.

More particularly, as can be seen in particular in Figures 3, 7 and 9, the protrusions 3 of the same row can be staggered relative to each other, and when these protrusions 3 have a substantially flat face 13, these faces can be included in the same joint surface.

When this applicator device comprises arches 5a, 5b, part of the protuberances 3a are arranged along these arches, as can be seen in particular in Figures 1, 3, 6, 7 and 9.

[0029] When the applicator device has grooves 7a, 7b, part of the protrusions 3b can be arranged along these grooves, with their base 9 originating inside these grooves, as can be seen in particular on the figures 6 and 9.

The other protuberances 3c can be connected directly to the core 1, as can be seen in particular in Figures 1, 3, 6, 7, 9.

The applicator device according to the invention is made in one piece of plastic material(s), preferably by injection molding - but of course any other method of manufacture - and in particular additive manufacturing - is also conceivable.

It is possible to choose plastic materials having different hardnesses (measured for example according to the Shore scale) for the different parts of the applicator, and in particular for the core 1 on the one hand (relatively high hardness), and for the arches 5a, 5b and the protrusions 3a, 3b, 3c on the other hand (relatively low hardness). When the applicator device according to the invention is produced by injection molding, the joint surfaces along which the protrusions 3 extend correspond to the joint surfaces of the moulds.

[0034] According to a feature of the invention, at least some of these protrusions 3, and in particular the protrusions 3a fixed to the arches 5a, 5b in the example shown, are arranged in a specific way in the space : these protrusions are in fact arranged along a surface whose shape corresponds to the surface defined by the keratin fibers intended to receive the fluid and/or pasty cosmetic product loaded onto the applicator device.

[0035] Thus, for example, when the keratin fibers in question are the eyelashes 21 of an eye 23 as can be seen in FIG. 8, these eyelashes 21 define a three-dimensional surface S, and their free ends define the border B of this surface.

In the same way, and as can be seen particularly in FIG. 9, at least a part 3a of the protrusions 3 is arranged inside a surface S' whose shape corresponds to the surface S of the eyelashes 21 , and whose border B', defined by the free ends of the protrusions 3a, defines a curve similar to that of the border B of the eyelashes 21.

[0037] When it is indicated here that "the protrusions 3a are arranged inside a surface S'", this means that the mean axes of these protrusions, corresponding substantially to their longitudinal axes of inertia, define a place geometry that can be approximated by this surface S'.

[0038] In particular, this surface S′ may correspond to a joint surface, when the applicator device according to the invention is manufactured by injection molding.

As can be understood in the light of the foregoing description, the applicator device according to the invention, which may for example be a mascara brush, allows application of a cosmetic product, in particular fluid and/or pasty, to fibers. keratinous such as eyelashes 21, in a particularly homogeneous manner, and in a single pass. Indeed, the perfect correspondence of the surface S' and the border B' defined by the protuberances in particular 3a, with the surface S and the border B defined by the eyelashes 21, makes it possible to match these protuberances 3a perfectly with these eyelashes 21, when the applicator device comes into contact with these eyelashes. [0041] This perfect correspondence allows the product located along the protuberances 3, and if necessary, inside the grooves 7a, 7b, to be applied in a perfectly distributed manner and in one go on each of the eyelashes 21 : in this way, a particularly simple and effective application gesture is obtained.

Naturally, the invention is described in the foregoing by way of example. It is understood that the person skilled in the art is able to produce different variant embodiments of the invention without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. Device for applying a fluid and/or pasty product to keratin fibers (21), comprising a core (1) and a plurality of protrusions (3a, 3b, 3c) connected directly or indirectly to this core (1), these protrusions (3a, 3b, 3c) being arranged along a surface (S') whose shape corresponds to the surface (S) defined by the keratin fibers (21) intended to receive said product.

2. Applicator device according to claim 1, comprising at least one flexible arch (5a, 5b) connected at at least one of its ends to said core (1), this flexible arch (5a, 5b) supporting a plurality of said protuberances (3a).

3. Applicator device according to claim 2, comprising two flexible arches (5a, 5b) arranged on either side of said core (1).

4. Applicator device according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising at least one groove (7a, 7b) formed in said core (1), and extending along the length (XX') thereof.

5. Applicator device according to claim 4, wherein at least a portion of said protuberances (3b) are arranged at the edge of said groove (7a, 7b).

6. Applicator device according to any one of the preceding claims, formed from a single piece of plastic material by injection molding.

7. Applicator device according to claim 6, wherein said plastic part comprises parts of different hardnesses.

8. Applicator device according to claims 2 and 6, wherein said at least one arch (5a, 5b) and said protuberances (3a, 3b, 3c) have a lower hardness than that of said core (1).