Abstract:
An applicator may include: an applicator member; a handle that is generally elongate along a longitudinal axis; and a drive mechanism arranged to transform an action, exerted by a user on a control member that is movable relative to the handle, into a turning movement of the applicator member relative to the handle. The control member may be movable in a direction that is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the handle.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This non-provisional application claims the benefit of French Application No. 04 51750 filed on Jul. 30, 2004 and U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/601,605 filed on Aug. 16, 2004, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
       [0002]     The present invention relates to applicators used in the field of cosmetics.  
         [0003]     The invention relates more particularly, but not exclusively, to applicators for applying mascara onto eyelashes and/or eyebrows.  
       BACKGROUND  
       [0004]     Makeup is conventionally applied onto eyelashes or eyebrows using an applicator member constituted by a brush or a comb. Further, makeup may be applied by turning such an applicator member about its axis.  
         [0005]     Devices are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,922,934 and 5,937,871 that transform an action exerted on a pushbutton provided on a side of an applicator into a turning movement of the applicator member.  
         [0006]     The amplitude of the turning movement of the applicator member in the applicator described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,937,871 is proportional to a depression stroke of the pushbutton.  
         [0007]     An applicator is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,145,514 that includes a knurled wheel that may be accessed through an opening provided on a side of a handle of the applicator. The knurled wheel enables the applicator member to be turned about its axis.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0008]     In general, it is difficult to turn known applicators manually over more than one fourth of a turn. In the applicator described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,937,871, if a sufficient turning stroke is to be obtained, the pushbutton must either project substantially from the applicator, or else movement of the pushbutton must be geared up, making it harder to press, thereby making such an applicator less ergonomic and less attractive.  
         [0009]     The applicator described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,922,934 is particularly complex and costly to make, requiring a mechanism that enables elastic energy to be accumulated before being released when the user presses on the pushbutton. From an ergonomic point of view, the applicator described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,145,514 is not completely satisfactory.  
         [0010]     Thus, a need exists to improve applicators to enable the applicator member to be turned mechanically about its own axis.  
         [0011]     Exemplary embodiments of the invention satisfy this need by providing an applicator comprising: an applicator member; a handle that is generally elongate along a longitudinal axis; and a drive mechanism arranged to transform an action, exerted by a user on a control member that is movable relative to the handle, into a turning movement of the applicator member relative to the handle; the control member being movable in a direction that is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the handle.  
         [0012]     Exemplary embodiments of the invention allow a displacement stroke of the control member to be increased without unduly harming usability or appearance of the applicator. For example, the control member may be configured to lie substantially on the axis of the handle.  
         [0013]     In exemplary embodiments, a greatest displacement stroke of the control member may increase an amplitude of the turning movement imparted to the applicator member. For a turning movement of equivalent amplitude, a greatest displacement stroke of the control member may reduce a force that needs to be applied on the control member.  
         [0014]     Exemplary embodiments of the invention may thus make it possible to improve at least comfort in application or quality of a makeup effect, for example, by enabling the user to work eyelashes and/or eyebrows more with the applicator member, foe example, to deposit a relatively large quantity of substance so as to obtain a heavily made-up effect, without however neglecting to comb and separate eyelashes.  
         [0015]     In exemplary embodiments, the applicator member may be turned about its own axis, i.e., the applicator member may be moved in a volume of space that may remain stationary.  
         [0016]     In exemplary embodiments, the applicator member may be turned about a longitudinal axis of the handle.  
         [0017]     In exemplary embodiments, the control member may project from one end of the handle.  
         [0018]     In exemplary embodiments, the applicator may include a stem that carries the applicator member at a first end.  
         [0019]     In exemplary embodiments, the stem may be arranged to co-operate with a connection element connected to the control member.  
         [0020]     In exemplary embodiments, the stem may be arranged to co-operate, for example, at a second end remote from the first end, with the connection element, so as to enable relative axial displacement between the connection element and the stem, with little relative turning between the connection element and the stem, for example, with substantially no relative turning.  
         [0021]     For example, in exemplary embodiments, at the second end thereof, the stem may include a housing including an inside section that is not completely circular. A portion of the connection element may be engaged therein may also include a cross-section that is not completely circular. Thus, the control member may turn the stem by the connection element, which may be axially displaced relative to said stem.  
         [0022]     For example, in exemplary embodiments, the connection element may be made integrally as a single piece with the control member. The connection element may thus be secured relative to the control member.  
