Patent Publication Number: US-6655390-B2

Title: Device for applying a substance to the eyelashes or the eyebrows

Description:
The present invention relates to the field of making up and/or treating keratinaceous fibers or “hairs”, in particular the eyelashes or the eyebrows. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In general terms, there exists a need to have an applicator capable of picking up a relatively large quantity of substance so that the user does not need to refill the applicator too often while making up. 
     In known applicators comprising a row of teeth, the quantity of substance retained between the teeth depends on their spacing, and it is limited by the fact that the teeth must remain relatively close together in order to grip the eyelashes. 
     OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention seeks to propose a novel applicator capable in particular of making up the eyelashes or the eyebrows in satisfactory manner, while offering the possibility of being used for a sufficient length of time and also being comfortable to use. 
     The invention achieves this by the applicator including a support defining at least one opening situated between two opposite regions of the support, and protruding elements connected to at least one of said regions and directed towards the other region. 
     By means of the invention, it is possible to make an applicator having protruding elements arranged in such a manner as to take hold of the eyelashes while nevertheless having a supply of substance available that enables the applicator to continue being used for a sufficient length of time between refills and also enabling the eyelashes to be appropriately coated in substance at the time of use. 
     Furthermore, the applicator of the invention is easy to manufacture, the protruding elements being suitable for being cut out in the support or the opening of the support which is taken advantage of for unmolding the protruding elements. 
     At least a fraction of the protruding elements can be made on each opposite region of the support by being molded or injected onto the support, or by being cut out and deformed from a sheet of metal. 
     The invention makes it possible for a single support to carry protruding elements of different kinds and/or configurations, in particular protruding elements of a given type whose orthogonal projection extends at least in part into the opening of the support, and protruding elements of another type, situated at the outer periphery of the support. 
     In a particular embodiment, the support is closed around the above-mentioned opening. 
     In a variant, the support can be generally U-shaped, in which case it is not completely closed around the opening. 
     The support can be plane, or in a variant it can be non-plane. 
     The support can also present a boat-shaped configuration or it can be bent. 
     In particular, the support can be generally elongate in shape along a longitudinal axis and it can be bent about said axis and around a transverse axis. 
     In a particular embodiment, the support is connected at one end to a link member which is connected to a handle member. 
     By way of example, the link member can be constituted by a stalk. 
     Under such circumstances, the support advantageously presents a generally tapering shape towards the end remote from the link member, so as to make the support easier to insert through a wiper member. 
     The support can be generally elongate in shape, having a longitudinal axis that is parallel to or transverse to the axis of the link member. 
     All or some of the protruding elements present respective free ends situated at a distance from the region of the support opposite the region to which they are connected. 
     Thus, some of the protruding elements can form bridges of material in two opposite regions of the support, e.g. so as to make the support more rigid. 
     Such bridges of material can also serve to hold at least one protrusion-forming element, such as a tooth or a point or tip. 
     In particular, the applicator can have one or more bridges of material extending in the longitudinal direction of the support, or in a variant in its transverse direction. 
     In a particular embodiment, the applicator of the invention has a succession of curved bridges of material extending to the same side of the opening, or alternately to opposite sides thereof. 
     When the support is elongate in shape, at least some of the protruding elements can be connected to a region of the support that extends substantially parallel to its longitudinal direction. 
     The support can be made of an elastomer material. 
     The support can also be made of a material that is more rigid than the material used for making the applicator elements. 
     This makes it possible to improve comfort in use because the protruding elements are more flexible than the support. 
     The support can be composite in structure, e.g. comprising metal reinforcements with a coating of plastics material around the reinforcements. 
     Under such circumstances, at least some of the protruding elements can be made out of the same material as the material used for making said coating, with other protruding elements optionally being made of the same material as the reinforcement. 
     This makes it possible to have protruding elements of different hardnesses within the same applicator. 
