Title: Applicator for applying a product to human keratin materials

Technical field

The present invention relates to applicators for applying a cosmetic, makeup or care, product to human keratin materials, in particular the nails, the skin, the lips, or the eyelashes and/or eyebrows, in particular mascara, and to packaging and application devices having a container containing the product to be applied and the applicator.

Prior art

The applicators used for making up the eyelashes or eyebrows usually have an applicator member mounted at the end of a stem. The applicator member is generally fixed to the stem by force-fitting, with the stem being clamped from the outside at one or more points which may then be visible from outside the stem; this is unattractive and may cause problems during the wiping of the applicator.

It is also possible to hold the applicator member in the stem by snap-fitting, by providing in the stem an annular ring with a small relief, as a result of the constraints of fixing and molding the stem.

Fixing by snap-fitting is known for example from the application US 2017/0181524, wherein the stem has an annular ring.

In the international application WO 2020/107711, the applicator member has a sponge and is fixed in the stem by being snap-fitted over a circular rib.

In the application FR 2995768, the applicator member made of metal or ceramic is clip-fastened in a blind hole in the stem over an annular ring.

Lastly, in the patent KR 100768937, there is clip-fastening in a blind hole in the stem, via a right-angled annular ring.

The retention of the applicator member in the stem may be insufficient in these various cases.

There exists a need to further improve applicators for applying a product to the eyelashes and/or eyebrows, in order to make them easier to manufacture and to improve their solidity, and more particularly to enable a possible change of the applicator member. Summary of the invention

The invention aims to meet this need and the subject thereof, according to a first of its aspects, is an applicator for applying a product P, in particular to the eyelashes and/or eyebrows, having:

- a stem extending along a longitudinal axis X, having a first end having a hollow portion in which flexible tongues are provided, and

- an applicator member fixed to the first end of the stem, the applicator member having a core bearing in particular spikes, the core being continued at a proximal end by an end piece that serves for fixing the applicator member in the stem, the end piece having a shape intended to cooperate with the flexible tongue or tongues provided in the hollow portion of the stem.

The applicator according to the invention benefits advantageously from an assembly of the applicator member on the stem that is both simple and secure. Specifically, it allows the applicator member to be introduced into the stem without particular effort and allows satisfactory integrity of this assembly. The applicator member can be said to be snap- fitted in the stem.

It is easier to manufacture the stem and the applicator member is mounted at the end of the stem without effort, while providing a strong hold.

It is even possible for the mounting to be carried out by the user himself, with a possibility of customizing the applicator member, for example with a choice to be made from several applicator members.

Moreover, the stem may be smooth on its outer surface, having neither a relief nor a recess, this being more aesthetic and allowing extraction without a sticking point of the applicator through the wiper with which it is associated.

The applicator may be configured to allow the application of a cosmetic, makeup or care, product for example to the nails, the skin, the lips, or to the eyelashes and/or eyebrows, in particular mascara.

Disclosure of the invention

The flexible tongue or tongues may be attached to a wall of the stem by a first end.

The flexible tongue or tongues may have a second free end. The first end of the flexible tongue or tongues may be attached to the wall of the stem at a distance d from the first end of the stem. The distance d may in particular be between 0 mm and 30 mm, or even between 0 mm and 10 mm, better still between 0 mm and 5 mm, being for example 3 mm.

The flexible tongue or tongues may not extend perpendicularly to a wall of the stem.

When viewed in longitudinal section of the applicator, the flexible tongue or tongues may not be symmetric with respect to a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis X of the stem.

The flexible tongue or tongues may be oriented such that their free end extends away from the first end of the stem.

The flexible tongue or tongues may have a length of between 0.5 mm and 10 mm, better still between 0.5 mm and 5 mm, or even between 0.5 mm and 2 mm, for example 1.2 mm. The length is measured in a direction of elongation of the tongue, between its first end for attachment to the wall of the stem and its second free end.

The applicator may have a single flexible tongue exhibiting circular symmetry, in particular having the shape of a cone of revolution. Said cone of revolution may have an axis of symmetry which is coincident with the longitudinal axis X of the stem.

The applicator may have a single flexible tongue having the shape of a cone of revolution that exhibits an angle of between 1° and 40°, or even between 5° and 30°, better still between 10° and 20°, for example 15°, with respect to the longitudinal axis X of the stem.

In one embodiment variant, the applicator may have a plurality of flexible tongues disposed in particular in a circle about the longitudinal axis X of the stem. The stem may have between 1 and 10 flexible tongues, in particular between 2 and 8, for example 2, 4 or 6 flexible tongues. The number of flexible tongues may for example be even or, in a variant, odd.

The end piece of the core may have a dovetailed shape.

The end piece of the core may be delimited by a circular groove provided in the core of the applicator member. The circular groove may have flanks, in particular a first flank and a second flank. The first flank may be situated next to the end piece, closer to a proximal end of the core, and the second flank may be situated closer to the rest of the core, closer to a distal end of the core.

The “proximal end” of the core is understood to be the end of the core by which the applicator member is attached to the stem. The “distal end” of the core is understood to be the end of the core that remains free.

