Abstract:
Applicator including a reservoir containing a substance to be applied, a cap intended to close the reservoir and supporting a stopper including an applicator holder supporting a deformable element for applying the substance. The deformable element has a shape memory, i.e., can return to its original shape after being deformed, and a roughened surface. The reservoir holding the substance includes an end-piece having a base equipped with a seat including at least one capillary orifice against which the deformable element deforms when the reservoir is closed by the cap.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to an applicator intended for local treatment of the skin; such a treatment is, for example, treatment for spots or for blotches. The aim of the invention is to provide an applicator which is capable of delivering an infinitesimal dose directly to the skin in a very precise manner and of additionally permitting the massage of the skin. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to the present invention, such an applicator includes a reservoir which contains a substance to be applied, a cap which is intended to close the reservoir, and an applicator holder supporting a deformable element for applying the substance, the element being made of foam or of low-hardness elastomer, and is characterized by the fact that the deformable element has a roughened surface and is provided with a substantial shape memory, and in that the reservoir holding the substance is limited by a finger-shaped capillary end-piece having a base equipped with a seat which is pierced with at least one capillary orifice against which the deformable element is applied and deformed in the position in which the reservoir is closed by the cap. 
     The application element advantageously includes a foam with open cells which communicate with one another when the deformable element is not deformed. 
     By virtue of this arrangement, when the deformable element is compressed on the seat of the base of the capillary end-piece, its surface in contact with the seat is increased; when the applicator is opened, that is to say when the cap is separated from the reservoir, the deformable element recovers its initial shape which it has in the free state and creates a suction effect which draws up the drop of substance, held hitherto by capillary on that face of the base of the capillary end-piece which is opposite the one bearing the seat, on account of the presence of the capillary orifice. 
     The design of the applicator according to the invention permits, in a simple manner, the provision of several functions. The deformable element compressed on the seat ensures the sealing of the reservoir. The considerable shape memory of the deformable element permits the function of pumping and suctioning of the substance. The flexibility of the deformable element permits a local massage of the skin. 
     The capillary orifice, of which there is at least one, is advantageously circular and its diameter is between 0.5 and 3 mm; alternatively, the capillary orifice, of which there is at least one, is a slit having a cross-section of between 0.2 and 7 mm 2 . 
     The end of the deformable element which cooperates with the seat and the orifice is flat, or in the shape of a conical tip, or round. 
     The applicator holder supporting the deformable element preferably includes a hollow rod; alternatively, it includes a rigid support sleeve in the shape of an ogive. 
     According to another alternative, the applicator holder includes, a rigid solid rod; the solid rod is advantageously equipped, at its end, with a stiffening element of elongate shape for guiding the deformable element during its deformation. 
     The capillary end-piece is supported by a spacer element which is integral with the reservoir and through which the applicator holder passes. 
     According to a preferred embodiment, the capillary orifice opens into the reservoir along a flared, frustoconical portion which serves as a capillary reservoir. The dimensions of the capillary orifice will be adjusted depending on the viscosity of the substance to be applied. 
     The capillary end-piece is advantageously made of semi-rigid material; alternatively, the end-piece is made of a rigid material. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     In order to permit a better understanding of the subject-matter of the invention, a description will now be given, by way of a purely illustrative and non-limiting example, of an embodiment thereof which is shown in the attached drawings: 
     In the drawings: 
     FIG. 1 is a partial sectional view of an applicator according to the invention; 
     FIG. 2 is similar to FIG. 1, but the applicator is shown in the open position; 
     FIGS. 3 to  5  are partial sections showing the respective positions of the deformable element during the functioning as a capillary pump; 
     FIGS. 6 to  8  each show an alternative of the deformable element for an applicator according to the invention; 
     FIGS. 9 to  11  each show an alternative of the applicator holder supporting an alternative of the deformable element, for an applicator according to the invention; 
     FIG. 12 is a partial sectional view of an alternative of the applicator according to the invention; 
     FIG. 13 is a view along XIII—XIII in FIG. 12; 
     FIG. 14 is a partial sectional view of an alternative of the applicator according to FIG. 12; 
     FIG. 15 is a partial sectional view of another applicator according to the invention; 
     FIGS.  16 /I to  16 /V show different cross-sectional shapes of the capillary orifice; 
     FIGS. 17 and 18 represent, in longitudinal section, two alternatives of the capillary orifice; 
     FIG. 19 is a partial sectional view of another alternative of the applicator according to the invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     According to FIG. 1, an applicator  1  includes a reservoir  2  in the shape of a cylinder which has a base and is open at one end; a spacer element  10  of the same cross-section as the reservoir  2  is force-fitted through this end until a flange  26  of the spacer element  10 , of an external diameter equal to the external diameter of the reservoir  2 , abuts the frontal outer edge of the opening of the reservoir  2 . 
