The present invention generally relates to applicators for cosmetic products, notably for nail varnish.

More specifically, the invention according to a first aspect relates to an applicator for a cosmetic product, of the type comprising:

- a stem;

- a tuft of bristles bound to the stem, the tuft being folded around a folding line so as to form first and second bundles substantially parallel to each other.

FR 2 882 234 describes such an applicator for an application of the French manicure type. The bundles of bristles have a profile with a bevel cut, so as to allow deposition of a stroke of product with a regular intensity on the skin or the nails. On the other hand, this profile is poorly adapted for treating the totality of the surface of the nail.

US 6,312,182 describes an applicator with two tufts independent of each other. The mounting of an applicator of this type is relatively complex, since both tufts have to be mounted separately on the stem.

FR 2 903 869 describes an applicator for an application of the French manicure type in which the tuft of bristles is replaced with a material of the elastomeric type, with a notch delimiting two facing application surfaces, intended for applying the product on two faces of the nail. This type of applicator is not suitable for a different application of French manicure.

In this context, the invention aims at proposing an applicator which is convenient to manufacture and which allows qualitative finishing in one pass.

For this purpose, the invention deals with an applicator of the aforementioned type, characterized in that the tuft in the developed condition has a longitudinally elongated shape and has first and second longitudinal ends opposite each other, the folding line being shifted longitudinally relatively to a middle line longitudinally located at an equal distance from the first and second ends.

Thus, once the tuft is folded, the applicator has stepped ends. More specifically, both longitudinal ends of the tuft are shifted relatively to each other. The second bundle protrudes beyond the first bundle, along a direction substantially parallel to that of the stem. Thus, the tuft has a more tapered portion, formed by the portion of the second bundle which protrudes beyond the first bundle. By applying the cosmetic product, notably a nail varnish, via this more tapered portion, it is possible to obtain good rendering of the cosmetic product. Moreover, the tuft also has a less tapered portion, corresponding to the portion where the first and second bundles are facing each other. This portion forms a reserve of cosmetic product, and is able to store a large amount of this cosmetic product.

Thus, the applicator allows a significant load of cosmetic product, in the area where the first and second bundles overlap each other. The user thus has a reserve of cosmetic products, which allows a large surface to be treated without having to reload the applicator. Moreover, the applicator also has a portion where the tuft is tapered, which allows the user to apply the cosmetic product accurately, and to obtain a finish of excellent quality.

Advantageously, in the folded condition of the tuft, the first end is shifted towards the stem relatively to the second end.

The first end therefore forms a shoulder under the second bundle. It is possible to block the edge of the nail to be treated against said shoulder, in abutment. In this situation, the second bundle is applied on the top of the nail, when the applicator is placed in the extension of the finger. It is possible to move the applicator along the edge of the nail, while using this edge as a guiding surface. This allows treatment of the end of the nail with good finishing quality.

Preferably, the tuft has in the developed condition, a determined length, the first end being shifted towards the stem relatively to the second end by a distance greater than 5% of said determined length. The shifting distance is typically comprised between 5 and

30%, preferably between 10 and 25%, and still preferably comprised between 15 and

20%.

Such a shift gives the possibility of obtaining a tapered portion with a sufficient length so as to allow easy and qualitative application of the cosmetic product. Moreover, the non-tapered portion, where both bundles are facing each other, is sufficiently large so as to allow storage of a reserve of cosmetic product allowing treatment of a large surface.

Advantageously, each bristle has first and second free ends opposite to each other and respectively integrated into the first and second ends of the tuft, the tuft having in the developed condition a determined length, the first free end of each bristle being shifted towards the stem relatively to the second free end of said bristle by a distance greater than 5% of said determined length. Typically, the shifting distance is comprised between 5 and 30% of the determined length, preferably comprised between 10 and 25%, and still preferably between 15 and 20%.

Thus, each of the bristles has a portion integrated into the first bundle and a portion integrated into the second bundle. The tapered portion of the tuft therefore has a section equal to substantially half of the non-tapered portion of the tuft. This contributes to allowing both good qualities in the application of the cosmetic product and allowing a significant load of cosmetic product in the tuft of the applicator.