A first flank of the groove may extend in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis X of the stem. In a variant, the first flank of the groove may advantageously extend in a plane inclined at a non-zero angle, in particular at a maximum angle of 10°, for example around 5°, in the direction of the distal end of the core of the applicator member, with respect to the plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis X of the stem. By virtue of these provisions, the coupling of the flexible tongues of the stem in the groove of the applicator member is reinforced, so as to further improve the reliability of the fixing of the applicator member to the stem. A second flank of the groove may extend over a surface in the shape of a cone of revolution, forming an angle of between 1° and 40°, or even between 5° and 30°, better still between 10° and 20°, for example 15°, with respect to the longitudinal axis X of the stem.

The angle formed by the second flank may be substantially equal, or even equal, to an angle of inclination of the flexible tongues or of the abovementioned cone of revolution. A flat-on-flat assembly is thus obtained, which further improves the assembly.

The invention relates more particularly to applicators made of plastics material, in particular by injection molding. The applicator member may be made of thermoplastic material, in particular by injection molding. The stem may be made of thermoplastic material, in particular by injection molding.

The stem may be hollow along at least a part of its length along its longitudinal axis comprising the first end. The stem may be completely hollow along its entire length along its longitudinal axis. Such a configuration of the stem makes it easier to mold and demold, and in particular makes it easier to manufacture the deformable tongue or tongues.

The longitudinal axis X of the stem may be rectilinear.

The applicator member may extend along a longitudinal axis Y of the core. The longitudinal axis Y of the core may be rectilinear.

The applicator may also have a gripping member disposed at a second end of the stem. The second end of the stem may be at the opposite end from its first end. A further subject of the invention is a packaging and application device having an applicator as defined above and a container containing the product P to be applied. The product P may be a cosmetic, makeup or care, product intended to be applied for example to the nails, the skin, the lips, or to the eyelashes and/or eyebrows, in particular mascara.

The gripping member of the applicator may serve to close the container. The gripping member and the container may be configured such that the closure is sealed.

Brief description of the drawings

The invention may be understood better from reading the following detailed description of a nonlimiting illustrative embodiment thereof and from studying the appended drawing, in which:

[Fig 1] Figure 1 schematically shows, in partial longitudinal section, an example of a packaging and application device according to the invention.

[Fig 2] Figure 2 is a partial perspective view of the applicator in figure 1.

[Fig 3] Figure 3 is a partial perspective view of the applicator member in figure 1.

[Fig 4] Figure 4 is a partial and schematic side view of the applicator member in figure 1.

[Fig 5] Figure 5 is a partial and schematic perspective view of the stem in figure 1.

[Fig 6] Figure 6 is a schematic and partial substantially frontal view of the stem in figure 1.

[Fig 7] Figure 7 is a partial and schematic side view of the applicator in figure 1.

[Fig 8] Figure 8 is a schematic and partial cross-sectional view of the applicator in figure 1.

Detailed description

Figure 1 illustrates a packaging and application device 1 having a container 3 containing a product P to be applied and an applicator 2 for applying it. In this example, the container 3 has a neck 4 that receives a wiping member 6, in a manner known per se. The wiping member 6 is for example snap-fitted in the neck 4 or fixed in the latter by any other means.

The wiping member 6 is for example a wiping member having a wiping lip 6a made of elastomer, the inside diameter of which corresponds substantially to the outside diameter of the stem 7.

In a variant, with the stem of the applicator according to the invention not having a recessed or protruding relief on its outer surface, the wiping member may advantageously have a stiff wiping lip 6a, made in particular from a material exhibiting stiffness greater than that of an elastomer material, the inside diameter of which corresponds substantially to the outside diameter of the stem 7. The employment of such a wiping member having a stiff wiping lip is particularly advantageous in the scope of its association with an applicator member 10 having greater flexibility in the direction of the longitudinal axis X of the stem, this being reflected by a capacity of the applicator members, in particular the spikes 18 borne by the applicator member 10, to bend easily on passing through the wiping lip 6a. By virtue of these provisions, the applicator is extracted from the reservoir equipped with the wiping member with flexibility by the user, who only feels limited resistance to this extraction movement, without any sticking point while the stem is passing through the wiping lip.

The applicator 2 has a gripping member 5, which also forms a closure cap for the container 3, and bears a stem 7, which extends along a longitudinal axis X and is provided at its first end 9, at the opposite end from the gripping member 5, with an applicator member 10, as illustrated in figure 2.

In the example illustrated, the stem 7 has a circular cross section but if the stem 7 has some other section, this does not represent a departure from the scope of the present invention.

Preferably, and as in the example in question, the longitudinal axis X of the stem 7 is rectilinear and coincident with the longitudinal axis of the container 3 when the application device 2 is in place thereon, but if the stem 7 is not rectilinear, forming for example an elbow, this does not represent a departure from the scope of the present invention. If need be, the stem 7 may have an annular narrowing in its portion that is positioned next to the lip of the wiping member 6 when the applicator 2 is fixed to the container 3, so as not to mechanically stress the latter unduly during storage.

Moreover, the stem may be smooth on its outer surface, having neither a relief nor a recess, this being more aesthetic and making it easier to wipe the applicator.