     The spacer element  10  supports a finger-shaped end-piece  11 ; to do this, the spacer element  10  includes an axial cylindrical recess  13  extended via a coaxial passage  14  of smaller diameter, which is itself extended via a flared area  15  opening to the outside; in line with this flared area  15 , the spacer element  10  has an external thread  16  on the surface of a cylindrical end portion which is of a smaller diameter than that of the part of the spacer element  10  fitted in the reservoir  2 . 
     At the end of the spacer element  10  distinct from the end which has the thread  16 , the spacer element  10  is equipped with an annular bulge  17  for snap-in fitting; the end piece  11  is housed in the cylindrical  13 ; the end-piece  11  is in the shape of a finger and defines a cylindrical chamber  25  and a base  20 : the base  20  has a seat  24  pierced with a capillary orifice  23 ; the base  20  is bordered by a flange  21  for snap-fitting which is of a shape complementary to that of the annular bulge  17  of the spacer element  10 , allowing the end-piece  11  to be joined to the spacer element  10  by snap- fitting. The base  20  of the end-piece  11  is at a distance from the base  3  of the reservoir  2  for a substance  5  to be applied. 
     The applicator  1  also includes a cap  4  represented partially in the figures; the cap  4  is also in the shape of a cylinder which has a base (not represented) and is open at one end; a stopper  40  having the same cross-section as the cap  4  is force-fitted through this end, the cap  4  itself having a cross-section similar to that of the reservoir  2 ; the stopper  40  is fitted into the cap  4  until a flange  45  of the stopper  40  abuts the outer edge of the opening of the cap  4 . The stopper  40  has a top  41  in which there is formed a cavity  42  extended via a bore  43  of greater diameter which has on the inside a thread  44  complementary to the thread  16  of the spacer element  10 . 
     The stopper  40  is integral with an applicator holder  30  supporting a deformable application element  35  made in this example, of a foam; the applicator holder  30  includes a hollow rod  31 ; pierced with a bore  32 , one end of which has longitudinal  33  for holding the rod  31  in the cavity  42  of the top  41  by forcefitting. The other end of the rod  31  is equipped with a rigid supporting sleeve  34  in the shape of an ogive holding the deformable element  35  via its end of smaller diameter defining of constriction  36 . In an alternative which is not represented, the deformable element  35  is held directly by the hollow rod  31 . The deformable element  35  is made of a material having a considerable shape memory. 
     In the position represented in FIG. 1, the applicator is closed; the cap  4  is screwed onto the reservoir, a seating joint  50  being placed around the rod  31 , between the stopper  40  and the spacer element; in this closure position, the deformable element  35  is crushed against the seat  24  and the orifice  23 . A ball  60  is housed in the reservoir  2  and permits agitation of the substance  5 , if necessary. The orifice  23  opens into the reservoir  2  along a flared, frustoconical portion  22 . By virtue of the capillary orifice  23 , whose diameter is of the order of 0.5 to 3 mm, a drop  6  of substances adheres by capillarity to the surface of the base  20  opposite the seat  24 . 
     FIG. 2 shows the applicator  1  in an open position, just before use; in this position, which corresponds to a position in which the cap  4  is drawn back with respect to the reservoir  2 , the deformable element  35  has recovered its initial position; the deformable element  35  is charged with a part  8  of the drop  6  of substance, the remainder  7  of the substance obstructing the orifice  23  in which it is held by capillarity. 
     The manner in which the deformable element  35  is charged with substance is illustrated in FIGS. 3 to  5 ; in these figures, the base of the end-piece  11 , in which the capillary orifice  23  is formed, has been represented diagrammatically. FIG. 3 corresponds to the closed applicator, the drop  6  of substance being held by capillarity; FIG. 5 corresponds to the position in which the deformable element  35  is charged with a part  8  of the drop  6  of substance  5 , the orifice being obstructed by the remainder  7  of the substance  5 ; FIG. 4 corresponds to an intermediate position in which a drop  6 A is smaller than the drop  6  in FIG. 3, the deformable element  35  having begun to be charged with substance, as it gradually recovers its original shape. 
