BRUSH FOR APPLYING A COMPOSITION TO THE EYELASHES AND/OR THE EYEBROWS

Abstract

A brush for applying a composition to eyelashes or eyebrows, the brush including: a core that is made by molding and that extends along a longitudinal axis; and a plurality of rows of bristles that are also made by molding, including bases that are distributed over a periphery of the core, the bristles being disposed so that there exists at least one projection axis orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the core for which the projected images of the bristles of a first row cross the projected images of the bristles of a second row.

Description

The present invention relates to brushes for applying a composition to the eyelashes and the eyebrows, and also to packaging and applicator devices including such a brush.

The invention relates more particularly to a brush comprising rows of bristles that are made by being molded integrally with a core, such brushes sometimes also being known as “combs” or “injection-molded brushes”.

Application EP 1 175 847 A1 describes an applicator comprising an arrangement of bristles that are fitted on a non-twisted support, the arrangement comprising groups of bristles that cross when the applicator is observed transversally to its longitudinal axis. As a result of the bristles being fitted on the core, it is difficult to provide them other than on one side only of the core, or on two opposite sides. Thus, such an applicator does not look or behave like conventional mascara brushes having rows of bristles that are distributed all around the core.

EP 1 543 741 and EP 1 726 234 disclose molded applicators having bristles on one side of a support, the bristles extending towards the distal end and towards the proximal end of the applicator.

Application EP 1 611 817 A1 discloses a molded applicator chat, in one particular embodiment, has bristles of a row that extend alternatingly towards the distal end and towards the proximal end of the applicator.

Application EP 1 070 467 A2 discloses combs having bristles that cross when the combs are observed from the side.

There exists a need to further improve a brush for applying a composition to the eyelashes or the eyebrows. According to embodiments of the present disclosure a brush comprising: a core that is made by molding and that extends along a longitudinal axis; and a plurality of rows of bristles that are also made by molding, having bases that are distributed over the periphery of the core so as to offer novel possibilities for applying makeup, and in particular so as to make it possible to control the flexibility of the bristles during application, and also while passing through the wiper member, if one exists, is provided.

In exemplary embodiments of the invention, the bristles are disposed so that there exists at least one projection axis orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the core for which the projected images of the bristles of a first row cross the projected images of the bristles of a second row. In other words, when the brush is observed from the side, perpendicularly to its longitudinal axis, the bristles of the first row appear to cross the bristles of the second row. Two bristles for which a crossing is observed may have respective longitudinal axes that are never parallel. The bristles need not touch one another. The offset between the free ends of the two bristles may lie in the range 0.1 millimeters (mm) to 5 mm, e.g. in the range 0.2 mm to 0.8 mm, in particular in the range 3 mm to 4 mm. Bristles that are sufficiently close together enable said bristles to make contact with the eyelash simultaneously during application.

By way of example, the first and second rows are adjacent without an intermediate row between them.

By way of example, the number of first rows is greater than or equal to three, e.g. equal to 4, 5, 6, 7, or 8. The distribution of the first rows all around the core may optionally be regular. The bristles of at least three, or even four, first rows may extend in different directions around the longitudinal axis of the core.

The shortest distance between two first rows, measured around the longitudinal axis of the core, at the surface of the core, lies in the range 0 to 3 mm, for example, the distance being measured between the bases of the teeth.

For each of the first rows, there may exist at least one second row making it possible to observe, in side view, a crossing of the bristles, as defined above.

When the number of first rows is greater than or equal to four, they may, in cross-section, extend into at least each of the four quadrants around the longitudinal axis of the core.

The brush may comprise at least five rows of teeth. The teeth may extend in at least 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7 different directions around the longitudinal axis of the core. Each tooth may have a base, the bases of the teeth being distributed all around the core. At least 4, 5 or 6 bases may be present in a cutaway view taken perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the core.

A brush of the invention presents numerous advantages. Initially, the slope of the bristles imparts flexibility thereto during application, and also while passing through the wiper member, in embodiments so provided. The flexibility may be adjusted easily during manufacture by sloping the bristles to a greater or lesser extent.

Then, when the brush is observed from the side, the crossing of the bristles defines spaces that are suitable for receiving the eyelashes during application. The spaces may have a V-notch that is favorable to catching the eyelashes, and to smoothing the composition over the eyelashes. The slope of the bristles may promote the accumulation of composition between the bristles and the core, which may improve the performance of the brush in terms of loading the eyelashes with composition. The fact that a bristle slopes may also encourage composition to accumulate on a side facing away from the core. Such an accumulation may enable the eyelashes that come into contact therewith to be well loaded.

