Patent Description:
Numerous hair treatment devices, in particular straightening irons, have already been proposed, employing the application of a hair product to the hair.

Usually, hair straighteners consist of two arms connected to each other with the help of a hinge which makes it possible to open and close these arms and of at least one heating element positioned on the arms. During treatment operations on a lock of hair, the latter is introduced between the two arms in the open position and then the two arms are closed manually over the lock of hair. This lock is then subjected, until the two arms are opened and the lock of hair is removed, to the heat emitted by the heating element.

This is the case, for example, of International Application <CIT>, which describes a styling appliance comprising two arms connected together so as to allow the appliance to be opened and closed, at least one heating member and at least one seat for accommodation of a hair treatment device, the latter making possible the dispensing, in operation, of a hair product. The hair treatment device can comprise a support material impregnated with a hair product and suitable for a single use.

Application <CIT> likewise discloses an applicator for the application of a care substance to the hair, comprising a cartridge of care substance held in a housing of the applicator. The cartridge comprises a porous support impregnated with the care substance.

Application <CIT> relates to a hair treatment appliance, in particular a styling appliance, comprising a treatment agent support, in particular an impregnated porous material, to be applied to the hair or the skin. The support is attached to an accessory, itself mounted in a removable manner on a hair treatment appliance. The support is T-shaped, allowing it to be mounted in a complementary groove of the accessory.

International Applications <CIT> and <CIT> disclose hair treatment devices which make it possible to apply a cosmetic product via a refill mounted on one of the arms.

In all these devices, the cosmetic product refill is single-use. Once the reservoir of the refill is empty, the refill has to be replaced by a fresh one. The amount of product initially contained in the refill is limited by the bulkiness and the weight of the latter. As the amount of product contained in the refill is, for this reason, low, the refill has to be frequently replaced, which increases the cost of the device in use.

Cosmetic product refills containing a reservoir of cosmetic product in the refill making possible a plurality of application to the hair are also known, for example from International Application <CIT>. However, with such refills, it is difficult to obtain a constant amount of cosmetic product applied over the course of the different applications.

<CIT> discloses an applicator for applying a product comprising a porous applicator member that extends partly in a reservoir containing the product. The applicator is only one use and cannot be opened to be refilled.

It is known from <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT> and <CIT> applicators for hair product that comprises a main body defining a reservoir which contains the hair product, a porous applicator member having a first portion extending inside the reservoir in contact with the hair product and a second portion extending outside the reservoir to apply the hair product. The applicator member are extending through a removable part of the body that allow the refilling of the reservoir.

There exists a need to further improve hair product applicators and devices which make possible the application of a hair product to ensure appropriate application of cosmetic product.

The invention is targeted at meeting this need and has as subject-matter, according to claim <NUM>, an applicator system for a hair treatment device comprising:.

Such a system makes it possible to have an applicator which can be refilled with cosmetic product one or more times to make possible repeated applications of cosmetic product to the hair without having to change applicator. The refilling of the applicator with cosmetic product is easy. It is carried out by simple mounting of the applicator on the reservoir provided with the applicator.

In such a system, the fact that the reservoir is removed from the applicator makes it possible to retain a light and non-bulky applicator which is comfortable in use.

Furthermore, the application of cosmetic product to the hair is substantially constant during the different applications.

Preferably, the amount of cosmetic product transferred to the application member during the refilling of the latter by the reservoir is such that the application member is more than <NUM>%, better still more than <NUM>%, filled with the maximum amount of product which can transfer by capillary action from the reservoir towards the application member if the application member was left for a sufficiently long time in place on the reservoir.

The cosmetic product is a cosmetic hair product applied in the liquid form. The term "cosmetic hair product" denotes a composition comprising one or more active ingredients for hair use and in particular a product as defined in Directive <NUM>/<NUM>/EEC dated <NUM> June <NUM>. Water in the liquid or gas form which does not contain any additive for hair use does not constitute a cosmetic product within the meaning of the present invention. The cosmetic product can be intended to make it easier to shape the hair. Examples of active ingredients are given, for example, in the publication <CIT>, in sections [<NUM>] and [<NUM>]. The product is preferably anhydrous. The product is preferably an oilbased product.

