Applicator Device for Applying a Liquid, and the Use of Such a Device

Abstract

An applicator device for applying a liquid, the device comprising a stem terminated by a liquid applicator head that is flexible and smooth, in the form of a loop.

Description

The present invention relates to applicator devices for applying liquid, in particular liquid cosmetics, and to uses of such devices.

More particularly, the invention relates to a liquid applicator device comprising a stem terminated by an applicator head in the form of a loop having a smooth surface.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Document U.S. Pat. No. 1,999,642 describes an example of such a device, which device is nevertheless unsuitable for applying cosmetics to the skin.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A particular object of the present invention is to improve that device and mitigate those drawbacks.

To this end, according to the invention, an applicator device of the kind in question, wherein at least the applicator head is made of a flexible material presenting a modulus of elasticity less than or equal to 300 megapascals (MPa) at 20° C.

By means of these dispositions, application of the liquid is made easier, in particular on the skin, and said application is made particularly quick and precise.

In various embodiments of the invention, recourse may optionally also be had to one or more of the following dispositions:

• • the stem is made of a material presenting a modulus of elasticity that is greater than or equal to 300 MPa at 20° C., preferably in the range 500 MPa to 1200 MPa, or more preferably in the range 900 MPa to 1100 MPa, at 20° C.;
  • the stem is made of a material different from that of the applicator head;
  • the stem is made of the same material as the applicator head and is made integrally with said applicator head;
  • the applicator head comprises a ring of material surrounding an empty inside space, the ring of material presenting a thickness lying in the range 1 millimeter (mm) to 3 mm, and the empty inside space presenting dimensions lying in the range 3 mm to 6 mm parallel to the stem and perpendicular to said stem;
  • the ring of material presents a general shape that is substantially circular;
  • the ring of material presents a general shape that is elongate, in particular oval;
  • the ring of material is substantially plane;
  • the ring of material defines a curved surface;
  • the ring of material presents a circular section;
  • the applicator head is made of a synthetic material based on silicone;
  • the stem is made of a synthetic material based on polyethylene, or on polypropylene, or on polyoxymethylene, and mixtures thereof; and
  • the applicator device further includes a reservoir containing the liquid for application and closed by a stopper, in an arrangement such that for the stem secured to the stopper, the applicator head dips in the liquid for application when said stopper closes the reservoir.

Furthermore, the invention also provides the use of an applicator as defined above for applying a liquid cosmetic to a surface of the human body, in particular to the skin or to the mucous membrane of the lips.

In particular, said liquid cosmetic presents viscosity lying in the range 20 pascal seconds (Pa.s) to 10,000 Pa.s, and more particularly in the range 20 Pa.s to 1000 Pa.s, at 25° C.

In a preferred implementation of the invention, said liquid cosmetic is a lipstick presenting the viscosity specified above.

Finally, the invention also provides a method of making up the lips, wherein a lipstick is applied to the surface of the lips, the lipstick having viscosity lying in the range 20 Pa.s to 10,000 Pa.s, and preferably in the range 20 Pa.s to 1000 Pa.s at 25° C., the lipstick being applied by using a device as described above.

Thus, the method of the invention advantageously enables the lips to be made up, and in a manner that is precise and fast.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention appear from the following description of an embodiment thereof, given by way of non-limiting example, and with reference to the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a vertical section view of a liquid applicator device constituting an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a detail view of the FIG. 1 applicator device, showing the applicator head of the device; and

FIG. 3 is a section view on line III-III of FIG. 2, showing the applicator head loaded with liquid and in contact with an application surface.

MORE DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the various figures, the same references designate elements that are identical or similar.

FIG. 1 shows a liquid applicator device 1, e.g. for applying a liquid lipstick. The applicator device 1 comprises a reservoir 2 filled with liquid lipstick 2a, e.g. presenting dynamic viscosity lying in the range 20 Pa.s to 10,000 Pa.s at 25° C.

By way of example, the reservoir 2 may be made of plastics or other material. The neck 2b of the reservoir is closed by a stopper 3, e.g. screwed onto the neck 2b and made of plastics or other material, for example. The stopper 3 is secured to a stem 4 that is terminated at its free end by a loop-shape applicator head 5.

When the stopper 3 closes the reservoir 2, the stem 4 extends towards the inside of said reservoir so that its applicator head 5 is dipped in the liquid lipstick 2a.

The stem 4 may present a circular section having a diameter dl that lies in the range 1 mm to 3 mm, for example. The stem 4 preferably presents an outside appearance that is smooth, and the material of said applicator head advantageously presents a modulus of elasticity that is greater than or equal to 300 MPa at 20° C.

The applicator head 5 may be made either out of the same material as the stem 4, or else out of a different material, in which case the applicator head is fitted to the stem 4 by overmolding or by any other known means. The applicator head 5 is preferably made of the same material.