         [0023]     In exemplary embodiments, the control member and the handle may include portions in relief configured to co-operate so as to transform an axial movement of the control member into a turning movement of said control member. For example, the portions in relief may comprise at least one helical thread provided on the handle and at least one pin provided on the control member so as to become engaged with the thread. The turning movement of the applicator member may thus be proportional to a translation movement of the control member.  
         [0024]     In exemplary embodiments, a slope of the thread and a stroke of the control member may be selected so that the applicator member performs between about 0.5 and about 2 turns, for example, about 1 turn, when the user presses on the control member and said control member is displaced through a maximum stroke thereof.  
         [0025]     In exemplary embodiments, the connection element may not be made integrally as a single piece with the control member, but may nevertheless be secured to said control member, for example, by using fastener means configured so as to enable the connection element to turn relative to the control member, without any significant axial displacement between the connection element and the control member.  
         [0026]     Thus, in exemplary embodiments, the control member may be axially displaced by the user without turning, thereby further improving comfort in application.  
         [0027]     In such exemplary embodiments, for example, the connection element may be arranged to co-operate with the handle so that an axial displacement of the connection element is accompanied by said connection element turning relative to the handle, said turning movement being transmitted to the stem.  
         [0028]     In exemplary embodiments, the stem may be advantageously assembled to the handle so as to be able to turn relative to said handle without being axially displaced along the longitudinal axis. For example, the stem may include an assembly skirt that is coaxial with the handle and that is snap-fastened in said handle so as to be freely turnable about the longitudinal axis inside the handle, without being axially displaced relative to said handle.  
         [0029]     In exemplary embodiments, the applicator may advantageously include a resilient return member arranged to return the control member to an initial position when the user ceases to press thereon.  
         [0030]     In exemplary embodiments, the return member may comprise a spring, for example, with at least part of said spring being mounted around the stem and/or the connection element, for example.  
         [0031]     In exemplary embodiments, the spring may include a first end arranged to bear against a transverse wall that connects the assembly skirt to a remainder of the stem. The transverse wall may be configured to bear against a collar of a wiper member when a receptacle including a neck that is surmounted by the collar is closed by the applicator.  
         [0032]     In exemplary embodiments, the applicator member may be made integrally as a single piece with the stem. Alternatively, in exemplary embodiments, the applicator member may be fastened onto the stem in a permanent or interchangeable manner.  
         [0033]     For example, the applicator member may comprise at least one of a brush, a comb, a non-twisted brush, and a twisted brush.  
         [0034]     Exemplary embodiments of the invention provide a packaging and applicator device, for applying a substance onto eyelashes or eyebrows, for example, said device comprising: a receptacle containing a substance; and an applicator as defined above.  
         [0035]     In exemplary embodiments, the device may further include a wiper member configured to wipe the applicator member while the applicator is being removed from the receptacle.  
         [0036]     Exemplary embodiments of the invention provide a method of applying makeup using an applicator as defined above, said method comprising: loading the applicator member with makeup; and turning the applicator member by pressing on the control member.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0037]     The invention may be better understood on reading the following detailed description of non-limiting embodiments, and on examining the accompanying drawings, in which:  
         [0038]      FIG. 1  is a diagrammatic and fragmentary longitudinal cross-sectional view of an exemplary embodiment of a device;  
         [0039]      FIG. 2  shows a detail view II of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0040]      FIG. 3  is a diagrammatic cross-sectional view taken along III-III in  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0041]      FIG. 4  is an exploded view of the device of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0042]      FIGS. 5 and 6  illustrate the device of  FIG. 1  being used; and  
         [0043]      FIG. 7  is a view similar to  FIG. 1  showing another exemplary embodiment. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS  
       [0044]     FIGS.  1  to  6  show an exemplary packaging and applicator device  1  comprising: a receptacle  2  containing a substance P, for example, a substance for being applied onto eyelashes and/or eyebrows, such as mascara; and an applicator  10  that is configured to be removed from the receptacle  2  during use.  
         [0045]     In the exemplary embodiment, a top portion of the receptacle  2  may include a neck  5  containing a wiper member  3  including a collar  4  that comes to bear against the top end of the neck  5  and that may be configure to aid in sealing the receptacle  2  when closed.  
         [0046]     The applicator  10  may include a stem  11  with a longitudinal axis X. The stem  11  may be provided at a first end  12  thereof with an applicator member  14  configured to take substance from the receptacle  2  and configured to apply substance onto eyelashes and/or eyebrows.  