The maximum amount of cosmetic product transferred at each refilling to the application member during the refilling of the latter by the reservoir can be less than or equal to <NUM>, better still less than or equal to <NUM>, preferably less than or equal to <NUM>, better still of between <NUM> and <NUM>. Such an amount of product in the application member makes possible an application of cosmetic product to the hair on the basis of fewer than <NUM> passes of the applicator over the hair. In this case, the transfer of cosmetic product on paper is preferably of between <NUM>/m and <NUM>/m over the length corresponding to one application, on the basis of <NUM> passes for this application.

Preferably, the application member exhibits an application surface for the product, which surface is intended to be brought into contact with a lock of hair during the treatment, having a continuous distribution of the product over the application surface before use, with more than <NUM>% of the application surface occupied by the product before use.

The application member can comprise a felt, in particular is made of felt. In the latter case, the fibres of the felt can all be oriented substantially in the same direction, the fibres preferably being oriented perpendicularly to the surface of the lock of hair to be treated or parallel to a longitudinal direction of the application member.

The density of the application member is, for example, greater than or equal to <NUM>/cm<NUM> and less than or equal to <NUM>/cm<NUM>, better still greater than or equal to <NUM>/cm<NUM> and less than or equal to <NUM>/cm<NUM>, even better still greater than or equal to <NUM>/cm<NUM> and less than or equal to <NUM>/cm<NUM>.

The application member can exhibit an elongated shape, for example with a rectangular or cross-shaped cross section, with one end forming the application surface intended to be in contact with the hair to be treated. The application surface is preferably flat.

The application surface can exhibit a rectangular shape. The application surface can exhibit a greater dimension, in particular a length, of between <NUM> and <NUM> and a smaller dimension, in particular a width, of between <NUM> and <NUM>. The applicator member can be parallelepipedal. The dimensions of the application member are, for example, <NUM> x <NUM> x <NUM>, the application surface exhibiting dimensions, for example, of <NUM> x <NUM>.

The application member can be at least partially, better still completely, made of a polyolefin, in particular polyethylene and/or polypropylene, preferably made of a mixture of polyethylene and polypropylene, the mixture preferably comprising, by weight, between <NUM>% and <NUM>% of polyethylene and between <NUM>% and <NUM>% of polypropylene, in particular <NUM>% of polyethylene and <NUM>% of polypropylene.

The cosmetic product at least partially impregnating the application member can be an anhydrous composition, the viscosity of which can be of between <NUM> centipoises and <NUM> centipoises, preferably of between <NUM> centipoises and <NUM> centipoises, better still between <NUM> centipoises and <NUM> centipoises, indeed even between <NUM> centipoises and <NUM> centipoises. The viscosity of the composition is measured at a pressure of <NUM> hPa, at a temperature of <NUM> and at a shear rate of <NUM>-<NUM>. The viscosity may be measured using a cone/plate viscometer, in particular using a Haake R600 rheometer or an analogous device.

The term "anhydrous composition" is understood here to mean a composition containing less than <NUM>% by weight of water, and more preferentially less than <NUM>% by weight of water, with respect to the total weight of the composition. Preferably, the anhydrous composition does not contain water added during the preparation of the composition, the only water present originating from the residual water contributed by the mixed ingredients. More preferentially still, the anhydrous composition is devoid of water.

The cosmetic product, when it consists of an anhydrous composition, advantageously comprises one or more natural or synthetic oils.

The natural oils can be chosen from mineral oils and vegetable oils. The mineral oils can be chosen from mixtures of hydrocarbon oils derived from petroleum, volatile or non-volatile liquid paraffin, liquid petrolatum or polyolefins. The natural oils can be chosen from vegetable oils, being preferably chosen from triglyceride vegetable oils.

The synthetic oils can be chosen from silicone oils, preferably from volatile or non-volatile and linear, branched or cyclic silicone oils which are optionally organomodified. The term "silicone" is understood to mean compounds comprising one or more silicon atoms in their structure.

When anhydrous, the cosmetic product can comprise one or more silicone oils, preferably in a content of between <NUM>% and <NUM>% by weight, with respect to the total weight of the product.

When it is anhydrous and comprises at least one oil, the cosmetic product advantageously comprises one or more oils in a content ranging from <NUM>% to <NUM>%, preferably from <NUM>% to <NUM>%, more preferentially from <NUM>% to <NUM>%, better still from <NUM>% to <NUM>% and even better still from <NUM>% to <NUM>% by weight, with respect to the total weight of the product.

