APPLICATOR FOR APPLYING A SUBSTANCE ONTO KERATINOUS FIBERS
An applicator for applying a substance onto the eyelashes or the eyebrows is disclosed. According to one embodiment, the applicator comprises a rod having an end extending along a longitudinal axis and a brush fixed to the end of the rod. The brush includes a core and bristles extending from a bristle-carrying portion of the core. Substantially all points of the bristle-carrying portion make a non-zero angle relative to the longitudinal axis that is less than about 20°.
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This is a Continuation of application Ser. No. 10/721,552 filed Nov. 25, 2003, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/441,321 filed Jan. 22, 2003 and French Application No. 02 14867 filed on Nov. 27, 2002. The disclosures of the prior applications are hereby incorporated by reference herein in their entirety.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates to applicators designed for applying a substance onto keratinous fibers, and in particular, the eyelashes or the eyebrows. The invention relates more particularly to an applicator comprising a rod having an end extending along a longitudinal axis, and a brush fixed to the end of the rod, the brush comprising a core and bristles extending from a bristle-carrying portion of the core.
Numerous applicators for applying substances to eyelashes or eyebrows are known. In particular, French patent application FR 2 798 267 describes an applicator in which the brush makes an angle relative to the rod so as to enable its free end to take substance from the walls of the receptacle containing the substance that is to be applied. In such an applicator, the angle formed relative to the longitudinal axis of the rod by the bristle-carrying portion of the core when said core is rectilinear, or by the tangent to the core at its distal end when said core is curved, is quite large. Other applicators comprising brushes having non-rectilinear cores are known from French patent application FR 2 749 490, and from European patent applications EP 0 832 580, EP 1 236 419, EP 1 236 420, and EP 1 236 421.
In certain applicators, the rod end of the brush of the bristle-carrying portion of the core makes quite a large angle, e.g. greater than 30°, relative to the longitudinal axis of the rod. With such a large angle, the brush cannot be used by the user without having firstly to identify the orientation of the core, thereby complicating the movements required to apply makeup.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONOne or more embodiment of the invention seeks to further improve applicators designed for applying make-up to the eyelashes and .the eyebrows. In one embodiment, the invention provides an applicator comprising an applicator for applying a substance onto keratinous fibers, and in particular the eyelashes or the eyebrows. The applicator according to this embodiment comprises a rod having an end extending along a longitudinal axis; and a brush fixed to the end of the rod. The brush includes a core and bristles extending from a bristle-carrying portion of the core, wherein all points of said bristle-carrying portion making a non-zero angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the end of the rod that is less than about 20°.
According to one aspect, the bristles have free ends which define an envelope surface have a cross-section that is non-circular along at least one point. In another aspect, the bristle-carrying portion of the core may be rectilinear.
One or more embodiment of the invention provides an applicator in which the angle formed by the brush and the rod is quite small, and which may be used by the user without having firstly to identify the orientation of the core about the axis of the rod. Thus, the applicator may be used, where necessary, with substantially the same movements as with conventional applicators, in which the core extends in rectilinear manner entirely in alignment with the longitudinal axis of the end of the rod.
In addition, according to certain embodiments, when the cross-section of the envelope surface is non-circular along at least one point, the core does extend entirely in the alignment of, the longitudinal axis of the end of the rod, and the envelope surface has a non-circular cross-section. In particular, the brush may be made with at least one longitudinal ridge, which, combined with the inclination of the core, can enable the bristles of the brush to penetrate better between the eyelashes in such a manner that the eyelashes can be combed and curled more easily and more effectively. Furthermore, while turning the applicator about the axis of the rod during application, it is possible to oscillate the brush, thereby enabling the bristles of the brush to grip the eyelashes more effectively.
The bristle-carrying portion of the core may form an angle, relative to the longitudinal axis of the end of the rod, which is less than about 20°, in particular, less than about 15°, and more particularly, less than or equal to about 10°, e.g. close to about 8°. The angle formed by the bristle-carrying portion of the core relative to the longitudinal axis of the rod may lie in the range about 0.2° to about 20°, and preferably in the range about 0.5° to about 15°, and more preferably in the range about 1°, or even about 5°, to about 10°.
The core may be substantially rectilinear at least along the bristle-carrying portion. When the core is not rectilinear, the angle at any point of the core relative to the longitudinal axis of the end of the rod is provided by the tangent to the longitudinal axis of the core at this point.
The distance between the end remote from the rod of the bristle-carrying portion of the core and the longitudinal axis X of the end of the rod depends on the length of the brush. In particular embodiments the distance may be less than about 7.5 millimeters (mm), or even less than about 4.5 mm for example, e.g. about 3 mm. The longitudinal axis of the bristle-carrying portion of the core may extend into a plane that also contains the longitudinal axis of the end of the rod. The brush may have an envelope surface having an oblong cross-section of major axis perpendicular to the above-mentioned plane. The above-mentioned cross-section may be lenticular in shape, for example.
By way of example, the brush may also have at least one face or facet that is perpendicular to said plane.