     The applicator can also have protruding elements protruding from two opposite regions of the support, the orthogonal projections of said elements onto the opening formed between said regions extending at least part of the way across the opening. 
     Advantageously, the protruding elements are then interleaved. 
     This makes it possible for the protruding elements to form forks or V-shaped grooves in which the eyelashes can be engaged. 
     Such forks or V-shaped grooves serve to smooth the substance onto the surface of the eyelashes, to lengthen them, and to take hold of them in order to curve them. 
     The applicator can have protruding elements on one side only of the support, or in a variant, on both sides of the support. 
     In particular, the applicator can have a first group of protruding elements that are interleaved above the support and a second group of protruding elements that are interleaved beneath the support. 
     The applicator can have protruding elements that extend alternately from opposite sides of the opening. 
     The protruding elements extending from the same side of the support can have bases that do not touch. 
     The applicator can have a succession of protruding elements of lengths that vary as a function of their positions on the support. 
     In particular, the lengths of said protruding elements can increase on going away from one end of the support. 
     The applicator can have protruding elements whose orthogonal projections lie entirely within the opening. 
     The applicator can also have protruding elements whose orthogonal projections are situated in part in the opening and in part on the support. 
     At least a fraction of the protruding elements can be constituted by teeth of generally tapering shape. 
     For at least a fraction of the protruding elements, the angle formed by said elements with their orthogonal projections can lie strictly between 5° and 90°, and preferably in the range 10° to 50°, and more preferably in the range 15° to 30°. 
     The angle in question is selected as a function of the desired makeup, and as a function of the shape and the configuration of the protruding elements. 
     At least a fraction of the protruding elements can be rectilinear in shape, or otherwise, in particular, they can be curved. 
     At least a fraction of the protruding elements can have surfaces that present flocking, relief that is visible to the naked eye, or a coating for improving the sliding of eyelashes. 
     The protruding elements can be made of plastics material, preferably integrally with the support. 
     The plastics material can have a filler constituted by a biocide, a material for improving slip, or magnetic particles. 
     The length of the protruding elements can, for example, lie in the range 0.5 millimeters (mm) to 10 mm, and preferably lies in the range 2 mm to 6 mm. 
     The protruding elements preferably co-operate with the support to define an applicator member whose maximum transverse dimension  d  parallel to the opening is greater than the maximum transverse direction perpendicular to the opening. 
     The invention also provides a packaging and applicator device fitted with such an applicator and a receptacle for containing a substance to be applied. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention will be better understood on reading the following detailed description of non-limiting embodiments, and on examining the accompanying drawings, in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic axial section view of a packaging and applicator device including an applicator of the invention; 
     FIG. 2 shows the FIG. 1 applicator in isolation; 
     FIGS. 3 to  8  show various configurations of protruding elements on the support; 
     FIGS. 9 to  13  show various configurations of the support; 
     FIGS. 14 to  18  show various configurations of the protruding elements and various ways in which they can be connected to the support; 
     FIG. 19 is a diagrammatic perspective view showing an eyelash engaged between two teeth; 
     FIG. 20 is a diagrammatic view seen looking along arrow XX in FIG. 19, with the eyelash being shown in section; 
     FIG. 21 is a view analogous to FIG. 20, for a different disposition of the teeth; 
     FIG. 22 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a curved applicator; 
     FIG. 23 shows a variant embodiment having a succession of bridges of material disposed alternately on opposite sides of the opening; and 
     FIG. 24 is a diagrammatic view of a variant applicator. 
    
    
     MORE DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The packaging and applicator device  1  shown in FIG. 1 comprises a receptacle  2  containing a supply  3  of a cosmetic and/or treatment product for the eyelashes or the eyebrows, e.g. mascara. 
     The receptacle  2  has a neck. 
     The inside of the opening of the receptacle  2  has a wiper member  5  constituted in conventional manner by a piece of elastomer inserted in the neck  4 , and presenting at the bottom a circular wiper orifice  6 . 