The cosmetic product can also comprise one or more ingredients chosen from natural or synthetic waxes, cationic, non-ionic, anionic or amphoteric non-silicone polymers, UV-screening agents, dyes, surfactants, pigments, preservatives and fragrances.

Preferably, the applicator is attached to the reservoir in a leaktight fashion. The leaktightness can be provided by any means, in particular by a leaktight seal.

The applicator can comprise a body delimiting a housing formed at least partially by two opposite walls and a bottom, and opening towards the outside by an opening, the application member being partially held in the housing of the body and extending partially out of the housing, through the opening of the body. Preferably, the body of the application member extends out of the reservoir when the applicator is attached to the reservoir. For example, the body is supported, preferably in a leaktight fashion, against a support. Preferably, the part of the application member projecting from the body of the application member extends into the reservoir by an opening of the reservoir when the applicator is attached to the reservoir to come into contact with the cosmetic product contained in the reservoir. Preferably, the opening of the reservoir has a shape substantially identical to that of the application surface.

Preferably, all of the part of the application member projecting from the body of the application member is in the reservoir when the applicator is attached to the reservoir. This makes it possible in particular to protect the application member, except for use of the applicator, from the outside world. This is because, when the application member is not used, the user can attach it to the reservoir in order in particular to close the reservoir, to protect the cosmetic product and the application member from the outside world and to refill the application member.

Preferably, the applicator comprises a body in which the application member partially extends. The application member comprises an application surface, extending outside of the body, and configured to be brought into contact with the hair when the applicator is removably attached to the corresponding receiving zone of the hair treatment device, the application surface extending in the reservoir when the applicator is attached to the reservoir.

The applicator comprises an attachment relief configured to engage with a complementary relief of the corresponding receiving zone of the hair treatment device.

Preferably, the attachment relief is configured to be fixed to the corresponding receiving zone of the hair treatment device by sliding in or on the complementary relief of the corresponding receiving zone of the hair treatment device.

Preferably, the reservoir initially contains an amount of cosmetic product which is more than three times greater, better still more than five times greater, even better still more than seven times greater, than the amount of cosmetic product transferred to the application member during the refilling of the latter by the reservoir. This makes it possible to have a sufficient amount of cosmetic product in the reservoir to refill the applicator several times. Preferably, the reservoir initially contains an amount of cosmetic product of between <NUM> and <NUM>, better still between <NUM> and <NUM>.

Preferably, the reservoir comprises a storage member made of a porous material containing the cosmetic product, the application member coming into contact with the storage member when the applicator is attached to the reservoir. This makes it possible to have a storage of the cosmetic product in the reservoir which limits the escapes of cosmetic product to the outside of the reservoir, which makes the latter easier to handle.

The storage member preferably has a lower density than the density of the application member. This makes it possible for the porous material of the application member to absorb the cosmetic product contained in the storage member by capillary action without any external action of the user being necessary.

Preferably, the density of the storage member is of between <NUM>/cm<NUM> and <NUM>/cm<NUM>, better still of between <NUM>/cm<NUM> and <NUM>/cm<NUM>.

The volume of the storage member can be substantially equal to the volume of the reservoir. In an alternative form, the volume of the storage member is less than the volume of the reservoir; the reservoir can then comprise an internal cavity containing an additional supply of cosmetic product closed by the storage member.

Preferably, the application surface is in contact with the cosmetic product into the reservoir when the applicator is attached to the reservoir, notably through the storage member.

Preferably, the application member is configured so that it is refilled to more than <NUM>%, better still more than <NUM>%, even better still more than <NUM>%, of the maximum amount of product which can transfer by capillary action from the reservoir towards the application member if the application member was left for a sufficiently long time in place on the reservoir, in less than <NUM>, better still less than <NUM>, even better still less than <NUM>, when the applicator is attached to the reservoir.

Preferably, the reservoir and/or the applicator comprise members for positioning and/or holding the applicator on the reservoir, in particular positioning and/or snap-fastening reliefs. This makes it easier in particular to position the applicator on the reservoir and/or to handle the system when the applicator is attached to the reservoir.

Preferably, the reservoir comprises a blocking member which prevents the applicator from being attached to the hair treatment device when it is attached to the reservoir. The blocking member can in particular extend between the applicator, in particular the body of the latter, and the attachment relief of the applicator, to prevent the attachment relief from engaging with a complementary relief of the device. This can reduce the risk of accidental damage to the applicator and the reservoir.