This also contributes to generating a very clear disengagement between the first and second bundles, against which the end of the nail may conveniently abut.

Advantageously, the tuft comprises a means for attaching the bristles to each other at the folding line. This attachment means forms a point around which it is very convenient to fold the tuft so as to form the first and second bundles. This gives the possibility of facilitating and accelerating the operation for folding the tuft, and the mounting of the latter on the stem. There is no risk during the folding operation or during the mounting operation, of dispersing the bristles or their adopting a disordered arrangement.

Preferably, the attachment means is selected from stapling, adhesive bonding, welding, overmolding, die-cutting of the stem. Stapling is more preferred. Such an attachment means is convenient, easy to apply and allows easy attachment of the tuft of bristles onto the stem.

Typically, the stem has at an axial end, a housing into which is engaged a section of the tuft containing the folding line.

With such a housing it is possible to easily create a U-folded tuft. Indeed, after attachment of the bristles to each other at the folding line, it is sufficient to engage the area of the tuft containing the folding line inside the housing so as to achieve in a single operation both attachment of the tuft to the stem and the folding of the tuft i.e. the formation of the first and second bundles.

Such an operation may be achieved with any kinds of stems, the housing having perpendicular to its axial direction, a rectangular or circular or oval section, or any other section.

By developed condition of the tuft of bristles is meant here the condition in which the tuft is found before folding. The different bristles of the tuft are then substantially rectilinear and substantially positioned parallel to each other.

The bristles are typically all of the same length. Alternatively, the bristles may be of different lengths. In this case, by determined length of the tuft is meant the overall length of the tuft in the developed condition, considering all the bristles.

In the developed condition of the tuft, the bristles are arranged so that the first free ends of the bristles are longitudinally all at the same level. Also, if all the bristles have the same longitudinal length, the second free ends of the bristles are longitudinally located at the same level. Thus, there is no developed condition of the tuft with a longitudinal shift between the bristles. Alternatively, it is possible to generate a limited shift between the bristles of the tuft. However, this shift is small as regards the shift of the folding line relatively to the middle line of the tuft. The first free ends of each bristle remain in any case shifted towards the stem by at least 5% of the determined length of the tuft relatively to the second free ends of the bristles, in the folded condition of the tuft.

By folding line is meant here the line around which the tuft of bristles is folded.

This line is generally substantially perpendicular to the bristles when the tuft is in the developed condition. This line of course is not a line without any thickness, and has a certain thickness longitudinally, i.e. parallel to the length of the bristles. It would be possible to designate it also by folding area. In any case, this area or line has a small longitudinal length as compared with the determined longitudinal length of the tuft in the developed condition.

The determined length of the tuft in the developed condition is typically comprised between 10 mm and 100 mm, preferably comprised between 20 and 80 mm and still preferably between 20 and 40 mm.

The bristles used for example have a section with a diameter comprised between

6/100 and 20/000 mm, for example of the order of 8/100 mm.

The bristles may have a section and/or shape either identical or not, either hollow or solid, with ot without grooves, with tapered ends or not, and mixed if necessary.

The bristles may for example be made in one of the following materials: PA, PET, PTFE, PBT, PT, PS, POM, this list not being limiting.

In the non-tapered portion of the tuft, where the first and second bundles are placed facing each other, the tuft has perpendicularly to the axis of the stem, a section substantially corresponding to the section of the housing. In the tapered portion of the tuft, the section of the second bundle is close to the section of the housing, while being slightly deformed.

The stem typically includes an endpiece used for attachment in a plug, this plug being provided for closing the neck of a container containing the cosmetic product. When the plug is placed on the neck of the container, the applicator plunges into the inside the container, the tuft of bristles being immersed in the cosmetic product.

Alternatively, the stem is rigidly attached to a handle containing a reserve of cosmetic product. In this case, the stem is hollow so that the tuft may be supplied with cosmetic product from the handle through the stem.

Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the detailed description thereof which is given below, as an indication but not as a limitation with reference to the appended figures, wherein: - Fig. 1 is a profile view of an applicator according to the invention, only one portion of the stem being illustrated;

- Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the applicator of Fig. 1 ;

- Fig. 3 is a profile view of the applicator of Fig. 1 applied against the nail of a user; - Fig. 4 is a schematic illustration of the tuft of bristles of the applicator of Figs. 1 to

3, in the developed condition, as seen from the top;

- Fig. 5 is a schematic illustration of the tuft of bristles of Fig. 4, after stapling and folding, in a profile view;

- Fig. 6 is a schematic illustration of the tuft of bristles of Fig. 5 after engagement into the inside of the housing of the stem;

- Fig. 7 is a schematic illustration of the first and second ends of the tuft, in an alternative embodiment in which the bristles are slightly shifted relatively to each other; and

- Figs. 8 to 10 are sectional view illustrations of various alternative embodiments of the housing intended to receive the tuft of bristles.

The applicator 1 illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3 is provided for applying a cosmetic product. By cosmetic product is meant a product as defined in the directive of the European Council 93/35 EC as of June 14 ^th 1993.

The cosmetic product is typically a nail varnish. Thus it appears in the form of a viscous liquid.

The cosmetic product may however be of another type, and may be a cream, an oil, a lotion, an emulsion, intended for make-up or for skin care.

The applicator 1 comprises:

- a stem 3 extending along an axial direction X;

- a tuft 5 of bristles 7 bound to the stem 3, the tuft 5 being folded around a folding line, so as to form the first and second bundles 9 and 1 1 substantially parallel to each other.

The tuft 5 is illustrated in its developed condition in Fig. 4. By developed condition is meant the condition of the tuft when it is not folded. The bristles 7 are then arranged substantially parallel to each other. The bristles 7 are substantially rectilinear and extend longitudinally. For example they are all substantially of the same longitudinal length.

As visible in Fig. 4, the tuft 3 in the developed condition has first and second longitudinal ends 13 and 15 opposite to each other. It has a total longitudinal length L from the first longitudinal end 13 up to the second longitudinal end 15. A middle line M is located at an equal distance longitudinally from the ends 13 and 15. The longitudinal length L corresponds to the global bulk of the tuft along the longitudinal direction when considering all the bristles, in a certain situation where all the bristles extend longitudinally and are substantially rectilinear. The folding line P is shifted longitudinally towards the first end 13, by a distance d. d is for example comprised between 15 and 20% of the length L.

Thus, as visible in Fig. 5, in the folded condition of the tuft 3, the first bundle 9 has a shorter axial length than the second. The axial length of the first bundle 9 corresponds to the length from the folding line P up to the first end 13. The axial length of the second bundle 1 1 corresponds to the length from the folding line P up to the second end 15. The axial length difference between the first and second bundles 9 and 1 1 is approximately 2d.

As visible in Fig. 5, the tuft 3 includes a staple 17 attaching the bristles to each other at the folding line P. The staple 17 is positioned around all the bristles and clasps all the bristles so that the latter are blocked against each other.

It is placed on the folding line P, or immediately beside the folding line P.

As visible in Fig. 6, the stem 3 has a first open axial end 19 inside which is made a hollow housing 21 . The housing 21 opens out axially.

A section 23 of the tuft, containing the folding line P is engaged into the inside of the housing. The area of the tuft forming the folding line P and bearing the staple 17 forms an end 25 of the tuft in the folded condition. The section 23 extends from this end 25 over a length comprised between 5 and 20% of the determined length L.

The section 23 is force-fitted into the housing 21 and is thus rigidly attached to the stem 3.

In particular, the staple 17 is in contact with the walls of the housing 21 and cooperates with these walls in order to block the tuft 5 relatively to the stem 3.

As visible in Fig. 6, the tuft 5 has a tapered portion 27 and a non-tapered portion

29. The portion 27 corresponds to the area in which the second bundle 1 1 protrudes axially beyond the first bundle 9. The portion 29 corresponds to the area where both bundles are positioned facing each other. In the portion 29, the first and second bundles 9 and 1 1 overlap. Thus, in the tapered portion 27, the thickness of the tuft 5 is half the thickness in the non-tapered portion 29. By thickness is meant here the dimension along a direction perpendicular both to the axis of the stem and to the folding line.

