DEVICE INCLUDING AN APPLICATOR FOR APPLYING EYELINER
A packaging and applicator device for applying a cosmetic composition, including an applicator with a stem and an applicator endpiece that is carried by the stem; and a container containing the composition for application, and having a body, an outer neck for fastening the applicator on the container; and an inner sleeve that is molded integrally with the neck, the sleeve having first and second portions that extend consecutively towards the bottom wall of the container, with a change in slope between the two portions, the first portion extending without contact with the stem, and the second portion coming into leaktight contact with at least one of the applicator endpiece and the distal half of the stem when the applicator is in place on the container.
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The present invention relates to packaging and applicator devices for applying a cosmetic composition, and more particularly to packaging and applicator devices for applying an eyeliner or a tattoo composition, in particular compositions for drawing a line on the eyelids.
Applicator devices for applying eyeliner generally comprise a container containing the liquid eyeliner, and an applicator that is provided with an applicator tip and that has a stem that is engaged in the container when said container is closed. That type of device poses two problems. Firstly, it is necessary to ensure that, in normal conditions of use, the liquid cannot normally escape from the container, in particular by wetting the portion of the stem that is not engaged inside the container, and secondly the applicator tip should be loaded with enough composition to enable the applicator to be used for a satisfactory amount of time before being returned to the receptacle.
Application FR 2 603 780 describes a packaging and applicator device for applying an eyeliner, the device comprising a container containing the composition for application, and an applicator that is suitable for being screw-fastened on the container. The container comprises a tubular body that is closed at its bottom and that is provided with an opening at its top, in which opening there is fastened an insert that, at its top, includes a neck on which the applicator is screw-fastened. The insert carries a wiper member that is made out of an elastomer material. The wiper member comprises: an outer skirt that bears against the insert, between said insert and a wall of the body of the container; an inner chimney that is engaged inside the insert; and a sealing lip that is cone-shaped, extending the insert downwards, having an orifice that passes therethrough, and in which the applicator tip of the applicator comes to be engaged when said applicator is in place in the container.
Patent EP 0 354 823 B1 describes a device in which the insert includes a sleeve made with a threaded neck, the sleeve comprising a first cone-shaped portion that is connected by means of a shoulder to a second cone-shaped portion that comes to face the applicator tip. The stem includes an annular gasket that is formed by a separate washer that bears against the shoulder when the applicator is in place.
Application WO 93/01734 discloses a device in which the insert mounted in the body of the container carries a sealing member.
Patent application EP 1 336 353 A1 describes applicator devices for applying eyeliner.
Devices sold under the trade name REVLON COLORSTAY® are also known that comprise: a container having a body that is made integrally with the neck of the container; and a wiper member that is inserted into the neck and that is made as a single part out of thermoplastic material, the wiper member including a portion that is snap-fastened in the neck and that is extended downwards by a portion of narrower inside section that is configured to wipe the stem of the applicator. The wiper member is made with a constriction that defines an inner lip for wiping the stem.
The invention seeks to improve still further packaging and applicator devices for applying a cosmetic composition, in particular so as to simplify their manufacture, while preserving satisfactory performance in terms of makeup application and leaktightness.
In exemplary embodiments the invention achieves this by means of a packaging and applicator device for applying a cosmetic composition, in particular eyeliner, the device comprising:
-
- an applicator comprising:
- a stem; and
- an applicator endpiece that is carried by the stem; and
- a container containing the composition for application, and comprising:
- a body;
- an outer neck for fastening the applicator on the container; and
- an inner sleeve that is molded integrally with the neck, the sleeve comprising first and second portions that extend consecutively towards the bottom wall of the container, with a change in slope between the two portions. The first portion extends without contact with the stem, and the second portion comes into contact, in particular leaktight contact, with at least one of the applicator endpiece and the distal half of the stem when the applicator is in place on the container.
- an applicator comprising:
The change in slope may occur by forming an edge or a rounded wall.
The inner sleeve is situated below the outer neck. The inner sleeve may extend facing the inside surface of the body. An annular groove may be formed inside the body, around the sleeve.
Both the sleeve and the neck may form parts of an insert fitted on the container. The insert may be molded entirely out of a single material. In a variant, the sleeve is molded with at least one portion of the body of the container.