The bristles may not be touching each other. This feature enables the bristles to take up the eyelashes between a bristle and the core or between two bristles, in order to treat them.

In the invention, the bristles are such that a eyelash may be taken up under a bristle, i.e. between a bristle and the core.

The contact of the brush with the eyelashes may be gentle and without pinching, the sloping of the bristles imparting cushioning properties thereto.

The invention reduces the number of brushes to be made having different configurations.

The sloping of the bristles may also alter the distribution of the free ends of the bristles at the surface of the brush, e.g. so as to obtain a density of free ends that is higher at the front of the brush (the distal end) than at the rear (the proximal end).

The bristles of a single row may be identical along the row or they may vary in size, e.g. diameter, and/or length defined between the base and the distal end of the bristles; slope; shapes; and/or spacing. The bases of the bristles of a single row may optionally be in alignment. The variation in the slope may be longitudinal, i.e. may relate to the angle relative to the longitudinal axis, and/or it may be lateral, i.e. may relate to the angle relative to the normal to the core in a plane that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.

The bristles may be rectilinear, or in a variant may be curved. A bristle may be curved in two axis, i.e. around two axis of curvature which are not parallel to each other. A bristle may also be twisted.

The rows may comprise double bristles, or even triple bristles or quadruple bristles.

The core may have a cross-section that is constant along the brush, or it may vary. Variation in the cross-section of the envelope surface of the brush, along said brush, may be due to a variation in the section of the core, the length of the bristles being constant, for example.

At least a fraction of the bristles of the first row may present slopes relative to the longitudinal axis of the core that vary along the first row. For example, slope relative to the longitudinal axis of the core may increase progressively and then decrease, while going from one longitudinal end of the core to the other. The slopes may possibly be reversed. Varying slopes make it possible to take account of the fact that users may favor using certain portions of the brush to treat the eyelashes at the corner of the eye, for example. This may also enable the bristles to be made more flexible where the stresses during wiping are smaller, or on the contrary greater, depending on the desired result.

For example, it may be advantageous to have bristles that slope more steeply towards the distal end of the brush, on going towards the distal end of the brush, since that makes it easier to use the brush with its longitudinal axis oriented substantially perpendicularly to the set of eyelashes, which may be desirable for treating the eyelashes at the corner of the eye.

When the slopes of the bristles of a first row vary, the heights of bristles of the second row at which the cross-over with the bristles of the first row can be seen may also vary, the bristles of the second row being shorter where they cross the bristles that slope more steeply, for example. That makes it possible to avoid the bristles of the second row projecting too much relative to the bristles of the first row, if they are not sloping, or slope only a little. That makes it possible to avoid the bristles of the second row unduly hindering gentle application.

Similarly, at least a fraction of the bristles of the second row may present slopes relative to the longitudinal axis of the core that vary along the second row. Varying slopes make it possible to have different application properties at different locations of the brush. Thus, the bristles of both the first and second rows may present varying slopes along their respective rows. In a variant, the slopes of the bristles of only one row vary, the bristles of the other row all having the same slope, e.g. perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the core.

Two consecutive bristles within a single row along the core may present different slopes relative to the longitudinal axis of the core. In a variant, slope may vary in stages, e.g. with a first group of bristles having the same slope relative to the longitudinal axis of the core, adjacent to a second group of bristles of the same row having a slope that is different than the slope of the first group. By way of example, the first group extends over more than one fourth, or even one third, of the length of the row, measured between the extreme bristles of the row.

At least a fraction of the bristles of the first row may present a slope relative to the longitudinal axis of the core that does not vary along the first row.

At least a fraction of the bristles of the second row may present a slope relative to the longitudinal axis of the core that does not vary along the second row.

At least a fraction of the bristles of the first or second row may be perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the core. By way of example, the perpendicular bristles may be situated between sloping bristles of the row, along the longitudinal axis.

By way of example, the perpendicular bristles may be situated substantially mid-way along the brush, e.g. between the first quarter and the last quarter, lengthwise along the longitudinal axis.

In exemplary embodiments, the brush includes a plurality of first rows having bristles that slope, and a plurality of second rows associated with the first rows and having bristles that are perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. When a second row is said to be “associated” with a first row, it should be understood to mean that the second row has bristles that cross the bristles of the first row, when the brush is observed from the side.