A further subject-matter of the invention is a method for filling the applicator of the application system as defined above with cosmetic product, which method consists in attaching the applicator to the reservoir so that the cosmetic product contained in the reservoir transfers from the reservoir towards the applicator.

The applicator is as defined in claim <NUM>.

The filling of the application member preferably takes place by capillary action, in particular solely by capillary action. Thus, the filling can take place without any action on the part of the user, such as the actuating of a pump or the crushing of a wall, being necessary.

Preferably, the attaching of the applicator to the reservoir takes place by positioning the application member projecting from the body in an opening of the reservoir. Preferably, the attaching of the applicator takes place by positioning the body of the applicator supported against an external wall of the reservoir and by pressing the body against this support.

Preferably, when the applicator is attached to the reservoir, the application member is in contact with the cosmetic product, in particular in contact with a storage member made of porous material containing the cosmetic product.

A further subject-matter of the invention is a hair treatment device, comprising:.

Preferably, the reservoir is removed from the applicator when the latter is mounted on the arm.

Preferably, the hair treatment device comprises two arms which are movable with respect to each other between a closed-together configuration for the treatment of hair and a spaced-apart configuration for insertion of hair to be treated between the arms.

The device can also comprise, on at least one of the arms, at least one heating element.

The device preferably constitutes a hair straightener, in particular a straightening iron.

According to another aspect, the invention relates to a hair treatment method comprising the stage consisting in applying a cosmetic product to a lock of hair using the device according to the invention.

A better understanding of the invention will be able to be obtained on reading the detailed description which will follow of non-limiting exemplary embodiments thereof, and on examining the appended drawing, in which:.

In the continuation of the description, elements which are identical or with identical functions carry the same reference sign. For the purposes of conciseness of the present description, they are not described for each of the figures, only the main differences between the embodiments being described.

A handpiece <NUM> of an example of a hair treatment device <NUM> has been represented in <FIG>.

This handpiece <NUM> exhibits two jaws <NUM> and <NUM> which are movable with respect to each other between a spaced-apart configuration (not represented) for the introduction between them of a lock of hair and a closed-together configuration, represented in <FIG>, for the treatment of the lock of hair.

The jaws <NUM> and <NUM> are carried by an upper arm <NUM> and a lower arm <NUM>, respectively, which, in the example in question, are connected together at one end by an articulation <NUM>, the handpiece <NUM> thus forming tongs.

The upper arm <NUM> and lower arm <NUM> each preferably have a total length of between <NUM> and <NUM> and define, between the articulation <NUM> and the jaws <NUM> and <NUM>, respective half-handles <NUM> and <NUM> on which the user can press to bring the jaws <NUM> and <NUM> together.

An elastic return member (not visible) is preferably provided to return the jaws <NUM> and <NUM> to the spaced-apart configuration, this elastic return member being, for example, a spring positioned around an axle of the articulation <NUM>.

The invention is not limited to a particular way of connecting the upper arm <NUM> and the lower arm <NUM> together and the jaws <NUM> and <NUM> can be rendered movable in another way without departing from the scope of the present invention. However, the presence of an articulation is greatly preferred for the ergonomics which it contributes.

The jaws <NUM> and <NUM> define between them a region for treatment of the hair which is intended to receive a lock of hair to be treated, along which the handpiece <NUM> is moved during the treatment, for example in the direction ranging from the root to the end of the hairs.

In the example in question, the handpiece <NUM> is configured to apply a cosmetic product, to provide a treatment of the hair by steam and then to carry out a heat treatment of the hair by contact with two hot surfaces of heating elements <NUM> and <NUM>, respectively carried by the upper arm <NUM> and the lower arm <NUM>.

The direction D of movement of the handpiece <NUM> over the hair, illustrated in <FIG>, is preferably substantially perpendicular to the upper arm <NUM> and the lower arm <NUM> and to the longitudinal axis of the device.

The handpiece <NUM> is connected by a line <NUM>, in the example in question, to a base station (not shown) which is fixed during the treatment and is connected to the mains.

This base station provides electric power to the handpiece <NUM> and also its supply of water for the purpose of the generation of steam, and can also carry out additional functions of processing electrical signals received from the handpiece <NUM>. The line <NUM> which connects the handpiece <NUM> to the base station can thus comprise various electrical conductors and a water supply pipe.