The distal half of the stem designates that half of the stem that is adjacent to the distal end of the stem, and that is obtained by halving the visible length of the stem when observed perpendicularly to its longitudinal axis.
Leaktightness may be obtained with the second portion, and the first portion makes it possible to create a capillary break avoiding any surplus of composition being taken away by the applicator when it is removed from the container.
The first portion is advantageously converging, in particular cone-shaped, and the same applies for the second portion. The slope of the first portion may lie in the range 10° to 35°, in particular in the range 20° to 25°, e.g. about 23°. The slope of the second portion may lie in the range 0.5° to 9°, e.g. in the range 1° to 3°, in particular about 2°. The slope of the second portion may be less steep than the slope of the first portion. This may make it easier to obtain axial contact of greater axial extent, and, where appropriate, to obtain better sealing.
The second portion may come into contact with the stem only. In a variant, the second portion comes into contact with the applicator endpiece only. Still in a variant, the second portion comes into contact with both of them.
The bottom of the sleeve may be open. The sleeve may have the stem or the endpiece passing therethrough.
The neck may be threaded, and the applicator may be arranged to be screw-fastened on the neck. Other fastener means may be provided, e.g. snap-fastening the applicator on the neck, or retaining it by friction.
The stem may be terminated by a distal portion that is cone-shaped or tapered in some other way, thereby making it easier to obtain leaktight contact with the second portion, where appropriate.
The applicator endpiece may be fastened in various ways to the stem.
The stem may be crimped on the applicator endpiece. The applicator endpiece may include a portion that is engaged in a housing of the stem.
The distal end of the stem need not project beyond the distal end of the sleeve when the applicator is in place on the container.
The stem may include a hole for allowing air to escape, in particular in the event of increased pressure, and for facilitating loading by capillarity, where appropriate. The hole may open out into the housing of the stem that receives the applicator endpiece, and it may be positioned above a zone where the sleeve contacts the stem and/or the applicator endpiece.
The axial dimension of the second portion may lie in the range 1 millimeter (mm) to 20 mm, in particular in the range 4 mm to 6 mm, e.g. about 5 mm.
The applicator endpiece may be elastically deformable, and may deform in visible manner on use, in order to draw a line on the eyelids.
The applicator endpiece may be made with one or more applicator tips, each having a free end that makes it possible to draw a line. The applicator endpiece may be arranged to draw two lines simultaneously, where appropriate.
The applicator endpiece may optionally be of shape that is circularly symmetrical.
The applicator endpiece may comprise at least one axial groove.
The width of the axial groove may, in an exemplary embodiment of the invention, decrease towards the head of the applicator endpiece.
In a variant, the width of the axial groove may approximately be uniform.
The length of the axial groove may be greater than or equal to 25%, for example 50%, of the total length of the applicator endpiece.
The axial groove may not be a through opening.
The axial groove may have a bottom at a depth that varies according to the axial position along the endpiece, for example decreasing towards the head of the endpiece.
The endpiece may, in an exemplary embodiment of the invention, be provided with two opposite grooves, opening on opposite faces of the endpiece.
According to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the endpiece may comprise a cylindrical portion in contact with the stem and having substantially the same diameter as the stem. When the applicator is in place on the container, this cylindrical portion may advantageously come into contact with one of the first or second portions to provide leaktightness.
The applicator endpiece makes it possible to draw a line of width that differs as a function of its orientation relative to the surface over which it is moved. To this end, the applicator endpiece may present a shape that is not circularly symmetrical.
Where appropriate, the handle portion may be open at its proximal end. Mounting the handle portion on the neck need not in itself provide leaktight closing from the outside, with it being possible for sealing to be obtained by means of the stem and/or the applicator endpiece. Thus, by way of example, sealing may be obtained by means of the applicator endpiece, the stem, and/or the handle portion.
With the exception of the applicator endpiece, the applicator may be made out of a polyolefin, e.g. polypropylene. Both the container and the insert may be made out of a polyolefin, e.g. out of the same material, e.g. polypropylene. Thus, the insert need not be made out of an elastomer.
The body of the container may be made out of a transparent material.
