Patent Publication Number: US-2018049536-A1

Title: Cosmetic product applicator, device and associated method

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a Continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 14/418,552 filed on Jan. 30, 2015, which is the National Phase filing under 35 U.S.C. §371 of PCT/EP2013/065918 filed on Jul. 29, 2013; and this application claims priority to Application No. 1257497 filed in Japan on Aug. 1, 2012; and this application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/698,775 filed on Sep. 10, 2012. The entire contents of each application are hereby incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     This invention relates to a cosmetic product applicator, including:
         a tip with a central axis, intended to be mounted in a gripping support;   a product application body, in a single piece with the tip, the body including a first curved segment with a local axis moving away from the central axis, seen in a plane parallel to an axial median plane of the applicator.       

     Such an applicator is intended for applying the cosmetic product on the lips of a user. The cosmetic product is, for example, a makeup product, in particular a lip gloss. 
     More generally, “cosmetic product” means a product as defined in EC Regulation N o  1223/2009 of the European Parliament and the Council of Nov. 30, 2009, relating to cosmetic products. 
     The applicator is, for example, mounted at the end of a rod of a gripping support. The gripping support is generally received in a cosmetic product reservoir in which the applicator soaks at rest. 
     In a known manner, the applicator comprises a tip intended to be inserted into the rod, and an application body, in a single piece with the tip. In some cases, the application body is flocked. 
     WO2011/055299 and WO2011/043470 describe applicators of the aforementioned type, intended for applying a makeup product on the lips of a user. To match the shape of the user&#39;s lips, the application body includes at least one first curved segment with a local axis moving away from the central axis A-A′. The first segment defines a hollow area in which the cosmetic product is received. 
     When the user extracts the applicator from the reservoir and places the hollow area in contact with the lips, the cosmetic product contained in the hollow area is deposited on the lips. 
     The device described in WO2011/043470 is not entirely satisfactory. Indeed, the shape of the first segment and the hollow area is suitable for the application of a quantity of cosmetic product on a large surface of the lip. The applicator is, however, less suitable for retouching or more precise product application. 
     US 2008/0152419 describes another applicator intended for applying a product on the lips. 
     One objective of the invention is to obtain a cosmetic product applicator that makes it possible both to apply a cosmetic product over a large area, and to perform precise retouching. 
     To this effect, the invention relates to an applicator of the type mentioned above, wherein the body has a second intermediate curved segment, with a local axis approaching the central axis, and defining, with the first segment, a first hollow area; 
     the body has a third end segment defining, with the second intermediate segment, a second hollow area opposite the first hollow area. 
     The applicator according to the invention can include one or more of the following features, taken alone or in any technically possible combination:
         the third segment extends substantially parallel to the central axis;   the third segment moves away from the central axis;   the third segment moves away from the central axis in the same direction as the first segment;   the second segment is flush with or intersects with the central axis;   the application body has an exterior flocking;   the application body has a central orifice;   the application body is solid;   the application body has a central narrowing;   the application body has an enlarged central region;   in a cross-section in an axial median plane passing through the central axis, the edges of the first segment extend parallel to one another with the same concavity, the edges of the second segment advantageously extending parallel to one another, with the same concavity, the concavity of the edges of the first segment being opposite the concavity of the edges of the second segment;   the application body has a plane of symmetry passing through the central axis.       

     The invention also relates to a device for applying cosmetic product on the lips of a user, characterized in that it includes:
         an applicator as defined above,   a gripping support, the tip of the applicator being received in the gripping support, the product application body projecting from the gripping support.       

     The invention also relates to a method for applying a cosmetic product on a lip, characterized in that it comprises the following steps:
         providing an applicator as defined above, the first hollow area receiving the cosmetic product;   application of the first hollow area on the lip of the user in order to deposit the cosmetic product.       

     The method according to the invention can include the following features, taken alone or in any technically possible combination:
         in the supply step, the second hollow area receives the cosmetic product, the method comprising a step of turning over the applicator, after the step of applying the first hollow area on the lip in order to apply the second hollow area on the lip of the user and deposit the cosmetic product;   the cosmetic product is a makeup product.       