The cross-over of two bristles may occur between two bristles having opposite orientations.

At least a fraction of the bristles of the first and second rows may present a slope relative to the normal to the longitudinal axis of the core that is greater than 20°, better greater than 30°, or even greater than 40°, 50°, or 50°. A relatively steep slope may impart relatively high flexibility to the bristle, in particular when a force that is oriented perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the core is exerted on the bristle, e.g. while passing through the wiper member. By way of example, the slope may lie in the range 1° to 80°, or even in the range 2° to 60°, or in the range 3° to 30°, all of said ranges including their limits.

The projected image of at least one bristle of the first row may cross the projected image of two bristles of the second row. A relatively steep slope of the bristles may make it easier to observe, in side view, the crossing of a bristle of one row with a plurality of bristles of another row.

The projected image of at least one bristle of the first row may be disposed symmetrically relative to the projected image of a bristle of the second row that it crosses, about a plane of symmetry that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the core. Alternatively, the disposition may not be symmetrical, e.g. because of different slopes of the bristles that cross, relative to the normal to the longitudinal axis of the core.

The rows may extend parallel to the longitudinal axis of the core, e.g. in a rectilinear manner, or may follow a helical path along the longitudinal axis of the core, over more or less than 360° around the longitudinal axis of the core.

The bristles of a first row and of an associated second row may extend parallel to a common radial plane.

The bristles of a first row and of a second row may also extend along respective planes that form an angle between them, the respective planes being disposed, e.g. symmetrically about a radial mid plane for the two rows, for example.

The bristles of a first row may extend in a common radial plane, and the bristles of the associated second row may be parallel to another plane that forms an angle with the radial plane, the other plane not necessarily being radial and not necessarily containing the longitudinal axis of the core. By way of example, all of the planes containing the bristles of the second rows are oriented in the same circumferential direction around the longitudinal axis of the core.

At least a fraction of the bristles of the first row may have an orientation that is opposite to the orientation of at least a fraction of the bristles of the second row. For example, the first row may include bristles that are oriented towards the distal end of the brush, while the second row includes bristles that are oriented towards the proximal end of the brush.

The first row may include bristles that do not cross any bristle of the second row, when the brush is observed from the side. In a variant, each of the bristles of the first row cross at least one bristle of the second row.

The projected image of at least one bristle of the first row may cross the projected image of a bristle of the second row at a cross-over point that is situated in the top half of the bristles, for example.

By way of example, the real minimum offset between two bristles having projected images that cross may be less than 1 mm, e.g. being measured at the bases of the bristles or at their free ends, or elsewhere. The bristles having projected images that cross need never touch, or, in a variant, they may touch, e.g. at their bases.

By way of example, the brush may be such that any one of the rows of bristles of the brush may constitute a first row as defined above. By way of example, the first rows are projected images of one another in rotation about the longitudinal axis of the brush, e.g. by turning through 360°/m, where m is an integer that is greater than or equal to 3, for example. The same may apply for the second rows.

The spacing between a bristle of a first row and an adjacent bristle of a second row may lie in the range 0 to 5 mm, or may be non-zero. The length of the bristles may lie in the range 0.5 mm to 10 mm. The length of a row may lie in the range 5 mm to 35 mm. The number of bristles per row may lie in the range 5 to 200.

The term “row of bristles” should be understood to mean a succession of bristles along the longitudinal axis of the row. Within the row, the bristles may present bases that are in alignment along the longitudinal axis of the row, the bases intersecting the longitudinal axis, e.g. at their centers or at different locations from one bristle to another, the longitudinal axis possibly being rectilinear or curved. Within the row, the bristle bases may also be disposed in a staggered configuration, i.e. alternately on either side of the longitudinal axis of the row, being optionally tangential to the longitudinal axis. The row may include double bristles, i.e. each comprising two spikes that extend in different directions when the bristle is observed in a plane that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the brush. The bases of the spikes of a double bristle are situated at a common abscissa along the longitudinal axis of the brush and/or are touching. The long directions of the spikes of a double bristle may be contained in a single plane that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the core.

The first row may have the bases of its bristles touching the bases of the bristles of the second row.