The stem and the applicator head may be made, for example, out of polyethylene (PE), or polypropylene (PP), or polyoxymethylene (POM), of ethylene-propylene-diene monomer (EPDM), also known as ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymer, of polyethylene catalyzed by metallocenes, or mixtures thereof. They may also be made of synthetic material based on silicone, such as silicone rubber, for example, as obtained from liquid silicone and known as liquid silicone rubber (LSR).

In the embodiment described herein, the applicator head 5 is made of high density polyethylene (HDPE) using the same material as the stem 4, and it is molded integrally with said stem 4.

The applicator head 5 comprises a ring of material 6 that advantageously presents an outside appearance that is smooth and that presents a section that is circular, for example, having a diameter d2 lying in the range 1 mm to 3 mm. The ring of material 6 may be generally circular in shape and define an empty inner space 7, e.g. presenting a diameter D lying in the range 3 mm to 6 mm.

The material of the applicator head 5, which is the same as the material of the stem 4 in the example described herein, presents a modulus of elasticity of 900 MPa at 20° C. More generally, this modulus of elasticity may lie in the range 500 MPa to 1200 MPa, and preferably in the range 900 MPa to 1100 MPa at 20° C.

As can be seen in FIG. 3, the applicator head 5 when in contact with an application surface 8 can form an angle α with the longitudinal axis X of the stem 4, while the liquid 2a remains in the inside space 7 defined by the ring of material 6 of the applicator head 5. This liquid 2a can then easily be applied to any application surface 8 such as, for example, the skin of the user, and in particular the lips. By way of example, the angle α may be about 150° as in the example shown, with this angle varying as a function of the application force.

Application of the liquid 2a is made particularly easy and comfortable by the flexibility of the applicator head 5 relative to the stem 4.

Furthermore, the quantity of liquid stored in the empty inside space 7 is relatively large, thereby limiting the number of times the applicator head needs to be moved back and forth between the reservoir 2 and the zone on which the liquid is applied.

Furthermore, the above-described applicator head 5 considerably increases the precision with which the liquid is applied on the skin, and enables the film of liquid that has been deposited on the skin to be smooth in excellent manner, thereby limiting the number of passes needed for the applicator head 5 on the skin.

Finally, it should be observed that the applicator head 5 does not wear with continued use.

Claims

1. An applicator device for applying a liquid, the device comprising a stem terminated by an applicator head in the form of a loop and having a smooth surface,

wherein at least the applicator head is made of a flexible material presenting a modulus of elasticity less than or equal to 300 MPa at 20° C.

2. A device according to claim 1, in which the stem is made of a material presenting a modulus of elasticity that is greater than or equal to 300 MPa at 20° C.

3. A device according to claim 2, in which the stem is made of a material presenting a modulus of elasticity lying in the range 500 MPa to 1200 MPa, preferably in the range 900 MPa to 1100 MPa, at 20° C.

4. A device according to claim 1, in which the stem is made of a material different from that of the applicator head.

5. A device according to claim 1, in which the stem is made of the same material as the applicator head and is made integrally with said applicator head.

6. A device according to claim 1, in which the applicator head comprises a ring of material surrounding an empty inside space, the ring of material presenting a thickness lying in the range 1 mm to 3 mm, and the empty inside space presenting dimensions lying in the range 3 mm to 6 mm parallel to the stem and perpendicular to said stem.

7. A device according to claim 6, in which the ring of material presents a general shape that is substantially circular.

8. A device according to claim 6, in which the ring of material presents a general shape that is elongate, in particular oval.

9. A device according to claim 6, in which the ring of material is substantially plane.

10. A device according to claim 6, in which the ring of material defines a curved surface.

11. A device according to claim 6, in which the ring of material presents a circular section.

12. A device according to claim 1, in which the applicator head is made of a synthetic material based on silicone.

13. A device according to claim 1, in which the stem is made of a synthetic material based on polyethylene, or on polypropylene, or on polyoxymethylene, and mixtures thereof.

14. A device according to claim 1, further including a reservoir containing the liquid for application and closed by a stopper, in an arrangement such that for the stem secured to the stopper, the applicator head dips in the liquid for application when said stopper closes the reservoir.

15. The use of an applicator device according to claim 1, to apply a liquid cosmetic to the surface of the human body, in particular to the skin or to the mucous membrane of the lips.

16. A use according to claim 15, for applying a liquid cosmetic having viscosity lying in the range 20 Pa.s to 10,000 Pa.s, and in particular in the range 20 Pa.s to 1000 Pa.s, at 25° C.

17. A use according to claim 16, in which said cosmetic is a lipstick.

18. A method of making up the lips, wherein a lipstick is applied to the surface of the lips, the lipstick having viscosity lying in the range 20 Pa.s to 10,000 Pa.s, and preferably in the range 20 Pa.s to 1000 Pa.s at 25° C., the lipstick being applied by using a device according to claim 1.