    
    
     
       The invention will be easier to understand in view of the following description, provided solely as an example, and with reference to the appended drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a three-quarter perspective view of a first applicator according to the invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a front view of the applicator of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a side view of the applicator of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a view analog to  FIG. 1  of a second applicator according to the invention; 
         FIG. 5  is an view analog to  FIG. 2  of the second applicator according to the invention; 
         FIG. 6  is an view analog to  FIG. 3  of the second applicator according to the invention; 
         FIG. 7  is an view analog to  FIG. 2  of a third applicator according to the invention; 
         FIG. 8  is an view analog to  FIG. 3  of the third applicator according to the invention. 
     
    
    
     A first cosmetic product applicator  10  mounted in an application device  12  is shown in  FIGS. 1 to 3 . 
     This applicator is intended for applying a cosmetic makeup product, such as a lip gloss, on a lip of a user. Alternatively, the applicator  10  is intended to apply a cosmetic care product. 
     Aside from the applicator  10 , the application device  12  comprises a gripping support  14  holding the applicator  10  and a cosmetic product reservoir  16 . 
     In a known manner, the gripping support  14  comprises a handling member  18  intended to be gripped between the fingers of a user, and a rod  20  projecting from the handling member  18 . 
     In an advantageous embodiment, the handling member  18  forms a cap sealing the reservoir  16 . 
     The rod  20  is equipped at its free end with an axial housing for receiving the applicator  10 . 
     The reservoir  16  contains the cosmetic product. It is advantageously equipped with a squeezing device (not shown) suitable for cooperating with the applicator  10  in order to clean the applicator  10  when it is extracted from the reservoir  16 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the applicator  10  comprises a mounting tip  22  in the gripping support  14  and a product application body  24  projecting from the gripping support  14 . 
     In this example, the applicator  10  also comprises an intermediate bracing portion  26  arranged between the tip  22  and the application body  24 . 
     The tip  22  has a general shape revolving about an axis A-A′, shown vertically in  FIGS. 2 and 3 . 
     In the example shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , it has a general cylindrical shape. 
     The intermediate portion  26  projects axially from the tip  22 . It connects the tip  22  to the application body  24 . In this example, it has, in a front view, a shape moving laterally away from the axis A-A′. It defines with the tip  22  a lower bracing shoulder  28  on the gripping support  14 . 
     The application body  24  is, for example, obtained by molding or by machining. It is, for example, made of a plastic or metal material. 
     In particular, the application body  24  is made by injection molding of a thermoplastic material, in a single piece. Advantageously, the body  24 , the tip  22 , and the intermediate portion  26  when it is present, are made integrally in a single piece of material. 
     The application body  24  is equipped with an external flocking. The flocking is formed by a plurality of small fibers, attached on the exterior surface of the application body  24 . 
     These fibers have a diameter of less than at least 10 times the maximum thickness of the application body  24 , and a length of less than 10 times the maximum thickness of the application body  24 . 
     Thus, the length of the fibers forming the flocking is, for example, between 0.2 mm and 3 mm, advantageously less than 1.5 mm. The number of the fibers forming the flocking is generally between 0.75 dTex to 50 dTex, advantageously between 1 dTex and 5 dTex. 
     In the example shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the flocking covers substantially the entire exterior surface of the body  24 . 
     According to the invention, the application body  24  has, in a plane parallel to an axial median plane of the body  24 , in a side-view, a first curved segment  40 , with a local axis moving away from the central axis A-A′, a second curved intermediate segment  42 , with a local axis approaching the central axis A-A′, and a third end segment  44 . 
     In this example, the first segment  42  has a proximal end  46  located on the central axis A-A′, and a distal end  48  located transversally away from the central axis A-A′. 