A user interface (not represented in the figures) can be present on the handpiece <NUM> to allow the user, for example, to start up or not start up certain components of the latter.

The cosmetic product is applied by an applicator <NUM> carried by one of the two arms, <NUM> or <NUM>, in this instance the upper arm <NUM>, which comes into contact with a pressing element <NUM>. The latter is removable.

The applicator <NUM> comprises a body <NUM> and an application member <NUM> positioned so as to come into contact with the hair extending through the treatment region.

The applicator <NUM> can be attached to the arm <NUM> or <NUM> by any means, in particular, as illustrated in <FIG>, by sliding a rib <NUM> of the body <NUM> into a groove of complementary shape of the handpiece <NUM>. As illustrated in <FIG>, the rib <NUM> can be the same as that of the refill with cosmetic product for a hair treatment device described in International Application <CIT> incorporated as reference, that is to say comprising two profiled elements 25a and 25b defining a space between them. At least one of the profiled elements 25a and 25b can comprise a positioning finger, visible in <FIG>, at its rear end, facilitating the positioning of the applicator <NUM> on the handpiece <NUM>. The profiled elements 25a and 25b can be of half -T shape and can each form a space <NUM> with the body <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the body <NUM> exhibits a cavity <NUM> which opens towards the outside by an opening <NUM> into which the application member <NUM> is inserted, along an insertion axis X, during the manufacture of the applicator <NUM>. More specifically, the cavity <NUM> is formed at least partially by two opposite side walls <NUM>, <NUM>, parallel to the longitudinal axis of the handpiece <NUM>, and a bottom <NUM> of the body <NUM>. The application member <NUM> is partially held in the cavity <NUM> and extends partially out of the latter, through the opening <NUM>. The body <NUM> can comprise coupling reliefs (not represented) extending into the cavity <NUM>.

The body <NUM> substantially exhibits an elongated shape along the longitudinal axis of the handpiece <NUM>. In cross section, the body <NUM> exhibits a U shape, as illustrated in <FIG>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the application member <NUM> can have the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped. The application member <NUM> then exhibits a substantially flat application surface <NUM> intended to come into contact with the hair to be treated. The dimensions of the application member <NUM> are, for example, <NUM> x <NUM> x <NUM>, the application surface <NUM> intended to be in contact with the hair having, for example, dimensions of <NUM> x <NUM>.

The application member <NUM> is porous. It comprises, for example, a mixture of <NUM>% of polyethylene and <NUM>% of polypropylene, by weight.

The material constituting the application member <NUM> can comprise a felt, in particular is a felt. The fibres of the felt can be oriented parallel to the surface of the lock of hair to be treated, the fibres being preferably oriented substantially along a longitudinal direction of the application member <NUM>, perpendicularly to the direction D of passage over the hair. According to one alternative form, the fibres of the felt of the application member are oriented perpendicularly to the surface of the lock of hair to be treated, thus perpendicularly to the direction D and to the longitudinal direction of the application member <NUM>.

The density of the porous material constituting the application member <NUM> is preferably of between <NUM> and <NUM>/cm<NUM>, for example equal to <NUM>/cm<NUM>. The maximum amount of cosmetic product which can be contained in the application member <NUM> is, for example, of between <NUM> and <NUM>, for example substantially equal to <NUM>.

As mentioned above, the applicator <NUM> is removable and can be separated from the handpiece <NUM>. When the applicator <NUM> is split from the handpiece <NUM>, it can be attached to a reservoir <NUM> which is associated with it, the reservoir <NUM> and the applicator forming an applicator system <NUM>.

The reservoir <NUM> comprises a body <NUM> delimiting a cavity <NUM> containing a storage member <NUM> made of a porous material containing the cosmetic product.

The storage member <NUM> substantially fills the cavity <NUM> and is impregnated with cosmetic product. In an alternative form, the volume of the storage member <NUM> is less than the volume of the cavity <NUM>. The reservoir <NUM> can then comprise an internal cavity containing an additional supply of cosmetic product, closed by the storage member <NUM>, so that the cosmetic product impregnates the application member <NUM> through the storage member <NUM> which is in contact with the application member <NUM>.