The first row may have the bases of its bristles in alignment with the bases of the bristles of the second row. In a variant, the bases of the bristles of the first row are not in alignment with the bases of the bristles of the second row. The longitudinal axes of the first and second rows may coincide when the bases of the bristles of the first and second rows are in alignment.

The longitudinal axes of the first and second rows may be parallel when the first row does not have bristles having bases that are in alignment with bases of bristles of the second row.

In certain exemplary embodiments, none of the rows may have double bristles, and all of the rows may have respective longitudinal axes that are distinct.

In other exemplary embodiments, the brush includes double bristles, or even rows of double bristles.

In still other variants, the brush includes only pairs of first and second rows having bases that are in alignment along a common longitudinal axis, the pairs of rows being distributed over the periphery of the brush.

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:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view in elevation, and partially in longitudinal section, showing a packaging and applicator device of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic cross-section on II-II of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows a detail of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an orthogonal projection as seen looking along arrow IV of FIG. 3;

FIGS. 5A to 5F are views similar to FIG. 4 of variant embodiments of the brush;

FIGS. 6A and 6B show two examples of cross-over configurations of the bristles of the first and second rows;

FIGS. 7A to 7D are examples of bristle cross-sections;

FIGS. 8A to 8E are cross-sections showing possible shapes of envelope surface of the brush;

FIGS. 9A to 9D are longitudinal sections of examples of shapes of envelope surface of the brush;

FIG. 10 is a side view showing an example of a brush in a variant embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 11 shows a variant embodiment of the brush;

FIGS. 12 and 13 show another variant embodiment of the brush, with FIG. 13 being a side view as seen looking along XIII of FIG. 12;

FIGS. 14 to 16 are longitudinal sections of variant brushes;

FIG. 17 is a variant packaging and applicator device;

FIG. 18 shows a particular way of molding the bristles;

FIG. 19 shows a helical disposition of the bristles of a row;

FIG. 20 is a diagram showing two double rows of bristles;

FIG. 21 shows two rows of bristles having bases that are in alignment;

FIG. 22 shows a row of double bristles;

FIG. 23 is a section on XXIII-XXIII of FIG. 22; and

FIGS. 24A to 24C show various dispositions of bristles relative to the core.

FIG. 1 shows an example of a device 1 for applying a cosmetic composition. As shown, the device 1 comprises a container 3 containing the cosmetic composition P for application, and an applicator 2 comprising a stem 7, e.g. of circular cross-section, that is provided at its distal end with a brush 8, and that is connected at its proximal end to a handle 5 that also constitutes a closure can for closing the container 2.

As can be seen in FIG. 1, the container 2 includes a wiper member 6, e.g. constituted by a piece that is made of elastomer and that is inserted into the neck 4 of the container. The wiper member 6 may optionally be conventional, or it may even be adjustable.

The wiper member may be as described in patent applications or U.S. Pat. Nos. 2005/0028834, 2005/0175394, 2004/0258453, 6,375,374, 6,328,495, 7,455,468, for example.

The invention is not limited to an applicator that is fitted on a container so as to close it.

The stem 7 to which the brush 8 is fastened may be flexible, at least in part, and in particular entirely, in particular in the proximity of the brush 8.

The brush 8 comprises a core 10 and rows of bristle's that are supported by the core 10.

The rows comprise first rows 11 and second rows 12, the rows 11 and 12 extend over the entire periphery of the core 10, as can be seen in FIG. 2. The term “extend over the entire periphery” should be understood to mean that there is no bristle-free zone of the brush of angular extent of more than 180°, better none of more than 150°, better still none of more than 120°, about the longitudinal axis of the core when the brush is observed along its longitudinal axis. By way of example, the rows 11 and 12 are angularly distributed uniformly around the longitudinal axis of the core 10, e.g. with a smaller angular spacing between a first row 11 and the associated second row 12 than between two consecutive first rows. By way of example, the first and second rows alternate in the circumferential direction.

By way of example, the bases 21e of the bristles 21 of the first rows 11 are disposed along lines that are distributed uniformly around the longitudinal axis X of the applicator member 8, as shown in FIG. 2. The bristles 22 of the second rows 12 may also be disposed along lines that are distributed uniformly around the longitudinal axis X, as shown in the same figure.

Each first row 11 may include a succession of bristles 21 having bases 21e that are in alignment along the axis of that row, and the longitudinal axes V of the bristles 21 of a first row 11 may be contained in a common plane containing the axis X, e.g. a plan P₁ that extends radially, as in the embodiment in FIG. 2.