The longitudinal axis of the bristle-carrying portion of the core may extend entirely on the same side of a plane containing the longitudinal axis of the end of the rod. The end remote from the rod of said portion may constitute the furthest point of said portion from the longitudinal axis of the rod.
The brush may present at least one longitudinal ridge, and in a non-limiting example, the brush may include two to eight ridges, for example.
The brush may present at least one plane or concave face or facet. The brush may also present at least one convex face or facet, in particular having a radius of curvature, when the brush is observed in cross-section, that is greater than the length of the longest bristle extending from the core to said face or facet in said section.
The core may comprise at least two twisted-together strands, in particular two twisted-together metal strands, which may originate from folding a metal wire in half. The strands may be twisted together with a left-hand pitch, or in a variant, with a right-hand pitch.
The envelope surface may be of constant cross-section over most, or even all, of the length of the bristle-carrying portion of the core. The envelope surface may have at least one portion having a cross-section that varies, e.g. in size but not in shape. By way of example, the cross-section of the envelope surface, along at least one point of the core, may have a general shape selected from the following list: polygonal, in particular triangular, square, pentagonal, hexagonal, oblong, in particular oval, lenticular, star-shaped, in particular with three to six branches; or in the general shape of a keyhole.
For at least one cross-section of the envelope, the core may define the center of symmetry of said section. The core may also be off-center along at least one point along the length of the brush. The applicator may include at least two sets of bristles of different diameters. The applicator may include at least one set of bristles made of a resilient material, in particular an elastomer.
The applicator may include at least one set of bristles including a compound, e.g. a particulate compound or the like, making it easier for the bristles to slide over keratinous fibers, or, on the contrary, designed to create a coarse surface, thereby increasing the grip on keratinous fibers.
The applicator may include a blend of bristles. The applicator may comprise at least one bristle including at least one undulation, and may in particular comprise at least two bristles including each at least one periodic pattern including at least one undulation, at least two periodic patterns being different. The two periodic patterns may be part of two separate bristles or of a single bristle, and the waves may include different shapes, for example, may be serrated or sinusoidal, or may have various amplitudes or a wave of various spatial frequencies. The wording “periodic pattern” refers to a part of a bristle which is substantially repeated periodically along the bristles.
The applicator may comprise bristles other than made by injection molding with the core, and a brush may comprise at least one portion comprising curved bristles extending in an oriented manner from the core. By “extending in an oriented manner”, it has to be understood that the curved bristles extend in a general orientation which is imparted during the manufacture of the brush and not with a totally random orientation. The bristles may in particular be oriented in the same circumferential direction around the core. The bristles of the brush may be curved by contact with a hot surface, in particular a surface movable with respect to the brush. The surface may, for example, be defined by a material having a relatively low thermal conductivity, for example a silicone, a fluorinated polymer, for example a polytetrafluoroethylen, or an inorganic material other than metal, in particular, graphite.
The applicator may comprise a twisted core defining single turns, the bristles being engaged between the turns of the brush, the brush comprising at least two bent bristles engaged between two adjacent single turns, some material being taken off from the bristles or the bristles having a flattening in at least a point of their length and the bristles extending non radially towards the outside from said point. Each bent bristle may comprise two rectilinear portions forming an angle between them. The two rectilinear portions may have the same transversal section. All the bent bristles may define bends all situated substantially at the same distance from the core.
The applicator may comprise between 5 and 80 bristles in a single turn, for example, between 10 and 50 bristles in a single turn. Alternatively, the brush may also have fewer bristles and comprise between 5 and 20 bristles by single turn. The number of bristles in a single turn corresponds to the number of free ends of bristles counted by a fixed observer during a 180° rotation of the brush around its core. The applicator may comprise twisted bristles.
In a non-limiting aspect of the invention, the rod is connected to a handle. The handle may be arranged in such a manner as to close, in sealed manner, a receptacle containing the substance to be applied, which receptacle may be provided with a wiper member.
In another embodiment, the invention also provides, independently or in combination with the above, an applicator for applying a substance onto keratinous fibers, and in particular the eyelashes or the eyebrows. According to this aspect, the applicator comprises a rod having an end extending along a longitudinal axis X and a brush fixed to the end of the rod, the brush including a core and bristles extending from a bristle-carrying portion of the core. The bristles have free ends which define an envelope surface, preferably of non-circular cross-section along at least one point. The rod end of the portion forms a non-zero angle relative to the longitudinal axis X, said portion presenting a distal end extending from mid-way along its length in the direction of the free end of the brush. The longitudinal axis X intersects the envelope surface of said distal end, said portion being further away from the longitudinal axis X at its end remote from the rod than at its middle.
In another embodiment, the invention also provides a packaging and applicator device for applying a substance onto keratinous fibers, in particular the eyelashes or the eyebrows. The device comprises a receptacle containing the substance, and an applicator as defined above. The device may further comprise a wiper disposed in such a manner as to wipe the brush while it is being removed from the receptacle.
The present invention will be better understood on reading the following detailed description of non-limiting embodiments thereof, and on examining the accompanying drawings, in which:
Before describing several exemplary embodiments of the invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the details of construction or process steps set forth in the following description. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various ways.