     The device  1  includes an applicator  7  comprising a stalk  8  of axis X, provided at one end with an applicator element  9  and at its other end with a handle element  8   a  that also serves as a cap for closing the receptacle  2  in sealed manner, and arranged to engage on the neck. 
     The stalk  8  can be rigid or semi-rigid. 
     It is shown as being rectilinear, but in a variant it could be curved. 
     The wiper orifice  6  has a diameter that is suitable for wiping the stalk  8  and also the applicator element  9  when the applicator is extracted from the receptacle  2 . 
     In a variant, the wiper member could be of any other known type, for example it could be constituted by a block of open-celled foam. 
     The applicator element  9  can be made integrally with the stalk  8  of the applicator, or it can be fitted thereto. 
     FIG. 2 shows the applicator element  9  on a larger scale. 
     The applicator element  9  comprises a support  10  that is generally in the form of a picture frame, having a rear region  11  extending transversely relative to the longitudinal axis X and connected to the stalk  8 , and two side regions  12   a  and  12   b  that meet in a front region  13  of the support  10  remote from the stalk  8 . 
     The support  10  is generally tapering in shape in the forward direction, thus making it easier to pass it through the wiper member  5  when the applicator is put back into the receptacle  2 . 
     The support  10  defines a plane opening  14  which it surrounds completely. 
     In this case, the thickness of the support  10  is uniform, but it could be of varying thickness, e.g. decreasing towards the front. 
     The region  12   b  has a series of teeth  15  on its outer edge, which teeth can be used during application. 
     The applicator element  9  has two series  16  and  17  of protruding elements extending out from the plane of the opening  14 . 
     The first series  16  is made up of a succession of tapering teeth  16   a  and  16   b  that extend alternately beneath and above the plane of the opening  14 , and all directed towards the region  12   b.    
     The second series  17  comprises a succession of tapering teeth  17   a  and  17   b  extending alternately beneath and above the plane of the opening  14  and all directed towards the region  12   a.    
     The teeth  16   a  and  17   a  are interleaved, and the same applies to the teeth  16   b  and  17   b , as can be seen in FIG. 3 which is a cross-section on section line III—III of FIG.  2 . 
     The teeth  16   a ,  16   b ,  17   a , and  17   b  are of decreasing length going towards the front. 
     The angle α formed between the teeth and their orthogonal projection onto the plane of the opening  14  is selected as a function of the desired makeup. 
     In the example described, it is about 30°, as can be seen in FIG.  3 . 
     In general, the angle α lies strictly between 5° and 90°. 
     It can also be seen in FIG. 3 that when the protruding elements  16   a ,  16   b ,  17   a , and  17   b  are projected orthogonally, their projections lie entirely within the opening  14 . 
     Substance can be contained between the teeth in the opening  14 , thus enabling the applicator element to continue being used for a satisfactory length of time between refills. 
     In addition, the configuration of the teeth and the way they are disposed on the support facilitates combing and separating the eyelashes, and also facilitates spreading substance on the surface thereof, as described in greater detail below. 
     Naturally, the invention is not limited to the configuration shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. 
     In particular, the shape of the teeth could be varied, as shown in FIG.  4 . 
     In this figure, an applicator element is shown that differs from that described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3 in that the teeth  16   b  and  17   b  are replaced by teeth  16 ′ b  and  17 ′ b  that are not entirely rectilinear, each tooth comprising a rectilinear base  20  with an end  21  that is curved upwardly when the applicator element is seen with its support  10  horizontal and the teeth  16 ′ b  and  17 ′ b  situated on the upper side of the support  10 . 
     The applicator element could also have teeth on a single side only of the support  10 , as shown in FIG.  5 . 
     The applicator element could likewise have teeth only on one of the side regions of the support and above only one side thereof, as shown in FIG.  6 . 