The storage member <NUM> can comprise a mixture of <NUM>% of polyethylene and <NUM>% of polypropylene, by weight. The material constituting the storage member <NUM> can be a felt. The fibres of the felt can be oriented parallel to those of the application member <NUM> when it is inserted into the reservoir, the fibres being preferably oriented substantially along a longitudinal direction of the storage member. According to one alternative form, the fibres of the felt of the storage member are oriented perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction of the storage member <NUM>.

The density of the porous material constituting the storage member <NUM> is preferably lower than that of the porous material constituting the application member <NUM>. Preferably, the density of the porous material constituting the storage member <NUM> is of between <NUM> and <NUM>/cm<NUM>, for example equal to <NUM>/cm<NUM>. The amount of cosmetic product contained in the storage member <NUM> is such that it makes it possible to fill the application member <NUM> by capillary action at least once, the amount of cosmetic product which it contains being greater than the amount of cosmetic product transferred to the application member <NUM>. Preferably, the amount of cosmetic product contained in the storage member <NUM> is such that it makes it possible to fill the application member <NUM> by capillary action several times. For example, the storage member <NUM> makes it possible to refill the application member <NUM> at least eight times. The maximum amount of cosmetic product which can be contained in the storage member <NUM> can be of between <NUM> and <NUM>, for example substantially equal to <NUM>.

The cavity <NUM> opens towards the outside by an opening <NUM>. The opening <NUM> has a size such that, during the attaching of the applicator <NUM> to the reservoir <NUM>, the application member <NUM> fits into the cavity <NUM> to come into contact with the storage member <NUM> in the cavity and at the same time the body <NUM> fits into a neck <NUM> of the reservoir to come, over the whole of its lower circumference, against an applicator support <NUM> at the base of the neck <NUM>. Preferably, the support <NUM> forms a leaktight connection with the body <NUM>. The support <NUM> can comprise an elastically deformable material forming a leaktight seal. In an alternative form, the body <NUM> comprises an elastically deformable material forming a leaktight seal at its junction with the support <NUM>.

Preferably, as illustrated in <FIG>, the neck <NUM> is configured to fit between the rib <NUM> and the body <NUM>, in particular in the space <NUM> formed between the lower profiled element 25b and the body <NUM>, so as to prevent the applicator <NUM> from being mounted on the handpiece <NUM> when the applicator <NUM> is attached to the reservoir <NUM>.

Preferably, the body <NUM> of the reservoir completely conceals the projecting part of the application member <NUM> when the applicator <NUM> is attached to the reservoir <NUM>. The reservoir <NUM> then forms a cap for the application member <NUM>, making it possible to protect the latter from the outside world when the applicator <NUM> is attached to the reservoir and thus not used.

Preferably, the storage member <NUM> has a greater volume than that of the application member <NUM>.

Preferably, the reservoir <NUM> and the body <NUM> comprise complementary reliefs for holding the applicator <NUM> on the reservoir <NUM>. For example, as illustrated, the reservoir <NUM> can comprise projecting positioning and/or snap-fastening reliefs <NUM> which will be positioned and/or snap-fastened in corresponding reliefs of the body <NUM>.

Between two applications of cosmetic product, the user can attach the applicator <NUM> to the reservoir <NUM>. The application member <NUM> then comes into contact with the storage member <NUM> and is refilled by capillary action with cosmetic product contained in the storage member <NUM>. The refilling to more than <NUM>%, better still more than <NUM>%, of the application member <NUM> with cosmetic product preferably takes place in less than <NUM>. Once the application member <NUM> is impregnated with cosmetic product, the user can separate the applicator <NUM> from the reservoir <NUM> to mount it on the handpiece and to use it again. This refilling can be carried out as many times as the reservoir contains an amount of cosmetic product greater than the amount transferred to the application member <NUM> to fill it to more than <NUM>%, better still to more than <NUM>%.

The user can also remove the applicator <NUM> from the handpiece <NUM> to attach it to the reservoir <NUM> between two uses separated in time. This makes it possible to protect the application member <NUM> and the cosmetic product from the outside world, which increases the longevity of the applicator by limiting in particular the evaporation and/or the contamination by the external environment of the cosmetic product, while refilling the application member <NUM> with cosmetic product.

When the reservoir <NUM> no longer contains sufficient cosmetic product to refill the application member <NUM>, the applicator system <NUM> can be changed, or the reservoir <NUM> refilled with product from a bottle, for example.