     It has a curvature with its concavity directed away from the central axis A-A′. Thus, the first segment  40  is located between the center of curvature  50  of the first segment  40  and the axis A-A′. 
     Projected in a plane parallel to the axial median plane, the first segment  40  has two curved lateral edges  51 A,  51 B substantially parallel to one another. 
     The intermediate segment  42  has a curvature with a local axis approaching the central axis A-A′. 
     In the example shown in  FIG. 3 , the intermediate segment  42  extends from the distal end  48  of the first segment  40  and has a distal end  52  located in the vicinity of the central axis A-A′ or on the central axis A-A′. 
     The intermediate segment  42  has a curvature with its concavity directed away from the central axis A-A′. Thus, the second segment  42  is located between the center of curvature  54  of said segment  52  and the central axis A-A′. 
     Projected in a plane parallel to the axial median plane, the second segment  42  has two curved lateral edges  55 A,  55 B substantially parallel to one another. 
     In this example, the first segment  40  and the second segment  42  mutually define, at the distal end  48 , an elbow  51  with a curvature having a concavity directed toward the central axis A-A′. 
     The first segment  40  and the second segment  42  thus define a first hollow area  56  for receiving cosmetic product, located between the axis A-A′ and the segments  40  and  42 . 
     The third segment  44  extends from the distal end  52  of the second segment  42 . 
     In the example shown in  FIG. 3 , it extends substantially linearly, along the central axis A-A′. It has, in this example, a length, taken along the axis A-A′, of less than the length of the second segment  42  and less than the length of the first segment  40 . 
     The second segment  42  and the third segment  44  mutually define, opposite the first hollow area  56 , a second hollow area  58  for receiving cosmetic product. The second hollow area  58  has a concavity directed opposite the axis A-A′. 
     In the front view, the application body  24  has a general hollow plate shape. It has a central orifice  60  passing through it. 
     Thus, the body  24  has a width greater than its thickness. 
     It includes, from bottom to top in  FIG. 2 , a proximal portion  62 , formed by the first segment  40  and the second segment  42  and a distal portion  64  formed by the third segment  44 . The proximal portion  64  converges toward the axis A-A′. 
     The orifice  60  extends in the proximal portion  62 , through the first segment  40  and the second segment  42 . It has a closed contour. 
     In the front view, projected in a plane passing through the axis A-A′, the orifice  60  has a span generally between 20% and 80%, and advantageously 30%, of the total span of the application body  24 . 
     The application body  24  comprises a plane of symmetry passing through the central axis A-A′. 
     The application body  24  is flexible so as to be deformable to the touch. It is thus deformable by twisting about an axis perpendicular to the central axis A-A′ with respect to the tip  22 . 
     The operation of the first applicator  10  according to the invention will now be described. 
     Initially, the user extracts the applicator  10  filled with cosmetic product from the receptacle  16 , using the gripping support  14 . 
     The flocking present on the exterior surface of the application body  24  holds the cosmetic product, in particular in areas  56  and  58 . 
     Then, the user directs the application body  24  toward a keratinous surface, in particular toward a lip of the user. The user introduces the keratinous surface into the first hollow area  56 , in order to place a quantity of cosmetic product over a significant span of the keratinous surface. 
     Then, the user manipulates the handling member  18  so as to move the application body  24  with respect to the keratinous surface and enables the cosmetic product to be applied. 
     When the user wants to perform a more precise application, or retouching, the user turns the applicator  10  over, in order to direct the second hollow area  58  opposite the keratinous surface. Then, using the third segment  44 , the user applies a smaller quantity of cosmetic product on the keratinous surface, with increased precision. 
     The applicator  10  is therefore particularly simple to use, and enables versatile application of product according to the user&#39;s needs. 
     A second applicator  110  according to the invention is shown in  FIGS. 4 to 6 . 
     Unlike the applicator  10  shown in  FIGS. 1 to 3 , the applicator  110  has a general deformed rod shape. It is formed by a solid body. 