     The applicator element could also have protruding elements that connect to one of the side regions and that extend from one side of the support, and protruding elements that connect to the other side region and that extend to the other side of the support, as shown in FIG.  7 . 
     The applicator element could also have protruding elements connected to one of the side regions of the support only, and disposed in alternation on either side of the opening  14 , as shown in FIG.  8 . 
     In all of the above-described examples, the transverse size  d  of the applicator as measured parallel to the opening  14  is greater than the transverse size h measured perpendicularly to the opening  14 . 
     In addition, in the examples described, the dimension  d  is greater than the diameter of the wiper orifice  6  so that the orifice takes up an elliptical section when the applicator passes therethrough with the applicator being received in the orifice. 
     By appropriately selecting the diameter for the wiper orifice  6 , it is possible to wipe the protruding elements that extend away from the plane of the opening in the support to a greater or lesser extent. 
     The support can have configurations other than that shown in FIG.  2 . 
     By way of example, FIG. 9 shows a support  10 ′ which differs from that described with reference to FIG. 2 by the absence of the front region  13  uniting the side regions  12   a  and  12   b , thereby causing the support to be generally U-shaped. 
     The applicator embodiment can also have bridges of material passing across the opening defined by the support and interconnecting opposite regions thereof, thereby imparting greater mechanical strength to the support. 
     By way of example, FIG. 10 shows a support  30  having side regions  31   a  and  31   b  analogous to the side regions  12   a  and  12   b  of the above-described support  10  with two transverse bridges of material  32  and  33  interconnecting said side regions  31   a  and  31   b.    
     The support  40  shown in FIG. 11 has side regions  41   a  and  41   b , a rear region  42  connected to the stalk  8 , a front region  43 , and between the front and rear regions  42  and  43  a bridge of material  44  extending in the longitudinal direction of the support, substantially parallel to the side regions  41   a  and  41   b.    
     This bridge of material  44  lies between two openings  45  and  46 . 
     Each opening  45  or  46  is associated with its own two series of protruding elements, and the orthogonal projections of these elements onto the plane of the support extend into said opening. 
     Thus, the opening  45  is associated with two series of protruding elements  48  and  49  while the opening  46  is associated with two series of protruding elements  50  and  51 . 
     The series  48  and  49  comprise groups of protruding elements which are interleaved respectively above and below the plane of the opening  45 . 
     The series of teeth  50  and  51  likewise comprise protruding elements which are interleaved above and below the plane of the opening  46 . 
     The support need not be plane, and it could have a boat-shaped configuration, as shown in FIG.  12 . 
     This figure shows a support on its own, without any protruding elements in order to clarify the drawing. 
     It can be seen that the support  60  comprises two side regions  61   a  and  61   b  that are parallel and interconnected at their rear ends, i.e. adjacent to the stalk  8 , by an arc  62 , and interconnected at their front end by another arc  63 . 
     The arcs  62  and  63  are curved around the longitudinal axis X of the support  60 . 
     Protruding elements (not shown) are connected to the side regions  61   a  and  61   b.    
     The support can also be curved in shape about a transverse axis, as shown in FIG.  13 . 
     In this figure, there can be seen a support  70  that is in the form of a rectangular frame connected at its rear end via a short side  71  to the stalk  8 . 
     The long sides  72   a  and  72   b  of the frame which constitute side regions of the support are bent substantially halfway along their length in an upwards direction in FIG. 13 about an axis Y which is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the support. 
     The side regions  72   a  and  72   b  carry protruding elements which are not shown in order to clarify the drawing. 
     The side regions are advantageously curved in such a manner as to match the outline of an eyelid. 
     The protruding elements can be connected to the support in numerous ways and they can present a variety of configurations. 
     FIG. 14 shows a portion of a side region of the support, e.g. one of the above-described side regions  12   a  or  12   b , together with a protruding element  80  that is in the form of a bristle with an enlarged head  81 . 
