Patent Publication Number: US-2005129455-A1

Title: Applicator device for cosmetic products

Description:
The present invention concerns an applicator device for cosmetic products, in particular for the face, as for instance foundation cream. The device is in particular in the shape of stick.  
      Cosmetic products of creamy type for face are contained in containers from which it is possible to use the product by getting it by means of opportune applicators or directly by the hands.  
      Cosmetic products of semi-solid type for face are contained in appropriate containers which in some cases can also function as applicator.  
      Cosmetic products of the creamy type (fluid or semi-fluid) can be considered to be better than solid or semi-solid type since they allow to obtain benefits both on the intrinsic characteristics of the product itself as for instance a greater homogeneity of the components which form the product, as well as on the applicative characteristics of the product as for example a greater facility of dispersion on the face, and they also have a more uniform appearance.  
      However, during the application of creamy cosmetic products, even with the use of opportune applicators, it is possible to get dirty thus making their use difficult and unpleasant.  
      In view of the state of the art herein described, object of the present invention is to provide an applicator device for cosmetic products that is capable to dispense cosmetic product of the fluid or semi-fluid type without soiling and that is easy to utilise.  
      According to the invention, such object is attained by means of a device applicator for cosmetic products comprising: a container containing a cosmetic product; means for the advancement of said cosmetic product toward a first end of said container, placed at a second end of said container; a cap suitable to close said first end of said container; characterised in that said first end comprises a grid, from which said cosmetic product exits, whose external surface was subjected to a flocking process.  
      Owing to the present invention it is possible to provide an applicator device for cosmetic products that can use very performing creamy cosmetic products. The grid for the output of the cosmetic product covered with flock behaves as a cap for the cosmetic product which can advance only if thrust by the advancement means. Besides, the flocking confers a contact surface which is velvety and soft to the touch. In addition, the advancement means allow only the advance of the thrust piston and not its backing, therefore the product is always ready for use, and its exit is continuous and uniform. The presence of an airtight cap prevents the evaporation of volatile elements present in the product, which remains integral and lasts longer. 
    
    
      The characteristics and the advantages of the present invention will become evident from the following detailed description of an embodiment thereof, which is illustrated as a non limiting example in the enclosed drawings, in which:  
       FIG. 1  shows an applicator device for cosmetic products in section;  
       FIG. 2   a  shows a sectional front view of a sleeve of the applicator device for cosmetic products;  
       FIG. 2   b  shows a top view of a sleeve of the applicator device for cosmetic products;  
       FIG. 3   a  shows a sectional front view of an output sleeve of the applicator device for cosmetic products;  
       FIG. 3   b  shows a top view of an output sleeve of the applicator device for cosmetic products;  
       FIG. 4   a  shows a front view of a closing element of the applicator device for cosmetic products;  
       FIG. 4   b  shows a top view of a closing element of the applicator device for cosmetic products;  
       FIG. 5   a  shows a front view of a tubular element of the applicator device for cosmetic products;  
       FIG. 5   b  shows a top view of a tubular element of the applicator device for cosmetic products;  
       FIG. 6   a  shows a front section view of a round structure internal to the applicator device for cosmetic products;  
       FIG. 6   b  shows a top view of a round structure internal to the applicator device for cosmetic products;  
       FIG. 7   a  shows a front view of a ring gear of the applicator device for cosmetic products;  
       FIG. 7   b  shows a front section view of a ring gear of the applicator device for cosmetic products;  
       FIG. 7   c  shows a top view of a ring gear of the applicator device for cosmetic products;  
       FIG. 8  shows an applicator device for cosmetic products in section, as in  FIG. 1 , but after a partial use of the product. 
    