     The deformable element  35  can have different shapes at rest: thus, according to FIG. 6, the deformable element  135  has a flat end; according to FIG. 7, the deformable element  235  has the shape of a rounded conical tip; according to FIG. 8, the deformable element  335  has a spherical end. 
     The deformable element has a roughened surface which can be of any type: it can include a large number of protrusions separated by small cavities, or of fine circular and parallel grooves, as illustrated in FIG.  7 . 
     According to the alternatives in FIGS. 9 to  11 , the applicator holder  400 ,  500 ,  600  includes a solid rod  431 ,  531 ,  631  whose end is shaped to support the deformable element  435 ,  535 ,  635 , here preferably made of low-hardness elastomer; low-hardness elastomer is understood to mean an elastomer whose hardness is between 15 Shore A and 70 Shore A. This elastomer is made up of open-cell foam. 
     According to FIG. 9, the solid rod  431  has, at its end, a cylindrical recess  432  in which an end  436  of the deformable element  435  is tightly fitted. 
     According to FIG. 10, the solid rod  531  has, at its end, an annular cylindrical recess  532  bordered at the center with a stiffening element  534  of elongate shape, along the axis of the rod  531 , the axial length of the stiffening element  534  being greater than that of the recess  532 ; the deformable element  535  has a cavity  538  of a shape complementary to that of the stiffening element  534  on which it is engaged tightly, the end  536  of the element  535  being likewise fitted tightly in the recess  532 ; the stiffening element  534  makes it possible to guide the deformable element  535  during its deformation. 
     According to FIG. 11, the solid rod  631  has, at its end, a stiffening element  634 , without the annular recess in the preceding alternative; a radial protrusion  637  with which the stiffening element  634  is equipped permits a better axial support of the deformable element  635 . 
     FIGS. 12 and 13 show an alternative of the applicator in which the capillary end-piece  11 , which limits the substance reservoir  2 , is equipped with a seat  24  pierced with several capillary slits  230 , six slits in the shape of arcs of a circle in the example represented in these figures; these slits can of course have, in cross-section, any suitable shapes, such as, for example, those represented in FIGS.  16 /I to  16 /V; these slits can have, in longitudinal section of the base  201 ; frustoconical shapes  231 , as shown in FIG. 17, or partially frustoconical shapes  232 , as shown in FIG. 18, in such a way as to form a reserve of substance. The end-piece  11  in this alternative is made of a rigid material and has threads  203  on the outer surface of an upper part  202  thereof; the upper part  202  is extended downwards via a flared skirt  200  surrounding the seat  24 , being at a radial distance from the latter; the skirt  200  covers the reservoir  2 , of the hemispherical-shaped type, and is made integral with the reservoir  2 , for example by adhesive bonding; the reservoir  2  is advantageously made of a transport material. The threads  203  of the end-piece  11  cooperate with threads  403  on the cap  4 , which also has, on the inner face of its upper part, an annular sealing lip  404  for sealed closure of the capillary end-piece  11 , the lip  404  surrounding a solid transverse wall constituting the stopper  40 . 
     According to FIG. 14, the applicator is similar to that in FIG. 12, except that the reservoir  2  is a flexible tube connected to the flared skirt  200 , which is in the case shorter than that in the alternative in FIG.  12 . 
     According to FIG. 15, the applicator includes an applicator holder  30  which is not integral with the cap  4 ; the applicator holder  30 , which supports the deformable element  35 , is made of a plate  301  on one face of which the element  35  is secured, while the other face of the plate  301  bears a grip  302 , the applicator holder  30  thereby constituting a sort of powder puff application. The cap  4  has, on the inner face of its upper part, a central rib  440  intended to cooperate with the grip  302 , by means of which the applicator holder  30  is applied on the seat  24  when the cap  4  is screwed on to the upper part of the end-piece  11 , by cooperation of the threads  203  and  403  on, respectively, the capillary end-piece  11  and the cap  4 ; the cap  4  also has, on the inner face of its upper part, an annular sealing lip  404  for sealed closure of the capillary end-piece  11 ; a transverse plate closes the skirt  200  at its lower part in order to form the reservoir  2 . 
     According to FIG. 19, the applicator is of the same type as the applicators described with reference to FIGS. 12 to  15 , except that the capillary end-piece  11  is made of semi-rigid material, secured in the neck of the reservoir  2 , the capillary end-piece  11  being a component distinct from the reservoir  2 , as described with reference to FIGS. 1 to  11 .