     As above, the first segment  40  has, in a side view, a local axis moving away from the central axis A-A′. However, unlike the first applicator  10 , the curvature of the first segment  40  has a concavity directed toward the central axis A-A′. Thus, the central axis A-A′ is located between the center of curvature  50  and the segment  40 . 
     As above, projected in an axial median plane, the lateral edges  51 A,  51 B of the first segment  40  are substantially parallel to one another. 
     Unlike the first applicator  10 , the second segment  42  has a curvature with a local axis intersecting with the central axis A-A′. The curvature of the segment  42  has a concavity directed toward the central axis A-A′. The central axis A-A′ is thus located between the segment  42  and the center of curvature  54  over at least a portion of the length of the second segment  42 . 
     Moreover, unlike the first applicator  10 , the third segment  44  of the applicator  110  is curved. It has a curvature with a local axis moving away from the central axis A-A′. The concavity of the curvature of the third segment  44  is directed opposite the central axis A-A′. 
     As above, the first hollow area  56  is defined between the first segment  40  and the second segment  42 . The second hollow area  58  is defined between the second segment  42  and the third segment  44 . 
     In the front view, unlike the first applicator  10 , the proximal portion  62  of the applicator  110  has a central narrowing  112  with a width I 1  smaller than the maximum width Im 1  of the distal portion  64  and smaller than the maximum width Im 2  of the proximal portion  62 . 
     The minimum width I 1  of the central narrowing is, for example, between 10% and 85% of the maximum width Im 1  of the proximal portion and between 10% and 85% of the maximum width Im 2  of the distal portion  64 . 
     In one example, I 1  is between 1.5 mm and 3 mm, for example around 2 mm, Im 1  is between 2 mm and 5 mm, for example around 3.5 mm, and Im 2  is between 2 mm and 5 mm, for example around 3.5 mm. 
     The operation of the second applicator  110  is, moreover, equivalent to that of the first applicator  10 . 
     The double curvature, from the side view, of the applicators  10 ,  110  according to the invention, enables use of the applicator  10 ,  110  in at least two directions, intuitively, by creating reservoir areas in the hollow areas  56 ,  58  that are, by nature, less squeezed. 
     This shape provides flexibility to the applicator  10 ,  110  for comfortable use. 
     These applicators  10 ,  110  are simple to produce, by molding, then by applying a flocking. They are particularly suitable for application of gloss, or lipstick, on the lips of a user. 
     A third applicator  210  according to the invention is shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8 . This applicator  210  is equivalent to the applicator  10  shown in  FIGS. 2 to 3 . 
     Like the applicator  10 , it has a first curved segment  40  with a local axis moving away from the central axis A-A′, a second intermediate curved segment  42 , with a local axis approaching the central axis A-A′, and a third end segment  44 , which, in this example, extends substantially linearly along the central axis A-A′. 
     The application body  24  of the applicator  210  is equipped with an exterior flocking, of the same type as the exterior flocking of the applicator  10  described above. 
     The flocking covers substantially the entire exterior surface of the application body  24 . 
     “Substantially the entire” advantageously means that the flocking covers more than 90%, in particular more than 95% of the exterior surface of the body  24 . 
     In the front view, the body  24  has a general hollow plate shape with a central orifice  60  passing through it. 
     Unlike the applicator  10 , the application body  24  has, in this case, a substantially diamond-shaped exterior contour, in the front view. 
     It thus has a proximal portion  62  comprising the first segment  40 , and a portion of the second segment  42 , with a V shape, and a distal portion  64  formed by a second portion of the second segment  42  and by the third segment  44 , with an inverted V shape. 
     The application body  24  laterally defines, on its exterior contour, a notch  212 . The notch  212  is advantageously located opposite a median portion of the cavity  60 , between the proximal portion  62  and the distal portion  64 . 
     The notch  212  opens transversally away from the axis A-A′. 
     The application body  24  also comprises an interior projection  214  that projects transversally toward the axis A-A′ in the cavity  60 , opposite the notch  212 . 
     The operation of the third applicator  210  is, moreover, equivalent to that of the first applicator  10 .