     This bristle  81  is connected to the side face  82  of the side region of the support that faces into the opening defined by the support, e.g. the above-described opening  14 . 
     The protruding element could also be of some other shape. 
     By way of example, FIG. 15 shows a protruding element  84  which is likewise connected to the above-mentioned side face  82  and which is hook-shaped, having a curved free end  85 . 
     The protruding element can also present a coating of flocking on its surface, as shown in FIG.  16 . 
     This figure shows a protruding element  86  whose surface is covered in a coating of flocking  87 . 
     This protruding element is connected both to the side face  82  and to the top face  88  of the side region of the support. 
     The protruding element can also have portions in relief or roughnesses that are visible to the naked eye, as shown in FIG.  17 . 
     This figure shows a protruding element  89  which is connected to the support in the same way as above-described element  86 , and which has points or tips  90  on at least a portion of its surface that serves to improve retention of the substance, and possibly also the ability to take hold of eyelashes. 
     The protruding elements can also include respective forks  92  at their free ends, as is the case for the element  91  shown in FIG. 18, with such a fork improving the combing of the eyelashes at the moment of application. 
     In addition, this figure shows the possibility of making the support out of a composite structure. 
     It can be seen that the support comprises reinforcement  99 , e.g. of metal, having a coating  100  of plastics material overmolded thereon, with the protruding elements being formed integrally with said coating. 
     A way in which the applicator element  9  is used is described below, by way of example. 
     Once it has been filled with substance and withdrawn from the receptacle  2 , the support  10  is brought close to the eyelashes and is moved in contact with them in a direction that is transverse relative to its own longitudinal axis. 
     Eyelashes C can engage between adjacent teeth, projecting respectively from two opposite side regions of the support, e.g. the teeth  16   b  and  17   b , as shown in FIGS. 19 and 20. 
     The eyelash C can become impregnated in substance P present between the teeth and the substance can be smoothed by the adjacent edges  95  and  96  of the two teeth which form a V-groove  96  when the applicator element  9  is seen from the side. 
     In order to enable the teeth to take hold of the eyelashes, it is preferable to ensure that the spacing between two adjacent teeth projecting from opposite side regions of the support is small enough to ensure that the eyelash cannot reach the support. 
     The protruding elements can be disposed in other configurations in order to take hold of the eyelashes. 
     Thus, as shown in FIG. 21, it is possible to arrange the teeth in such a manner that two teeth projecting from the same side region of the support form a V-groove between them that is suitable for taking hold of an eyelash. 
     FIG. 22 shows how the support can be elongate along a curved longitudinal axis. 
     This figure thus shows a support  110  which defines a kidney-shaped opening  111 . 
     The side regions  112   a  and  112   b  support respective series of protruding elements similar to the two series  16  and  17  described above. 
     FIG. 23 shows an applicator which has a support  120  identical to the support  10  described above. 
     This applicator has a succession of curved bridges of material  121   a ,  121   b  extending alternately above and below the opening  122  defined by the support  120 . 
     The bridges of material  121   a  are provided on their convex outer faces with points or tips  123 . 
     The same applies to the bridges of material  121   b.    
     In the example of FIG. 23, the bridges of material  121   a  and  121   b  extend transversely, but they could also extend longitudinally. 
     By way of example, FIG. 24 shows an applicator having a bridge of material  130  extending longitudinally between two series  135  and  136  of protruding elements analogous to the two series  16  and  17  described above. 
     On its convex outer face, the bridge of material  130  supports a row of points  132 . 
     It will be observed that the points  132  are set back behind the free ends of the protruding elements of the series  135  and  136 . 
     Naturally, the invention is not limited to the embodiments described above. 
     In particular, an applicator embodiment can be made other than by molding, for example it could be made by cutting out and shaping a sheet of metal. 
     It is also possible to overmold the protruding elements onto the support by injection molding. 
     The support can be made with configurations other than those shown, as can the protruding elements.