To produce the graphs illustrated in <FIG>, a device such as that illustrated in <FIG> and an applicator system such as that illustrated in <FIG> were used. In this example, the application member <NUM> comprises fibres oriented substantially along a longitudinal direction of the application member, parallel to the surface on which the cosmetic product is applied. It is formed of felt comprising a mixture of <NUM>% of polyethylene and <NUM>% of polypropylene at a density of <NUM>/cm<NUM>.

The storage member <NUM> comprises fibres oriented substantially along a longitudinal direction of the storage member, parallel to the fibres of the application member. It is formed of felt comprising a mixture of <NUM>% of polyethylene and <NUM>% of polypropylene at a density of <NUM>/cm<NUM>. The storage member <NUM> initially contains <NUM> of cosmetic product, which makes possible at least eight fillings of the application member <NUM>.

The cosmetic product comprises the ingredients shown in the table below. The concentrations are expressed as percentages by weight of active materials in the product.

This anhydrous cosmetic product has a viscosity of <NUM> centipoises at <NUM>.

The application member filled with cosmetic product is mounted via the applicator on the handpiece and is passed <NUM> times over <NUM>/m<NUM> paper strips from the manufacturer Clairefontaine. Each strip measures <NUM> in length and <NUM> in width. A force of 35N +/-<NUM> is applied by the arms of the handpiece to each strip at each pass and the application member is moved over the strip with a speed of approximately <NUM>/s.

The weight of cosmetic product deposited on each strip at each pass is measured. The measurements at each pass of the application member over the paper are carried out after each filling of the application member with cosmetic product by the reservoir, the application member being filled eight times by attaching the applicator to the reservoir and by leaving it in place for <NUM> minutes. At the same time, the percentage of filling of the application member is measured as a function of the time spent by the applicator on the reservoir.

The measurements of the weight of cosmetic product deposited on the strip W at each pass N are reproduced in the graph of <FIG>. The different curves each correspond to the measurements after one filling, curve <NUM> corresponding to the measurements carried out after the first filling, curve <NUM> corresponding to the measurements carried out after the second filling, and so on.

The measurements of the percentage of filling of the application member A as a function of the attachment time of the applicator to the reservoir t at each filling are reproduced in the graph of <FIG>, curve <NUM> corresponding to the measurements carried out during the first filling, curve <NUM> corresponding to the measurements carried out during the second filling, and so on.

It is found, on the graph of <FIG>, that the curves are substantially identical, which clearly illustrates that the filling of the application member as described above makes possible a substantially identical application of the cosmetic product on the paper for at least eight fillings of the application member.

It is found, on the graph of <FIG>, that the application member is filled to more than <NUM>% with cosmetic product in less than <NUM>, in particular in less than <NUM>, this being the case whatever the number of fillings already carried out, and that the filling curve is substantially identical from one filling to another.

The invention is not limited to the examples which have just been described.

The attachment of the applicator to the handpiece can be carried out by any other means, in particular by snap-fastening or by magnetic attraction.

The reservoir can be devoid of storage member made of a porous material.

Claim 1:
Applicator system (<NUM>) for a hair treatment device, comprising:
- a reservoir (<NUM>) containing a cosmetic product,
- an applicator (<NUM>) comprising a body (<NUM>) in which an application member (<NUM>) made of a porous material partially extends, the applicator (<NUM>) being arranged to be removably attached to the reservoir (<NUM>) so that the application member (<NUM>) comes into contact with the cosmetic product contained in the reservoir (<NUM>) and is refilled with cosmetic product, the applicator (<NUM>) being configured to be removably attached, after separation from the reservoir (<NUM>), to a corresponding receiving zone of the hair treatment device,
the amount of cosmetic product initially contained in the reservoir (<NUM>) being greater than the amount of cosmetic product transferred to the application member (<NUM>) during the refilling of the latter by the reservoir (<NUM>),
the application member (<NUM>) comprises an application surface (<NUM>), extending outside of the body (<NUM>), and configured to be brought into contact with the hair when the applicator (<NUM>) is removably attached to the corresponding receiving zone of the hair treatment device, the application surface (<NUM>) extending in the reservoir (<NUM>) when the applicator (<NUM>) is attached to the reservoir,
the applicator (<NUM>) comprising an attachment relief (<NUM>) configured to engage with a complementary relief of the corresponding receiving zone of the hair treatment device (<NUM>).