The longitudinal axes W of the bristles of the second rows 12 may, for each second row 12, be contained in a corresponding plane P₂ that forms a non-zero angle α with the associated plane P₁.

Where appropriate, the brush 8 may present axial symmetry of axis X, or at least one plane of symmetry. The brush 8 need not have any symmetry.

The bristles of the first and second rows 11 and 12 are disposed in such a manner that when the applicator member 8 is observed from the side, in a direction that is perpendicular to the axis X, the projected images of the bristles of the rows, projected along a projection direction that is perpendicular to the axis X, cross, as shown in FIG. 4. Such cross-over may be observed covering a greater or smaller fraction of the length of the brush, e.g. over its entire length. When the brush presents a curved longitudinal axis contained in a plane, the cross-over may be observed in a projection direction that is perpendicular to the plane, for example.

In the embodiment in FIG. 4, The longitudinal axes V of the bristles 21 of the first row 11 are perpendicular locally to the axis X, and the longitudinal axes W of the bristles 22 of the second row 12 adjacent to the first 11 form a non-zero angle β locally with the core.

Thus, when the applicator member 8 is observed from the side, the bristles 21 of the first row 11 cross the bristles 22 of the second row 12, thereby making it possible to form spaces 30 between the bristles, e.g. V-shaped spaces that open to the outside of the brush, the spaces 30 being capable of participating in applying the composition and/or in combing the eyelashes.

The spacing between the bristles 21 of a first row 11, measured at the base of the bristles, may be constant along the row, e.g. from one longitudinal end of the brush to the other. In a variant, the spacing may vary along the row.

The same applies for the bristles 22 of the second row 12, having a spacing e between the bases that may be constant along the row or that may vary.

By way of example, it is possible to have the same spacing e₁ between all of the bristles of the first row 11, and the same spacing e₂ between all of the bristles 22 of the second row 12, the bases of the bristles 21 being axially offset relative to the bases of the bristles 22 for example, so that the projected images of the bristles cross. e₁ and e₂ may optionally be equal. The bristles of all of the first rows 11 may have the same spacing e₁. The same may apply for all of the second rows.

The slopes of the bristles 21 of each first row 11 may be constant for all of the bristles of that row, or may vary along that row. The bristles of all of the first rows may have the same slope. In a variant, the slopes of the bristles of a first row may differ from the slopes of an adjacent first row, moving around the longitudinal axis of the brush.

In addition, the slopes of the bristles 22 of each second row 12 may be constant along that row, or may vary along that row, and may optionally vary from one second row to another.

For example, it is possible to have bristles 21 of the first rows 11 that extend locally substantially perpendicularly to the core, as shown in FIG. 4, and bristles 22 of the second rows 12 that are all oriented towards the proximal end 8b of the applicator member 8, or that are all oriented towards the distal end 8a of the applicator member, or, still in a variant, that present orientations that vary, both with bristles that are oriented towards the proximal end 8b, and with bristles that are oriented towards the distal end 8a.

The bristles of a first row and the bristles of the adjacent second row may be connected to a surface of the core that is not plane, e.g. a surface of the core that is circularly symmetrical. In a variant, the bristles may be connected to a common face of the core, e.g. a substantially plane face.

The brush may also include only a single row per substantially-plane face of the core. In a variant, the brush includes only one first row and one associated second row per substantially-plane face of the core.

In exemplary embodiments of the invention, when the brush is observed from the side, it is not possible to observe the cross-over between the bristles of three consecutive rows around the longitudinal axis of the core, in particular when the bristles are sufficiently short or sufficiently close to the core.

FIG. 5A shows a configuration in which the bristles 21 and the bristles 22 both of the first row 11 and of the adjacent second row 12 slope locally relative to the core 10, i.e. they are not perpendicular to the core, e.g. with all of the bristles 21 of the first row oriented towards one longitudinal end of the brush (e.g. the end 8a), and all of the bristles of the other row oriented towards the opposite longitudinal end of the brush (e.g. the end 8b).

The acute angle defined by each of the bristles of the first row with the normal to the longitudinal axis may be the same as the angle of each of the bristles of the second row.

FIG. 5B shows the possibility of the bristles of one row crossing at least two bristles of another row. It is also possible for each bristle of any one of the rows to cross at least two bristles of another row.

