Applicator for a Cosmetic Product & Associated Applicator Assembly

Abstract

The invention relates to an applicator (10) for a cosmetic product, comprising a core (12) having a first end, referred to as the proximal end (13), and a free second end, referred to as the distal end (16), and a plurality of protuberances (30) that project from the core (12), said protuberances (30) being arranged in a plurality of rows, the protuberances of at least one of said rows, referred to as the first row, decreasing progressively in length from said distal end (16) towards a central part of the applicator (10) before increasing progressively in length from said central part towards said proximal end (13), while an opposite variation in the length of the protuberances occurs in each of the two rows, referred to as second rows, that are adjacent to the first row(s). The invention also relates to an associated applicator assembly.

Description

The invention relates to a cosmetic product applicator and to an associated applicator assembly.

Applicator assemblies for cosmetic products, in particular for cosmetic products to be applied to the eyelashes, such as mascara, comprising a receptacle containing the cosmetic product and an applicator capable of being removably attached to the receptacle, are known.

The receptacle generally comprises a body, the body comprising walls delimiting a container in which the cosmetic product is contained, and a neck defining an opening through which the cosmetic product can be removed.

The applicator assembly generally comprises a cap suitable for being attached to the neck, a rod extending from the cap, and an applicator attached to a free end of the rod. The applicator comprises a core and a plurality of protrusions or bristles extending from the core.

When the cap is attached to the neck, the rod and the applicator extend within the container. The applicator is immersed in the cosmetic product contained in the container.

To use the applicator, the user detaches the cap from the neck and removes the applicator from the receptacle.

To prevent the applicator from being overloaded with cosmetic product, the receptacle generally comprises a wiper, attached to the interior of the neck. When the user removes the applicator from the receptacle, the applicator slides within the wiper. The wiper scrapes off the excess cosmetic product on the rod and on the applicator.

The wiper thus makes it possible to control the amount of product which is on the applicator and prevents an excessive amount of cosmetic product from being applied to the eyelashes.

The wiper in particular limits the amount of product present on the protrusions. Two parameters interact for this purpose: the internal diameter of the wiper and the radial extension of the protrusions.

Thus, the desired amount of product on the protrusions when leaving the wiper results from the compromise between the internal diameter of the wiper and the radial extension of the protrusions.

Moreover, it is known that the regions having protrusions having a shorter radial extension promote the loading of the applicator, whereas the regions having protrusions having a longer radial extension promote the combing of the eyelashes for a given wiper.

The problem addressed by the present invention is that of proposing an applicator that allows a high degree of overlapping between loading regions and combing regions.

Therefore, the invention relates to an applicator for a cosmetic product, comprising a core having a first end, referred to as a proximal end, and a second, free end, referred to as a distal end, and a plurality of protrusions projecting from the core.

According to the invention, said protrusions are moulded with the core and are arranged in a plurality of rows extending in the direction of extension of the core, the protrusions of at least one of said rows, referred to as the first row, progressively decreasing in length from said distal end towards a central portion of the applicator and then progressively increasing in length from said central portion towards said proximal end, while the length of the protrusions varies in the opposite manner in each of the two rows, referred to as second rows, adjacent to said first row(s).

The proposed applicator is advantageous in that it has loading regions that are discretely distributed, are staggered and alternate with combing regions in order to allow the eyelashes to be loaded with the cosmetic product at the same time as being combed. This applicator is all the more advantageous since it allows these simultaneous functions over both the entire circumference and entire length thereof.

According to various embodiments of the invention, which may be taken together or separately:

• • said rows are parallel to an axis of the core;
  • the first rows alternate with the second rows around the entire core, which allows the product to be uniformly applied on the entire circumference of the applicator, loading regions, which are discretely distributed, alternating with the combing regions in a staggered manner.
  • the protrusions of the first rows are axially offset from the protrusions of the second rows,
  • said rows are radially spaced around the periphery of the core at a constant angular distance,
  • said angular distance is 30°,
  • the core is made of plastics material,
  • the protrusions are made of plastics material,
  • the core and the protrusions are moulded from the same material,
  • each of the rows has a wave-shaped profile,
  • the waves of the first rows are in antiphase with a wave of the second rows,
  • the protrusions have a semi-circular cross section,
  • the protrusions each have a planar surface,
  • the protrusions are positioned such that planar surfaces of two adjacent protrusions are oriented in the same rotational direction,
  • the protrusions each extend along a normal to the axis of the core,
  • the protrusions are rectilinear,
  • the core has a constant cross section,
  • the core has a ribbed profile,
  • the core comprises a centre and ribs extending longitudinally along the centre,
  • the core has four regularly spaced longitudinal ribs,
  • the core is solid,
  • the applicator forms a brush.