In the portion 29, the first and second bundles 9 and 1 1 are typically flattened against each other.

The sections of the first and second bundles 9 and 1 1 run with slight flaring from the stem 3 towards the first and second ends 13 and 15. As visible in Fig. 6, in an exemplary embodiment, the first free ends of the bristles 7 all end substantially in a same plane perpendicular to the X axis. Also, the second free ends of the bristles 7 all substantially end up in a same plane perpendicular to the X axis.

Alternatively, as illustrated in Fig. 7, the first ends of the bristles 7 are slightly shifted relatively to each other. In this case, the first end 13 of the tuft 5 for example has a beveled shape. Further, the second free ends of the bristles 1 may be shifted relatively to each other, as illustrated in Fig. 7. In this case, the second end 15 of the tuft may also have a beveled shape. The bevels of the first and second ends may be inclined in the same direction, or be inclined in opposite directions.

As visible in Figs. 8 to 10, the housing 21 may, in a section perpendicularly to the

X axis, have several shapes.

In Fig. 8, the housing 21 has an internal section with a rectangular shape. The section may also be square.

In Fig. 9, the housing 21 has a circular internal section.

In Fig. 10, the housing 21 has an internal section with an oval shape.

The non-tapered portion 29 has a section, taken perpendicularly to the X axis, which substantially corresponds to the internal section of the housing 21 .

The tapered portion 27 has a section, taken perpendicularly to the X axis, substantially corresponding to the section of the housing 21 , with deformation. If the housing is rectangular, the section of the tapered portion will substantially be rectangular. If the housing 21 is of a circular or oval section, the section of the tapered portion 27 will substantially be in the shape of a crescent moon.

The applicator is typically used for depositing nail varnish on a nail 31 of a user. It is normally positioned so that the axis X of the stem is inclined relatively to the surface of the nail 31 , only the tapered portion 27 of the tuft being in contact with the free surface 32 of the nail 31 . The first bundle 9 is located at a distance from the free surface 32 of the nail 31 . Because of the small thickness of the tapered portion 27, the application of the nail varnish is particularly qualitative, even with a single pass over the nail 31 .

In order to treat the edge 33 of the nail, it is also possible to use the applicator as illustrated in Fig. 3, by placing this applicator substantially in the extension of the nail. The first end 13 of the tuft forms an abutment against which the edge 33 of the nail will bear. The second bundle 1 1 bears against the free surface 32 of the nail. More specifically, the second bundle 1 1 bears upon the nail through a lateral surface 35 located beside the first bundle 9. This lateral surface 35 extends beyond the first end 13 up to the second end 15. The applicator is moved along the edge 33 of the nail, while using this edge as a guiding surface. This allows a particularly convenient treatment of the edge of the nail.

The method for manufacturing the applicator will now be described.

The method comprises the following steps:

- obtaining the tuft of bristles 5, this tuft being in the developed condition, i.e. substantially in a condition where the bristles 7 are rectilinear and parallel with each other;

- attaching the bristles 7 to each other, at the folding line P;

- folding the tuft of bristles 5 along the folding line P, so as to form the first and second bundles 9 and 1 1 shifted relatively to each other;

- attaching the tuft of bristles 5 to the stem 3.

The attachment of the bristles 7 to each other is achieved by stapling, by banding the bristles 7 with a staple 17. This step is preferably carried out before folding and before attaching the tuft of bristles 5 to the stem 3.

The attachment of the tuft of bristles on the stem is achieved by engaging with force the staple 17 and the portions of the tuft 5 which are adjacent to the staple 17 into the inside of the housing 21 . This engagement causes folding of the tuft of bristles 5 along the folding line P, so that the first and second bundles 9 and 1 1 are folded back against each other.

Thus, the folding step and the attachment step of the tuft of bristles 5 to the stem 3 are concomitant.

Alternatively, the folding is achieved before the step for attaching the tuft of bristles 5 to the stem 3.