FIG. 5C shows the possibility of at least a fraction of the bristles of one of the rows, e.g. a first row 11, sloping locally relative to the core in a manner that varies along the row, e.g. with different respective angles and β_i, β_i+1, and β_i+2 for three consecutive bristles 21 of the first row 11, along the core from one longitudinal end to the opposite longitudinal end.

FIG. 5D shows the possibility of having orientations that vary both for the bristles 21 of the first row 11, and for the bristles 22 of the adjacent second row 12.

For example, it is possible to have bristles 21 of the first row 11 that slope relative to the core in a manner that varies in one direction from the distal end of the applicator member towards the proximal end, and bristles of the adjacent other row 12 that slope in a manner that varies in the opposite direction, along the applicator member from the distal end towards the proximal end.

In FIG. 5E, it can be seen that within a first row 11, it is possible to have a fraction 11_A of the bristles that extend towards a longitudinal end of the core, e.g. the adjacent longitudinal end, and another fraction 11_B that extends towards the opposite longitudinal end.

FIG. 5F shows a configuration in which the first row presents bristles 21 that are disposed in a fan configuration, i.e. with an orientation that varies along the longitudinal axis of the first row, e.g. the slope changing progressively from the end bristles that are more prone along the core, to the bristles towards the middle of the row that are more upstanding on the core.

By way of example, the orientation of the bristles passes from an orientation towards the distal end of the brush, to an orientation towards the proximal end of the brush.

As shown, the second row may comprise bristles 22 that are perpendicular to the core, and some of them, and preferably the majority of them, or even all of them, cross the bristles 21 of the first row, as shown.

FIGS. 6A and 6B show the possibility of two crossing bristles 21 and 22 having a cross-over point C that is situated at a point that is higher or lower above the core, e.g. at a visible distance h from the core that lies in the range 0.5 mm to 4 mm. For example, it is possible to have a cross-over point C that is situated in the first half of the projected images of the bristles, starting from their free ends.

The angle γ formed by the cross-over between the projected images of the bristles may be equal to 90°, or it may be different from 90°, depending on circumstances. The angle may vary along the brush or it may be constant along said brush. Where appropriate, the projected images of the crossing bristles may be symmetrical about a plane of symmetry S that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the core, for example.

Each bristle 21 or 22 may present various shapes in cross-section. By way of example, each bristle 21 or 22 may have a longitudinal axis that is rectilinear, and may have a cross-section chat generally decreases from the base towards the free end.

In cross-section, each bristle 21 or 22 may present a section that is circular, as shown in FIG. 7A, or that is non-circular. By way of examples of non-circular sections, FIG. 7B shows a square cross-section, FIG. 7C shows a triangular cross-section, and FIG. 7D shows a semi-circular cross-section. The general shape of the bristle may be cone shaped or pyramid shaped, having four faces or having three faces, the edges being represented by dashes in FIGS. 7B and 7C.

The applicator member 8 may have an envelope surface E, as defined by the free ends of the bristles 21 and 22, that has a shape that varies.

In general, in longitudinal section, the envelope surface E may present opposite sides that are rectilinear or curved, the core possibly being rectilinear or curved.

In cross-section, the envelope surface E may have a shape that is circular, as shown in FIG. 8A, or non-circular, e.g. polygonal, in particular triangular, as shown in FIG. 8B, flat, e.g. lens-shaped or oval, as shown in FIG. 8C. In cross-section, the envelope surface E may define at least one recess, e.g. two opposite recesses, as shown in FIG. 8D.

The envelope surface E may present a cross-section in the shape of a bow-tie, as shown in FIG. 8E, i.e. with two diametrically-opposite zones Z₁ and Z₂ that do not have bristles, e.g. of angular extent δ around the longitudinal axis X of the brush, the angular extent δ being greater than or equal to 60°, greater than or equal to 90°, or greater than or equal to 120°, for example. The angular extent δ may also be less than or equal to 180°, better less than or equal to 150°, or even less than or equal to 120°, or 90°.

The angular distances of the zones Z₁ and Z₂ may be equal, as shown, or they may be different.

The envelope surface E may present a shape that is generally circularly symmetrical, e.g. a shape that is circularly cylindrical, over a fraction of its length, as shown in FIG. 9A.

The cross-section of the envelope surface E may have a greatest transverse dimension that varies, e.g. that passes through one minimum and through two maximums, as shown in FIG. 9B. The envelope surface E then presents the general shape of a peanut.