The invention also relates to an applicator assembly for a cosmetic product, comprising a receptacle having a body which forms a container intended to contain the cosmetic product, and an applicator as described above that is capable of being attached to the receptacle such that the applicator is housed within the container.

The invention will be better understood, and its other aims, details, features and advantages will become clearer in the following detailed explanatory description of at least one embodiment of the invention given as a purely illustrative and non-limiting example, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings.

In these drawings:

FIG. 1 is an elevation of an applicator according to the invention,

FIG. 2 is a cross section along line D-D shown in FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a cross section along line A-A shown in FIG. 1,

FIG. 4 is a plan view of FIG. 1,

FIG. 5 is a cross section along line B-B shown in FIG. 4.

The invention, as shown in the figures, relates to an applicator 10 for a cosmetic product, comprising a core 12 having a first end, referred to as a proximal end 13, which is capable of being attached to an applicator rod by means of a cylindrical coupling 14 extending said core 12, and a second, free end, referred to as a distal end 16. Said cylindrical coupling 14 allows the applicator 10 to be attached.

The applicator 10 further comprises a plurality of protrusions 30 projecting from the core 12.

The protrusions 30 are moulded with the core 12. In other words, the protrusions 30 may be integrally formed with the core 12 or over-moulded on the core 12.

The protrusions 30 are arranged in a plurality of rows R1-R12 extending in the direction of extension of the core 12. The rows R1-R12 are all parallel to an axis of the core 12, in particular the longitudinal axis of extension thereof (reference sign X in FIG. 1).

The protrusions 30 of at least one of said rows, referred to as the first row R1, progressively decrease in length from said distal end 16 towards a central portion 15 of the applicator 12 and then progressively increase in length from said central portion 15 towards said proximal end 13. In other words, the length of the protrusions 30 may change linearly, or in accordance with other variation profiles, from one protrusion 30 to another, for example by successive stages of at least two protrusions 30 having the same length.

The length of the protrusions 30 varies in the opposite manner in each of the two rows, referred to as second rows R2, R12, adjacent to said first row(s) R1. In this way, the a make-up effect is achieved that is advantageous in that the central portion of the row R1, which forms a loading region, is located between two combing regions that are each situated on an adjacent row R2, R12. In other words, the charging regions alternate with the combing regions in a staggered manner around the entire applicator of the invention and along the entire length thereof.

FIG. 1 is an overall view of the alternation between the first rows R1, R3, R5, R7, R9, R11 and the second rows R2, R4, R6, R8, R10, R12 around the entire core 12. The rows R1-R12 are shown in FIG. 4, which, as a reminder, is a plan view of FIG. 1. In other words, in this example, the applicator comprises only rows of the first and the second type alternating with one another.

As can be seen in FIG. 4, the rows R4-R12 are radially spaced around the periphery of the core 12 at a constant angular distance. This angular distance may vary from one embodiment to another. In the embodiment shown here, the angular distance is 30°. In other words, there are twelve rows R1-R12.

FIG. 3 shows one of the first rows R1. As set out above, each of the first rows R1, R3, R5, R7, R9, R11 has protrusions, or teeth 31, the length of which progressively decreases from the distal end 16 towards the central portion 15 of the applicator 12 and then progressively increases from the central portion 15 towards the proximal end 13. In other words, the free end of the teeth 31 defines a first envelope, or first wave V1, which is firstly convex in the region of the distal end 16, then concave in the region of the central portion 15 and then convex again in the region of the proximal end 13. The first wave V1 is substantially identical to all of the first rows R1, R3, R5, R7, R9, R11.