In the example described, the stem 7 is completely hollow along its entire length along its longitudinal axis X. It thus has, at its first end 9, a hollow portion 19 in which flexible tongues 20 are provided, there being four thereof in the example described. The flexible tongues 20 are disposed in particular in a circle about the longitudinal axis X of the stem.

The applicator member 10, shown on its own in figure 3, is fixed to the first end 9 of the stem. It has a core 11 bearing spikes 18, and extends along a longitudinal axis Y of the core, which is rectilinear in the example described.

The longitudinal axis Y is preferably an axis of symmetry for the core, better still for the applicator member as a whole.

The core 10 may have a cross section that varies or does not vary along its longitudinal axis. In the example described, the part of the core 10 that bears the spikes has a frustoconical overall shape with a diameter that decreases toward the distal end of the applicator member 10.

The length H of the applicator member 10 is for example between 15 mm and 30 mm, in particular when the applicator member is intended for the application of a makeup and/or care product to the eyelashes and/or eyebrows, such as a mascara. In a variant, the length H of the applicator member 10 is for example between 5 mm and 20 mm, in particular when the applicator member is intended for the application of a makeup and/or care product to the lips, such as a gloss, a balm or the like.

The applicator member 10 is made of thermoplastic material, preferably by injection molding, but the invention is not limited to a particular way of producing the applicator member. The spikes 18 may be molded with the core 11, from the same material or from a different material. The spikes 18 are organized in rows on the core 11, as can be seen in figure 3, and, in the example in question, extend all around the latter.

The core of the applicator member 10 is continued at a proximal end 14 of the core by an end piece 13, as illustrated in figure 4. This end piece 13 serves to fix the applicator member 10 in the stem 7, more specifically in the hollow portion 19 of the stem 7. The end piece 13 has a shape intended to cooperate with the flexible tongues 20 provided in the hollow portion 19 of the stem 7, as can be seen in figures 5 and 6.

The end piece 13 of the core 11 has a dovetailed shape, and is delimited by a circular groove 15 provided in the core of the applicator member.

The circular groove 15 has flanks, in particular a first flank 15a and a second flank 15b. The first flank 15a is situated next to the end piece 13, closer to the proximal end 14 of the core 11, and the second flank 15b is situated closer to the rest of the core, closer to a distal end 16 of the core.

The first flank 15a of the groove 15 extends in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis X of the stem. The second flank 15b of the groove 15 extends over a surface in the shape of a cone of revolution, forming an angle of for example around 15°, with the longitudinal axis X of the stem.

In a variant, the first flank 15a of the groove 15 may advantageously extend in a plane inclined at a non-zero angle, in particular at a maximum angle of 10°, for example around 5°, in the direction of the distal end 16 of the core 11 of the applicator member 10, with respect to the plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis X of the stem 7. By virtue of these provisions, the coupling of the flexible tongues 20 of the stem 7 in the groove 15 of the applicator member 10 is reinforced, so as to further improve the reliability of the fixing of the applicator member 10 to the end of the stem 7.

The angle formed by the second flank may be substantially equal, if not equal, to an angle of inclination of the flexible tongues 20. A flat-on-flat assembly is thus obtained, which further improves the assembly, as illustrated in figure 8.

The flexible tongues 20 are attached to a wall of the stem 7 by a first end 21, at a distance d from the first end 9 of the stem. The distance d may in particular be around 3 mm.

The flexible tongues 20 have a second free end 22 and are oriented such that their free end 22 extends away from the first end 9 of the stem 7, as can be seen in figures 7 and 8.

In this example, the flexible tongues 20 have a length I of around 1.2 mm. The length is measured in a direction of elongation of the tongue, between its first end 21 for attachment to the wall of the stem and its second free end 22. During the assembly of the applicator member 10 on the first end 9 of the stem 7, the proximal end 14 of the applicator member is inserted into the hollow portion 19 of the stem 7, causing the flexible tongue or tongues 20 to bend in the radial direction.

On continuing the insertion movement of the end piece 13 of the applicator member toward the proximal end of the stem 7, the free end 22 of each flexible tongue 20 is located next to the groove 15 provided in the end piece 13 of the applicator member 10, inside which the flexible tongue or tongues 20 come to fit by elastic return.

In the assembled position of the applicator member 10 in the stem 7, the free end 22 of each flexible tongue 20 is located in the axial direction X next to the first flank 15a of the groove 15, which thus forms a clean stop that cooperates with the free end 22 of each flexible tongue 20 in order to prevent the extraction of the applicator member 10 out of the stem 7 along the longitudinal axis and the separation of these two elements.

Needless to say, the invention is not limited to the examples that have just been described.

The applicator could, in a variant, have a single flexible tongue exhibiting circular symmetry, in particular having the shape of a cone of revolution, having for example an axis of symmetry that is coincident with the longitudinal axis X of the stem.

Furthermore, the orientations of the spikes and their distribution on the core, and their disposition in the rows, may vary within variants that are not illustrated.

The applicator member may be manufactured by a technique other than injection molding, and from a material other than a thermoplastic material, if need be.