    
      Referring to  FIG. 1  the applicator device  10  for cosmetic products is comprehensive of a tubular container  12 , inside of which the cosmetic product is placed having, on one side, a separable closing cap  11  and, on the other side, a closing element  13 .  
      The closing cap  11  has an inside diameter which corresponds to the outside diameter of the tubular container  12  on which it is placed. In addition, the tubular container  12 , in the point of contact with the closing cap  11  has suitable means  25  to maintain an airtight closing. In particular, the means  25  comprise recessings placed on the entire external circumference of the tubular container  12  and reliefs located on the inner wall of the closing cap  11 , which cooperate with each other.  
      On the fore end of the tubular container  12  a first cylindrical sleeve  14  is placed having a central hole  17  in direction of its axis. Connected to the first sleeve  14  a second cylindrical sleeve  15  is placed, as it can also be seen from  FIGS. 2   a  and  2   b , having a central disc  18 , with diameter smaller than the one of the second sleeve  15 , connected with it through the rods  19 . The central disc  18  is connected, through the rods  19 , with the second sleeve  15 , so as to form a cupola structure having the convex part towards the inside of the container. The cosmetic product can flow into the space between the second sleeve  15  and the central disc  18 .  
      Above the sleeves  14  and  15  an output sleeve  16  comprehensive of a plurality of holes  24  is placed, as it can also be seen from  FIGS. 3   a  and  3   b . The holes, square in shape, have dimensions comprised between 1×1 milimeter and 2.5×2.5 milimeters. The shape of the holes can also be round and their number varies when varying their dimensions.  
      The external top part of the sleeve  16  has undergone the flocking treatment. The flocking is a deposition of short textile fibers on a support previously treated with an adhesive. The flocking is carried out with a typically electrostatic process which uniformly distributes the flock microfibers on the piece, by giving to it the characteristics of a pleasantly velvety product.  
      The closing element  13 , as it can be also seen from  FIGS. 4   a  and  4   b , has a cylindrical shape, and by moving toward the center of it, a cylindrical empty space  30  concentric to the closing element  13  is created, and therefore a central pin  31 , substantially higher than the external part of the closing element  13 , and having fins  32  projecting on the outside for its entire length. Inside the closing element  13 , in the empty cylindrical space  30 , two projections  35  for its entire height are present, opposite to each other, and also two partial reductions of diameter which form two longitudinal planes  36 , opposite to each other.  
      Inside the closing element  13  there is a tubular element  20 , as it can be seen also from  FIGS. 5   a  and  5   b , having a height substantially equal to the one of the central pin  31  of the closing element  13 . In the bottom part of the tubular element  20 , recesses  33  are predisposed into which the fins  32 , of the central pin  31 , can be inserted.  
      Outside the tubular element  20  a threading  34  is predisposed.  
      Between the closing element  13  and the tubular element  20  a round structure  21  empty on its inside, and substantially with height equal to the external part of the closing element  13  is inserted, as it can also be seen from  FIGS. 6   a  and  6   b . The round structure  21  has along its entire height, two flat portions  40  and  41  opposite to each other, and two recesses  43  located on an axis perpendicular to the axis of conjunction of the plane portions  40  and  41 . The recesses  43  cooperate with the two projections  35  of the closing element  13 .  
      At the top of the round structure  21 , along the circumference, several equally distanced teeth  42  are placed.  
      Above the closing element  13  and the round structure  21  a ring gear  22  is placed, as it can also be seen from  FIGS. 7   a ,  7   b  and  7   c.    
      On its inside there is a threading  50  which cooperates with the threading  34  of the tubular element  20 . On its outside there are projections  51  in order to allow its locking inside the tubular container  12 . Along the circumference of its bottom surface a plurality of equally distance teeth  52  are placed which are suitable to cooperate with the teeth  42  of the round structure  21 .  
      Above the ring gear  22  a piston  23  is placed that is integral with the tubular element  20 .  
      For the operation of the applicator device of cosmetic products  10 , after having removed the closing cap  11 , it is necessary to make the closing element  13  rotate clockwise as regards the tubular container  12 . The closing element  13  is integral with the tubular element  20 , owing to the cooperation of the projecting fins  32  with the recesses  33 . The tubular container  12  is integral also with the round structure  21 , owing to the flat portions  36  and  40 , and to the projections  35  and the recesses  43 .  
      By rotating such elements, the threading  34  cooperates with the threading  50  and makes the tubular element  20  slide forward, with the annexed piston  23 , as it can be seen in  FIG. 8 . In this way, the cosmetic material is thrust toward the hole  17  of the first sleeve  14 , therefore toward the space external to the central disc  18  and then toward the holes  24  of the output sleeve  16 .  
      The teeth  42  and  52 , have right-angle triangle shape, and in particular the teeth  42  have the inclined wall oriented toward the right and the teeth  52  have the inclined wall oriented toward the left. They cooperate with each other so that the clockwise rotation of the closing element  13  as regards the tubular container  12 , and therefore the advancement of the cosmetic product, is allowed but not viceversa.  
      Inside the tubular container  12  the creamy cosmetic product is thus placed. By the term of creamy cosmetic product, of fluid or semifluid type, a substance having a low viscosity at room temperature is meant.