The maximum size D31 of this first wave is in the region of the distal end 16 and in the region of the proximal end 13. This first wave V1 has a minimum size d31 in the region of the central portion 15 of the core 12. The maximum D31 and minimum d31 sizes follow the following formula:

$1<\frac{D31}{d31}\le 4.$

Maximum or minimum size means the distance between the longitudinal axis of extension of the core X and the free end of a protrusion, in other words the radial extension of the protrusions.

FIG. 5 shows one of the second rows R2. Each of the second rows R2, R4, R6, R8, R10, R12 has protrusions, or teeth 32, the length of which progressively increases from the distal end 16 towards the central portion 15 of the applicator 12 and then progressively decreases from the central portion 15 towards the proximal end 13. In other words, the free end of the teeth 32 defines a second envelope, or second wave V2, which is firstly concave in the region of the distal end 16, then convex in the region of the central portion 15 and then concave again in the region of the proximal end 13. The second wave V2 is substantially identical to all of the second rows R2, R4, R6, R8, R10, R12.

The maximum size D32 of this second wave V2 is in the region of the central portion 15 of the core 12, while the minimum size d32 of this second wave V2 is in the region of the distal end 16 and in the region of the proximal end 13. The maximum D32 and minimum d32 sizes follow the following formula:

$1<\frac{D32}{d32}\le 4.$

Moreover, the maximum sizes D31, D32 of the first and the second wave V1, V2, respectively, follow the following formula:

$0.8\le \frac{D32}{D31}\le 1.2.$

The minimum sizes d31, d32 follow the following formula:

$0.8\le \frac{d32}{d31}\le 1.2.$

In this case, the envelope of each of said first and second rows is undulated or sinusoidal, out of phase and advantageously in antiphase.

In other words, each of rows R1-R12 has a wave-shaped profile V1, V2. More particularly, the waves V1 formed by the first rows R1, R3, R5, R7, R9, R11 are in antiphase with the wave V2 formed by the second rows R2, R4, R6, R8, R10, R12.

Furthermore, as already mentioned, in this case the applicator 10 does not have rows of teeth which would define, by the free end thereof, a wave that is different from the two waves V1, V2 that have just been described.

It should be noted that, along the axis X, there are at least two orthogonal planes of said axis X, in which the protrusions 30 of the rows R1-R12 have a substantially identical radial extension, said planes do not include the proximal end 13 or the distal end 16.

It should also be noted that, in the region of the proximal 13 and distal 16 ends, the protrusions 30 of the two adjacent rows have different radial extensions.

As described at the outset, the receptacle of the applicator assembly according to the invention generally comprises a wiper which is attached to the interior of the neck thereof in order to limit the amount of product on the protrusions 30, in particular on those protrusions having the greatest radial extensions. These protrusions thus serve to comb the eyelashes, whereas the teeth having the shortest radial extension, which are only wiped to a small extent, serve to load the eyelashes with product.

Therefore, the effect associated with the alternation of two types of wave V1, V2 around a core 12 of the type according to the invention is particularly advantageous. In a single action of rotating the applicator about the longitudinal axis thereof, the effect allows the user to benefit from loading regions, namely regions having the minimum size d31, d32, and from eyelash combing regions, namely regions having the maximum size D31, D32.

In other words, the loading and combing regions are in succession around the core 12 of the applicator 10 and are in the form of waves V1, V2 that are in antiphase along the entire length of the core.

Again, in other words, the loading and combing regions are in succession and axially and angularly staggered along and around the axis X of the applicator 10.

The applicator 10 therefore comprises rows R1-R12 of protrusions 30, the size D31, D32 of which may be large. Therefore, in order to be used in conjunction with a standard-format receptacle, the core 12 should have a relatively small diameter d12 (see FIG. 2).

However, in order to maintain a rigidity that is sufficient for the function of the core, the core 12 can have a ribbed profile, which, in this case, is in the form of longitudinal ribs 17 that are regularly spaced around a centre of the core as shown in FIG. 2. The core 12 also has a constant cross section along the longitudinal extension axis thereof.