FIG. 9C shows an envelope surface E having a cross-section that increases from the stem 7, passes through a maximum, and decreases towards the distal end 8a of the brush 8.

In FIG. 9D, the envelope surface E presents a shape that is generally cone-shaped over at least a fraction of its length, converging towards the distal end 8a of the brush 8.

The first and second rows, having bristles that cross when observed in orthogonal projection, may be situated on one side only of the brush 8, e.g. the top half of said brush, as shown in FIG. 10.

On its bottom side, the brush 8 may include one or more rows 40 of bristles 41 that are parallel to one another and that do not cross, for example.

The first and second rows may extend along respective parallel planes P₁ and P₂, as shown in FIG. 11.

A first row 11 of bristles may comprise a succession of bristles 21a and 21b that are disposed in a staggered configuration, as shown in FIG. 12. An adjacent second row of bristles 12 may comprise bristles 22a and 22b that also extend in a staggered configuration. In the embodiment in FIGS. 12 and 13, it is possible to see the crossing between the bristles 21a and 21b of the first row 11, extending from a face 10a of the support 10, with the bristles 22a and 22b, extending from an adjacent face 10b of the support.

The core 10 may be molded with an endpiece for mounting on the stem.

The bristles of the rows 11 and 12 may be made by molding integrally with an applicator portion 50 that is engaged on a core 51 so as to form the brush 8, for example, the assembly being fastened to the stem 7 by stamping said stem, as shown in FIG. 14.

Alternatively, the rows 11 and 12 may form part of an applicator portion 60 that is mounted on a support 61 that presents a holding head 62 for holding the applicator portion 60 on the support 61, for example. The applicator portion may be retained between the head 62 and the stem 7 by the support 61 that is fastened in the stem 7 by stamping said stem, for example, or it is fastened in some other way.

Were appropriate, the core 10 may be made with a wide head 70, as shown in FIG. 16.

The applicator member 8 may be carried by the stem 7 that is connected to the handle 5 that is also used to close the container, as shown in FIG. 1.

In a variant, as shown in FIG. 17, the brush 8 may be carried by a stem 7 that is secured to a mechanism that makes it possible to retract the applicator member 8 into the container, the mechanism including an actuator member 80 that projects beyond the body of the container at one end, the other end of the body of the container being provided with an opening that makes it possible to extend the brush 8. The mechanism may include a resilient return member, not shown, that makes it possible to return the brush 8 into the container automatically.

The bristles 21 or 22 may be made by molding through a perforated wall 180 of the core 10, as shown in FIG. 18.

The bristles 21 or 22 may extend along a helical path, as shown in FIG. 19.

FIG. 20 shows two double rows 11 and 12, the first row 11 comprising bristles 21g and 21h that cross when the row is observed in a direction that is perpendicular to its longitudinal axis, and the second row 12 comprising bristles 22g and 22h that also cross when the row is observed in a direction that is perpendicular to its longitudinal axis.

Bristles of the first double row 11 may cross bristles of the second double row 12 when the rows are observed perpendicularly to their longitudinal axes that may be parallel, as shown, or that may form a small angle between them in a variant that is not shown.

FIG. 21 shows the possibility of the bristles 21 of the first row 11 having bases that are in alignment with the bristles 22 of the second row 12, the bases being in alignment along a longitudinal axis K of the row.

A bristle 21 of the first row 11 may cross a bristle 22 of the second row 12 as a result of the bristles being oriented both with a longitudinal slope relative to the axis K, and with a slope in a plane that is perpendicular to the axis K.

For example, a bristle 21 is oriented towards the proximal end and towards the right when the row 11 is observed along the longitudinal axis K, and the adjacent bristle 22 of the second row 12 is oriented towards the proximal end of the brush and towards the left when looking along the same longitudinal axis K and from the same side.

Thus, when looking along the bristles 21 and 22 perpendicularly to the axis K, the bristles 21 and 22 may cross.

The bristles of the first and/or second rows may be double. By way of example, FIG. 22 shows a succession of double bristles, each comprising two spikes 29 that extend in different directions, as can be seen in FIG. 23, when the bristle is observed in a plane that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis K of the row.

The bases of the spikes may be touching.

The spikes may extend longitudinally in a common plane that is perpendicular to the axis K, or in longitudinal directions that are not coplanar, e.g. one spike that extends towards the proximal end of the brush and another spike that extends towards the distal end of the brush, one spike extending towards the left and the other towards the right when the double bristle is observed along the axis of the row.