The stem of the applicator may be made as a single part out of thermoplastic material, e.g. a polyolefin, in particular polypropylene (PP) or polyethylene (PE); polyamide (PA); polyoxymethylene (POM); polystyrene (PS); or polyethylene terephthalate (PET).
The handle portion or the stem may include sealing means that co-operate with the neck. The sealing means may be a cone-shaped surface that is formed on the stem or the handle portion and that comes into contact with the neck or a sealing skirt.
In the vicinity of its distal end, the stem may include a sealing bead that bears against the sleeve, such a bead being of thickness lying in the range 0.5 mm to 1 mm, for example.
The handle portion may be made with a shape that is not circularly symmetrical, and the applicator endpiece may be fastened in angularly-identified manner relative to the handle portion, in particular when the applicator endpiece is not itself circularly symmetrical, e.g. as when it is possible, depending on its orientation, to draw a fine line or a thick line, a single line or multiple lines. The handle portion may include indicator means for indicating the position of the applicator relative to the skin, e.g. a flat. The applicator may also include a visual indicator such as a shape or a sign, informing the user of the orientation of the applicator endpiece.
The level of the composition is preferably situated below the sleeve, so as to reduce any risk of leakage in the event of increased pressure.
The sleeve need not have a shoulder that is oriented perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the sleeve. Sealing may be achieved other than by the stem bearing axially against such a shoulder. The stem of the applicator need not have a separate washer, unlike the stem described in EP 0 354 823 B1.
The stem may present a cross-section that may be smaller or greater than the section of the bottom opening of the sleeve.
Other exemplary embodiments of the invention also provide a method of applying makeup to the eyelids, wherein a device as defined above is used.
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:
The applicator 3 is separate from the container 2 while the composition P is being applied.
The composition P is preferably liquid, and may contain pigments such as iron oxides or carbon black and an alcohol, or some other solvent, for example.
The container 2 includes a body 4 that is closed at its bottom by a bottom wall 6, and that is open at its top. By way of example, the body 4 is made of a thermoplastic material by injection-molding or by injection blow-molding.
An insert 10 is fastened in the top opening of the body, e.g. by snap-fastening.
As shown, the insert 10 may include a tubular fastener skirt 11 that co-operates with a portion in relief 12 formed on the inside surface of the body 4. By way of example, the skirt 11 may include an annular groove that snap-fastens on a bead formed on the inside surface of the container body.
The insert 10 is formed with a neck 14 that enables the applicator 3 to be fastened on the container. In the embodiment shown, the neck 14 includes an external thread 15, and the applicator 3 is arranged to be screw-fastened on the thread, said applicator including an internally-threaded mounting skirt 37 for this purpose.
On its surface that comes to face the mounting skirt 11 of the insert 10, the container 2 may include axial ribs, and the mounting skirt 11 may include corresponding grooves, or vice versa, so as to prevent the insert 10 from moving on the body 4. In a variant, the insert 10 may also be heat-sealed onto the container.
The insert 10 may include a collar 17 that bears against the top end 18 of the body 4, as shown.
In accordance with the invention, the insert 10 is made with an inner sleeve 20 that is open axially at its bottom end. The sleeve 20 includes two successive portions 21 and 22 that, in the embodiment under consideration, are cone-shaped around the longitudinal axis X of the container, and diverge upwards, forming respective angles at the apex α1 and α2 relative to the axis X, as shown in
The portions 21 and 22 extend at a distance from the side wall of the body 4. Thus, an annular groove is formed between the sleeve 20 and the body 4.
In the variant shown in
It can be seen in
As shown, the first portion 21 may be connected to a transverse wall 23 of the insert, at the base of the neck 14, which insert extends perpendicularly to the axis X and, at its periphery, defines the collar 17. The inside surface 24 of the first portion 21 may extend, without a step, in the extension of the inside surface of the neck 26, as shown.
The applicator 3 includes a handle portion 30 and a stem 32 that is connected at its proximal end to the handle portion 30, and that carries at its distal end, an applicator endpiece 35.
The applicator endpiece 35 is used to apply composition P and may include a flocked coating and/or one or more capillary grooves, in particular for increasing the quantity of composition stored by the applicator and/or for channeling the flow of composition P towards the distal end of the applicator endpiece.
By way of example, the applicator endpiece 35 includes a single applicator tip, as shown in
At its distal end, the stem 32 may present a bevel 32a.