The example shown in FIG. 2 includes four longitudinal ribs 17, but this number may vary. Therefore, the core 12 has at least one longitudinal rib 17. The cross section of said rib(s) is substantially in the shape of omega (Ω). Said cross section is produced in a plane that is orthogonal to the longitudinal axis X of the core 12.

The applicator of the invention has a further advantage. It allows the user's eyelashes to be separated in a remarkable manner, and this can be promoted by the following feature: the teeth 31 of the first rows R1, R3, R5, R7, R9, R11 are axially offset from the teeth 32 of the second rows R2, R4, R6, R8, R10, R12.

On the other hand, in order to simplify the processes for manufacturing such an applicator 10, the protrusions 30 may have a semi-circular cross section. In this way, they preferably each have a planar surface (see FIG. 4). In this case, said protrusions 30 are positioned such that the planar surfaces of two adjacent protrusions are oriented in the same rotational direction about the core 12. In order to further simply the processes for manufacturing, the protrusions 30 are preferably rectilinear and each extend along a normal to an axis of the core 12.

The protrusions 30 are preferably integrally formed with the core 12. For example, the core 12 and the protrusions 30 may be moulded from a material based on LDPE (low-density polyethylene). Other materials may also be used, namely the material “Exact” from ExxonMobil or the material “Hytrel” from Dupont, or a mixture of these materials.

It should be noted that the applicator 10 advantageously forms a brush.

The invention also relates to an applicator assembly for a cosmetic product, comprising a receptacle having a body which forms a container containing the cosmetic product, and an applicator as described above that is capable of being attached to the receptacle such that the applicator is housed within the container. Said applicator 10 is attached, for example, to the end of a rod, the rod itself being attached to a cap that is advantageously screwed to the receptacle. After assembly, the cylindrical coupling 14 is positioned in the rod and the proximal end 13 of the core forms the visible proximal end of the applicator.

It should also be noted that variants are of course possible. In particular, in an additional embodiment, the applicator of the invention comprises a different number of rows, which is either lower (for example 8 rows) or higher (for example 16 rows).

Claims

1. Applicator for a cosmetic product, comprising: wherein said protrusions are moulded with the core and are arranged in a plurality of rows (R1-R12) which extend in the direction of extension of the core, and wherein the protrusions of at least one of said rows, referred to as the first row (R1), progressively decrease in length from said distal end towards a central portion of the applicator and then progressively increase in length from said central portion towards said proximal end while the length of the protrusions varies in the opposite manner in each of the two rows, referred to as second rows (R2, R12), adjacent to said first row(s) (R1).

a core having a first end, referred to as a proximal end, and a second, free end, referred to as a distal end, and

a plurality of protrusions projecting from the core,

2. Applicator according to claim 1, wherein the first rows (R1, R3, R5, R7, R9, R11) alternate with the second rows (R2, R4, R6, R8, R10, R12) around the entire core.

3. Applicator according toy claim 1, wherein said rows (R1-R2) are parallel to an axis of the core.

4. Applicator according to claim 1, wherein said rows (R1-R12) are radially spaced around the periphery of the core at a constant angular distance.

5. Applicator according to claim 4, wherein said angular distance is 30°.

6. Applicator according to claim 1, wherein each of the rows (R1-R12) has a wave-shaped profile (V1, V2), the waves (V1) of the first rows (R1, R3, R5, R7, R9, R11) being in antiphase with a wave (V2) of the second rows (R2, R4, R6, R8, R10, R12).

7. Applicator according to claim 1, wherein the protrusions have a semi-circular cross section.

8. Applicator according to claim 1, wherein the protrusions each have a planar surface.

9. Applicator according to claim 1, wherein the protrusions are positioned such that planar surfaces of two adjacent protrusions are oriented in the same rotational direction.

10. Applicator according to claim 1, wherein the core has a constant cross section.

11. Applicator according to claim 1, wherein the core comprises a centre and ribs extending longitudinally along the centre.

12. Applicator assembly for a cosmetic product, comprising:

a receptacle comprising a body which forms a container intended to contain the cosmetic product, and

an applicator according to claim 1, that is capable of being attached to the receptacle such that the applicator is housed within the container.