In the example described, the rod 4 has a rectilinear longitudinal axis X which coincides with the axis of the neck 8 of the receptacle 2 when the applicator is in place in said receptacle. The handle 6 is arranged so as to close the receptacle 2 in a sealed manner when said handle is fully screwed onto the neck 8 in manner known to those skilled in the art. In the example shown, the wiper member 7 includes an orifice 9 of circular section, having a diameter that corresponds substantially to the diameter of the rod 4. The brush 5 has a core 10 formed of two twisted-together metal strands, said core 10 being fixed at one end in a housing of the rod 4, e.g. being force-fitted in said housing.
With reference to
In the example described, the bristle-carrying portion 12 of the core 10 has a longitudinal axis Y which is rectilinear and which forms, at least at its rod end 12a, an angle ∝ relative to the longitudinal axis X. In
In
The distance d between the axis X and the axis Y at the free end 12b of the brush is less than about 4.5 mm for example, e.g. being close to about 3 mm. Naturally, the distance d depends on the length of the brush and may be greater than 4.5 mm without going beyond the ambit of the present invention. The distance d′ from the middle M of the bristle-carrying portion 12 to the axis X is less than the distance d. The longitudinal axis Y of the bristle-carrying portion 12 extends entirely on the same side of a plane R containing the axis X and perpendicular to the plane of
As can be seen in
In the example in
In order to make the brush 5, it is possible, for example, to start with a blank having an envelope that is circularly cylindrical about the axis Y of the core, the blank being rectilinear and in alignment on the longitudinal axis X of the rod 4, then the brush 5 is machined so as to impart a conical shape thereto converging towards its free end, and three faces 16 are cut. Initially, the core 10 is bent where it leaves the rod 4 so as to impart the desired inclination a thereto.
According to one or more embodiments, the device can be used to apply makeup, wherein the user unscrews the applicator and removes the brush 5 from the receptacle 2, said brush being wiped as it passes through the wiper member 7. Given the small value of angle cc, which according to some embodiments is less than about 10°, the user can use the applicator 3 without first having to identify the orientation of the core 10 about the axis X prior to applying the substance and combing the eyelashes.
Where necessary, the user can turn the brush 5 a little about the axis X. While applying makeup, the ridges 15 can act like a comb to separate the eyelashes which might have become stuck together in certain places with an excess of substance. This combing effect can be facilitated, in particular when the circumferential dimension of the ridges is not greater than about 2 mm, for example. The inclination a of the core enables the edges of the brush to change direction progressively as it turns about the axis X of the rod, thereby improving the combing and the curling of the eyelashes, enabling the bristles of the brush to penetrate more effectively between the eyelashes.
Naturally, various modifications can be made to the applicator and, in particular, to the brush without going beyond the ambit of the present invention. It is possible, in particular, for the brush to have various cross-sections, e.g. square as shown in
By way of example, the brush may also have an envelope surface of circular cross-section with at least one flat surface 28 as shown in
Naturally, the core could be bent in some other way without going beyond the ambit of the present invention, and in particular, the core could be bent about an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis X, which perpendicular axis could present any orientation about said longitudinal axis X. The brush may also have an envelope surface of a cross-section that forms notches 33, as shown in
As shown in
It is not beyond the ambit of the present invention when the envelope surface is of substantially constant cross-section over most of the length of the bristle-carrying portion 12 of the core, as shown in
In particular, it is possible to use bristles having, in cross-section, one of the shapes shown diagrammatically in
Before being put in place between the strands of the core, the bristles 11 which are retained between the twisted-together strands of the core may have a rectilinear shape, or may alternatively have a non-rectilinear shape, e.g. an undulating shape as shown in
It is possible to use flocked bristles as shown in
According to certain embodiments, it is particularly advantageous to use a brush having left-hand pitch as explained below with reference to
The core may also be a double core formed by twisting together two already twisted-together component cores, as shown in
Throughout the description, including the claims, the term “comprising a” should be understood as being synonymous with “comprising at least one”, unless specified to the contrary.
Although the invention herein has been described with reference to particular embodiments, it is to be understood that these embodiments are merely illustrative of the principles and applications of the present invention. It is therefore to be understood that numerous modifications may be made to the illustrative embodiments and that other arrangements may be devised without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.
Claims
1. An applicator for applying a substance device for applying a substance onto keratinous fibers, eyelashes or eyebrows, the applicator comprising:
- a rod having a longitudinal axis and an end extending along said longitudinal axis; and
- a brush fixed to said end of said rod, said brush including:
- a core having a bristle-carrying portion; and
- bristles extending from said bristle-carrying portion of said core, wherein substantially all points of said bristle-carrying portion make a non-zero angle relative to said longitudinal axis of said end of said rod that is less than about 20.
Type: Application
Filed: Feb 16, 2012
Publication Date: Jun 14, 2012
Applicant: L'OREAL (PARIS)
Inventor: Jean-Louis GUERET (Paris)
Application Number: 13/397,776
International Classification: A45D 40/26 (20060101);