In the embodiment in
The inside surface 24 of the first portion 21 need not have any projection-forming portion in relief on its inside surface that faces the stem 32.
A change in slope is formed, without a step, at the junction 29 of the first and second portions 21, 22.
In the embodiment under consideration, the applicator endpiece 35 comes into contact with the inside surface 40 of the second portion 22.
In the embodiment under consideration, the stem 32 comes to bear against the inside surface 40 of the second portion 22.
The inside surface 24 of the first portion 21 does not itself come into contact with the stem 32.
It can be seen in
In variants not shown, it is only the stem 32 or the applicator endpiece 35 that comes into leaktight contact with the inside surface 40 of the second portion.
When the container is standing on a horizontal plane surface, the level of the composition in said container need not reach the applicator endpiece, thereby reducing the risk of composition leaking in the event of increased pressure in the container. The level of the composition preferably also remains below the distal end of the sleeve 20.
The applicator endpiece 35 and/or the stem 32 bearing against the second portion 22 make it possible to form a closure that avoids the composition flowing into the space 43 formed between the stem 32 and the sleeve 20, when the container is closed.
The slope α2 may be greater than α1 as shown in
When the applicator is in place on the container, the distance s between the stem 32 and the inside surface 24 of the first portion 21 may be greater than or equal to 0.5 mm at all points.
By way of example, the axial dimension l1 of the first portion 21 is greater than the axial dimension l2 of the second portion 22. By way of example, l2 lies in the range 1 mm to 20 mm, in particular in the range 4 mm to 6 mm, e.g. 5 mm.
As shown in
The applicator endpiece 35 may also come into contact with the second portion 22 over a height d measured along the longer axis X, as shown in
Regardless of the embodiment of the inner sleeve 20 and of the applicator endpiece 35, it is possible to have a contact height d between the applicator endpiece 35 and the second portion 22 that lies in the range 0.2 mm to 5 mm, for example.
The applicator endpiece 35 may include a cone-shaped portion 50 that has the same slope as the second portion 22, so as to enable contact to take place over a relatively long distance.
As shown in
The applicator endpiece 35 may be made with various shapes, and, as shown in
In a variant, as shown in
As shown in
The applicator endpiece may alternatively be made with a fork 67 at its end, as shown in
The applicator endpiece 35 may alternatively comprise an applicator tip comprising a bundle of fibers, as shown in
The distal end of the applicator endpiece may present a generally beveled shape, as shown in
As shown in
Whatever the embodiment of the applicator endpiece 35 considered, the applicator endpiece 35 may comprise at least one axial groove 200 as shown in
The width z of the groove 200 may, as represented in
In a variant, whatever the shape of the applicator endpiece 35, the width z of the axial groove 200 may approximately be uniform as shown in
The length l3 of the axial groove 200 may be greater than or equal to 25%, for example 50%, of the total length l4 of the applicator endpiece 35 as shown for example in
The head 60 of the applicator endpiece 35 may be disc-shaped or ball-shaped as shown in
The groove 200 may not be a through opening.
The groove 200 may have a bottom at a depth that varies according to the axial position along the endpiece 35, for example decreasing towards the head 60.
The endpiece 35 may, in an exemplary embodiment of the invention, be provided with two opposite grooves 200, opening on opposite faces of the endpiece 35.
In particular, the presence of the vent 39 enables air to escape in the event of increased pressure inside the container, in particular in the event of leaktight contact between the portion of stem 32 that is situated below the vent 39 and the sleeve 20. Air may possibly flow through the applicator endpiece when the porosity of said endpiece allows it, or through a mounting clearance that exists between the applicator endpiece and the housing of the stem that receives it.
The applicator endpiece 35 may be mounted on the stem 32 in various ways, without going beyond the ambit of the present invention.
For example, and as shown in
The applicator endpiece 35 may alternatively be molded onto a fastener portion in relief 76 that is formed at the end of the stem 32, as shown in
The stem 32 may be hollow and the applicator endpiece may include a shouldered rear portion 80 that comes to bear against a shoulder 81 in the proximity of the distal end of the stem 32.
The applicator endpiece 35 may alternatively be bonded, heat-sealed, or stapled on the stem 32.