By way of example, the angle w between the long directions is greater than or equal to 5°, or even greater than or equal to 10°, or 30°.

In general, a single bristle, e.g. 21 or 22, may be oriented, relative to the core, locally, along a radius R that passes through the longitudinal axis of the core, as shown in FIG. 24A, while being perpendicular to the core locally.

As shown in FIG. 24B, a bristle 21 or 22 may also be oriented perpendicularly to the core, but may form an angle with the radius that comes from the center of the core, and that passes through the center of the base, as shown in FIG. 24B.

As shown in FIG. 24C, a bristle 21 or 22 may also extend longitudinally in a direction that coincides with the radius that passes through the base, but that forms a non-zero angle locally with the normal to the core.

The brushes of the invention are made out of, for example, thermoplastic material, or thermoplastic elastomer, e.g. polyoxymethylene (POM); polyamide (PA); polyethylene terephthalate (PET); polystyrene (PS); polybutyl terephthalate (PBT); polyvinyl chloride (PVC); polyurethane (PU); ethyl vinyl acetate (EVA); PEBAX®; HYTREL®; SANTOPRENE®; styrene-ethylene-styrene (SEBS); styrene-isoprene-styrene silicone; polynorbornene; butyl rubber; latex; etc. . . . , this list not being limiting.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments described above. The characteristics of the various embodiments described above may be combined together within variants that are not shown. A row may be a single row or a multiple row, e.g. a double row, as shown in FIG. 12.

The ends of the bristles may include beads or forks that are made by molding, or that are obtained by treating the applicator member after it has been unmolded. The bristles may include a slipping agent and/or a bactericidal agent.

The bristles may present magnetic properties. The bristles may be flocked. The bristles may present surface irregularities, e.g. roughness.

The bristles may have a longitudinal axis that is rectilinear, curved, or undulating.

The expression “comprising a” should be understood as being synonymous with “comprising at least one” unless specified to the contrary.

Claims

1-15. (canceled)

16. A brush for applying a composition to eyelashes or eyebrows, the brush comprising:

a core that is made by molding and that extends along a longitudinal axis; and

a plurality of rows of bristles that are also made by molding, including bases that are distributed over a periphery of the core,

the bristles being disposed so that there exists at least one projection axis orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the core for which the projected images of the bristles of a first row cross the projected images of the bristles of a second row.

17. A brush according to claim 16, at least a fraction of the bristles of the first row presenting slopes relative to the longitudinal axis of the core that vary along the first row.

18. A brush according to claim 16, at least a fraction of the bristles of the first row presenting a slope relative to the longitudinal axis of the core that does not vary along the first row.

19. A brush according to claim 16, at least a fraction of the bristles of the second row presenting slopes relative to the longitudinal axis of the core that vary along the second row.

20. A brush according to claim 16, at least a fraction of the bristles of the second row presenting a slope relative to the longitudinal axis of the core that does not vary along the second row.

21. A brush according to claim 16, at least a fraction of the bristles of the first or second row being perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the core.

22. A brush according to claim 16, at least a fraction of the bristles of the first and second rows presenting a slope relative to the normal to the longitudinal axis of the core that is greater than 20°.

23. A brush according to claim 16, the projected image of at least one bristle of the first row crossing the projected image of two bristles of the second row.

24. A brush according to claim 16, the projected image of at least one bristle of the first row being disposed symmetrically relative to the projected image of a bristle of the second row that it crosses, about a plane of symmetry that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the core.

25. A brush according to claim 16, the rows extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of the core, or following a helical path along the longitudinal axis of the core.

26. A brush according to claim 16, the bristles of the first and second rows extending parallel to a radial plane.

27. A brush according to claim 16, the bristles of the first and second rows extending along respective planes that form an angle between them.

28. A brush according to claim 16, at least a fraction of the bristles of the first row having an orientation towards one of distal and proximal ends of the applicator member, and at least a fraction of the bristles of the second row having an orientation towards the other of the distal and proximal ends.

29. A brush according to claim 16, the projected image of at least one bristle of the first row crossing the projected image of a bristle of the second row at a crossing point that is situated in a top half of the bristles.

30. A brush according to claim 16, any one of the rows of bristles of the brush constituting a first row for which there exists at least one projection axis orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the core for which the projected images of the bristles of the first row cross with the projected images of the bristles of another row.