         [0047]     In the figures, the applicator member  14  is shown diagrammatically, and may, for example, comprise a twisted brush, for example, a brush including a core formed by a wire that has been folded into a U-shape and then twisted, with bristles being held between turns of the core.  
         [0048]     Where appropriate or desired, the applicator member  14  may not include any metal, thereby enabling the applicator to be placed in a microwave oven, for example, provided that the other component elements are also not made of metal.  
         [0049]     The applicator member  14  may thus include teeth or spikes that are made integrally, i.e., monolithically, with a support by molding a plastics material.  
         [0050]     The applicator member  14  may be secured to the stem  11  in various ways, for example, by being fastened onto said stem, or by being made integrally as a single piece with said stem.  
         [0051]     A top of the stem  11  may be connected to a handle  15  with a shape of a sleeve.  
         [0052]     In the exemplary embodiment, the neck  5  is threaded on an outside thereof. The stem  11  may include an assembly skirt  18  that is threaded on an inside thereof so as to enable the assembly skirt  18  to be screwed on the neck  5 .  
         [0053]     The assembly skirt  18  may be connected to a remainder of the stem  11  by an annular-shaped transverse wall  31  that bears against the collar  4  of the wiper member  3  once the assembly skirt  18  is screwed home on the neck  5 .  
         [0054]     In the exemplary embodiment shown, the assembly skirt  18  may be disposed inside the handle  15 , so as to be able to turn relative to said handle  15  about the axis X, without being displaced axially relative to said handle  15 .  
         [0055]     For example, the assembly skirt  18  may be fastened inside the handle  15  by snap-fastening, as shown in  FIG. 2 , said handle  15  including an annular groove  41  in which an annular flange  17  of the assembly skirt  18  may be engaged.  
         [0056]     The applicator  10  may also include a control member  21  that is axially movable relative to the handle  15  through an opening  42  provided in a top end of said handle  15 . The opening  42  may be defined by an annular rim  28 .  
         [0057]     The control member  21  may include a top wall  46  that is outwardly convex and that is extended downward, at a periphery thereof, by a skirt  29  that is slideable in the opening  42 , and that is provided at a bottom thereof with two diametrally opposite pins  26 . The pins  26  may serve firstly as an end-of-upward-stroke abutment for the control member  21  by coming to bear against the rim  28 . The pins  26  may serve secondly to transform an axial movement of the control member  21  into a turning movement of said control member  21 , for example, as described below. A convex shape of the top wall  46  makes it possible to limit an amount of friction with a user&#39;s finger.  
         [0058]     In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIGS.  1  to  6 , a connection element  22  may interconnect the stem  11  and the control member  21 .  
         [0059]     A top of the connection element  22  may be connected to the top wall  46  of the control member  21 . The connection element  22  may be made integrally as a single piece with said control member  21 . A bottom of the connection element  22  may include a portion  48  that is engaged in a housing  23  provided at a second end  13  of the stem  11 . The second end  13  may be remote from the first end  12 .  
         [0060]     The connection element  22  and the housing  23  may include substantially complementary cross-sections that are not completely circular, so that the connection element  22  may be displaced along the axis X inside the housing  23 , without being able to turn freely relative to the stem  11 .  
         [0061]     In the exemplary embodiment, the cross-sections of the connection element  22  and the housing  23  may be polygonal, for example, square, but it is not beyond the ambit of the present invention for the cross-sections to be triangular, pentagonal, star-shaped, oval, or elliptical, or even any other not-completely-circular shape.  
         [0062]     The connection element  22  may thus be capable of turning the stem  11 , while enabling the control member  21  to be displaced axially relative to the handle  15 .  
         [0063]     Means may be provided for transforming the inward movement of the control member  21  into a turning movement of said control member  21  about the axis X.  
         [0064]     In the exemplary embodiment in FIGS.  1  to  5 , the means may comprise co-operating portions in relief provided firstly in the handle  15  and secondly on the control member  21 .  
         [0065]     In the exemplary embodiment, the pins  26  may co-operate with corresponding helical threads  25  projecting from an inside surface of the handle  15 , thereby causing the control member  21  to turn about the axis X while being driven into the handle  15 .  
         [0066]     A resilient return member  27  may be provided so as to return the control member  21  to an initial position thereof when the user ceases to press thereon.  
         [0067]     In the exemplary embodiment, the resilient return member  27  may comprise a helical spring working in compression. The helical spring may come to bear at a bottom end thereof against the transverse wall  31 , and may bear at a top end thereof against the top wall  46  at the bottom of a groove  32  formed between the connection element  22  and the outer skirt  29  of the control member  21 . The stem wall  47  defining the housing  23  may serve to guide the return member  27 .  