The applicator endpiece 35 may be made with a flocked coating 90 or without a flocked coating, in particular as a function of the makeup effect that is desired.
In addition, the endpiece 35 may comprise a cylindrical portion 201 in contact with the stem 32 and having substantially the same diameter as the stem 32.
This cylindrical portion 201 may come into contact with one of the first or second portions to advantageously provide leaktightness when the applicator is in place on the container.
In the embodiment in
The stem 32 may be connected to the handle portion 30 in the vicinity of the proximal end 94 thereof.
The handle portion 30 may be made with at least one opening 100, as shown in
The handle portion 30 may alternatively be made with one or more fins 102, as shown in
The handle portion 30 may be made with ribs or steps, as shown in
The stem 32 may be made with sealing means 110, as shown in
The stem 32 may be made with a constriction 120, as shown in
As shown in
The insert 10 may be fastened on bodies 4 of various shapes. An economy of scale may thus be achieved by fabricating the same insert for containers of various shapes.
The body 4 may include a series of radial fins 108, as shown in
As shown in
An assembly formed of an applicator and of an insert may be mounted on a container in removable manner, and once the composition has been used up, the container may be replaced by a new full container that optionally has the same appearance. In a variant, the applicator may also be used on a new container once the composition contained in the initial container has been used up.
Numerous shapes are possible for the container and the applicator.
The envelope surface of the container may present a shape having a constriction at mid-height, as shown in
Whatever the embodiment of the device 1, the envelope surface of the container 2 may comprise a cylindrical part 300 as shown in
Moreover, as shown in
The invention is not limited to the embodiments shown. Characteristics from the variant embodiments described above, may be combined together within embodiments that are not shown.
The expression “comprising a” should be understood as being synonymous with “comprising at least one” unless specified to the contrary.
Claims
1. A packaging and applicator device for applying a cosmetic, the device comprising:
- an applicator comprising: a stem; and an applicator endpiece that is carried by the stem; and
- a container containing the composition for application, and comprising: a body; an outer neck for fastening the applicator on the container; and an inner sleeve that is molded integrally with the neck, the sleeve comprising first and second portions that extend consecutively towards a bottom wall of the container, with a change in slope between the two portions, the first portion extending without contact with the stem, and the second portion coming into leaktight contact with at least one of the applicator endpiece and the distal half of the stem when the applicator is in place on the container.
2. The device according to claim 1, the first portion being cone-shaped.
3. The device according to claim 1, the second portion being cone-shaped.
4. The device according to claim 1, the second portion coming into contact with the stem.
5. The device according to claim 1, the second portion coming into contact with the applicator endpiece.
6. The device according to claim 1, the neck being threaded.
7. The device according to claim 1, the stem being terminated by a distal portion that is cone-shaped.
8. The device according to claim 1, the distal end of the stem not projecting beyond a distal end of the sleeve when the applicator is in place on the container.
9. The device according to claim 2, a slope of the first portion lying in a range of from 10° to 35°.
10. The device according to claim 3, a slope of the second portion lying in a range of from 0.5° to 9°.
11. The device according to claim 1, an axial dimension of the second portion lying in a range of from 1 mm to 20 mm.
12. The device according to claim 1, the stem being connected to a handle portion of the applicator and being made integrally with a mounting skirt that is arranged to fasten on the neck, the stem extending over more than half a length of the handle portion.
13. The device according to claim 12, the stem being connected to the handle portion in a proximity of a proximal end thereof.
14. The device according to claim 1, the composition being an eyeliner or a tattoo composition.
15. The device according to claim 1, the endpiece comprising an axial groove.
16. The device according to claim 15, a length of the axial groove being greater than or equal to 25% of a total length of the applicator endpiece.
17. The device according to claim 1, the endpiece comprising a cylindrical portion in contact with the stem and having substantially a same diameter as the stem.
18. A method of applying makeup to the eyelids, comprising drawing a line on the eyelids using the device as defined in claim 1.
Type: Application
Filed: Jul 8, 2010
Publication Date: May 31, 2012
Applicant: L'OREAL (Paris)
Inventor: Jean-Louis Gueret (Paris)
Application Number: 13/378,194
International Classification: A45D 34/04 (20060101); A45D 40/26 (20060101);