         [0068]     For example, a slope of the thread and a stroke of the control member  21  may be selected so that the applicator member  14  performs between 0.5 and 2 turns when the user presses on the control member  21  and said control member  21  is displaced through a maximum stroke thereof.  
         [0069]     The device described above may be used, for example, as shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 .  
         [0070]     Initially, the user may remove the applicator  10  from the receptacle  2 . During this movement, the wiper member  3  may wipe the stem  11  and the applicator member  14  so that a substance P remains on the applicator member  14  in a quantity that is sufficient to achieve a desired makeup effect, but not excessive.  
         [0071]     The user may hold the applicator  10  between her fingers by gripping the handle  15 , as shown in  FIG. 5 .  
         [0072]     At any moment during the application of the makeup, and on one or more occasions, the user may turn the applicator member  14  about its own axis by pressing on the control member  21  with her finger, as shown in  FIG. 6 , for example.  
         [0073]     When the user releases the control member  21 , said control member  21  maybe returned to the initial position thereof by the return member  27 .  
         [0074]     In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIGS.  1  to  6 , the connection element  22  may be made integrally as a single piece with the control member  21 , and said control member  21  turns when the user presses thereon, which might impede turning thereof to some extent.  
         [0075]     It is not beyond the ambit of the present invention for the connection element  22  to be connected in some other way to the control member  21 .  
         [0076]     For example, to further improve comfort in application, the control member  21  may be made so that the control member  21  does not turn after being driven home into the handle  15 .  
         [0077]     The exemplary embodiment shown in  FIG. 7  makes it possible to achieve such a result.  
         [0078]     The exemplary device shown in  FIG. 7  differs from the exemplary device described above firstly by the fact that the connection element  22  may be connected to the control member  21  by a connection that enables the connection element  22  to turn freely relative to the control member  21 , and secondly by the fact that the connection element  22  may co-operate with the handle  15  so that an axial displacement of the connection element  22  is transformed into a turning movement of said connection element  22 .  
         [0079]     To this end, the connection element  22  may include a skirt  34  surrounding the portion  48  of the connection element for engaging, at least in part, in the housing  23  of the stem  11 . A bottom portion of the skirt  34  may include pins  26  for co-operating with the threads  25  of the handle  15 . The outer skirt  29  of the control member  21  may not include any pins, and may merely cover the skirt  34  of the connection element  22 , without preventing said connection element  22  from turning.  
         [0080]     The control member  21  may include a ball  30  that is engaged in a socket  36  formed in a top of the connection element  22 . At a bottom of a groove formed between the skirt  34  and the portion  48 , a top of the resilient return member  27  may bear against a transverse wall  49  via which the skirt  34  is connected to the portion  48 .  
         [0081]     When the user presses on the control member  21  and said control member  21  is driven into the handle  15 , the connection element  22  may be axially displaced and the pins  26  may co-operate with the threads  25 , thereby causing the connection element  22  to turn. The ball  30  may turn in the socket  36 , thereby allowing the control member  21  not to turn.  
         [0082]     The turning movement of the connection element  22  may be transmitted to the stem  11  via the portion  48  of the connection element  22  engaged in the housing  23 .  
         [0083]     Naturally, the invention is not limited to the embodiments described above.  
         [0084]     For example, the applicator member  14  may be configured for applying make up to skin, to mucous membranes, or to nails.  
         [0085]     In another exemplary embodiment not shown, a top of the stem  11  may include a portion that is engaged in a housing of the connection element  22  and that has a complementary cross-section that is not completely circular.  
         [0086]     In another exemplary embodiment not shown, the resilient return member  27  may be disposed in the housing  23 .  
         [0087]     Naturally, assembling the stem  11  in the handle  15  may be achieved in some other way. For example, the assembly skirt  18  may include the groove  41  and the handle  15  may include at least the flange  17  engaged in said groove  41 .  
         [0088]     The wiper member  3  may be made in some other way, for example, with a block of foam, or may be omitted.  
         [0089]     In another exemplary embodiment not shown, the co-operating portions in relief of the handle  15  and the control member  21  or the connection element  22  may include at least one groove formed in an insert fitted inside the handle  15 .  
         [0090]     In still another exemplary embodiment, the resilient return member  27  may be omitted.  
         [0091]     Throughout the description, including in the claims, the term “comprising a” should be understood as being synonymous with “comprising at least one” unless specified to the contrary.  
         [0092]     Although the present 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.