The present invention relates to an applicator for a cosmetic product comprising a gripping member, a support secured to the gripping member, a rod, means for mounting the rod on the support, and a member for applying the cosmetic product borne by the rod.

The invention also relates to an assembly including a reservoir intended to contain the cosmetic product, and the applicator.

The cosmetic product is for example mascara, a care product or a cleansing product. By "cosmetic product", is more generally meant in the sense of the present invention, for example a product as defined in (EC) Regulation No.1222/2009 of the European Parliament and Council, dated November 30 ^th , 2009, relating to cosmetic products.

When the cosmetic product is a mascara, the eyelash application member is advantageously a brush attached on the distal end of the rod. The brush is located in the longitudinal extension of the rod. The brush for example includes a twisted metal wire and bristles taken in the twisted wire and extending radially from the wire.

The applicator for example is screwed onto the reservoir containing the cosmetic product. The gripping member advantageously acts as a plug. The rod, in the screwed position of the applicator, is engaged into the reservoir, the brush being immersed in the humid mascara contained in the reservoir.

In order to use the applicator, a user unscrews the applicator from the reservoir, takes out of the reservoir the bristle loaded with humid mascara, and applies the brush on his/her eyelashes. He/she then imparts to the rod a movement for brushing the eyelashes. The humid mascara is thus deposited on the eyelashes and dries rapidly.

In order to facilitate the application of the mascara, applicators as the one described in document FR-A-2 753 056 were developed. In these applicators, the rod is mounted on the gripping member with a ball joint. The rod is taken into the ball joint. By means of this ball joint, the rod is able to angularly move away from the axis of the gripping member and to assume a certain orientation relatively to the gripping member facilitating the application of the cosmetic product.

Such an applicator globally gives satisfaction. However, it was observed that the application becomes possibly difficult from the moment that the mascara has begun to dry, the brush tending to remove the mascara already deposited on the eyelashes.

An object of the invention is therefore to propose an applicator for a cosmetic product, such as mascara, which applies the cosmetic product more efficiently, in particular for cosmetic products tending to dry rapidly.

For this purpose, the object of the invention is an applicator for a cosmetic product of the type described above, wherein: - the support includes a guiding finger extending along a longitudinal direction from the gripping member, and

- the rod defines an internal housing adapted for receiving the guiding finger in a mounted configuration of the applicator, the mounting means being adapted so that the rod is freely mobile in rotation relatively to the guiding finger around the longitudinal direction in the mounted configuration.

According to particular embodiments, the applicator comprises one or more of the following features, taken individually or according to all the technically possible combinations:

- the mounting means comprise a first connecting system, with a connection forming a first pivot connection between the rod and the guiding finger around the longitudinal direction, the first connecting system being located on a proximal portion of the guiding finger relatively to the gripping member in the mounted configuration, and a second connecting system forming a second pivot connection between the rod and the guiding finger around the longitudinal direction, the second connecting system being located on a distal portion of the guiding finger in the mounted configuration;

- the first connecting system comprises a first surface secured to the guiding finger, with a general annular shape, and preferably including several radial protrusions angularly distributed around the longitudinal direction, and a second surface secured to the rod and with an annular shape, the second surface being adapted so as to slide over the first surface around the longitudinal direction when the rod rotates relatively to the guiding finger in the mounted configuration;

- the second connecting system comprises a tip secured to the guiding finger and extending the guiding finger longitudinally, and a third surface secured to the rod and adapted for sliding over the tip around the longitudinal direction when the rod rotates relatively to the guiding finger in the mounted configuration;

- the internal housing comprises a substantially cylindrical segment longitudinally extending between the first connecting system and the second connecting system, the segment having an internal diameter, the first connecting system and the second connecting system being separated in the mounted configuration by a distance along the longitudinal direction, greater than or equal to 2.5 times the internal diameter;

- the mounting means comprise a third connecting system adapted so as to allow the rod to be snapped onto the guiding finger along the longitudinal direction, the applicator being in the mounted configuration after snapping on the rod;

- the third connecting system comprises a snap-on fastening surface secured to one of the supports and of the rod, and at least one flexible member secured to the other one of the supports and of the rod and able to cooperate, by being snapped on, with the snap-on fastening surface, the rod being longitudinally movable relatively to the guiding finger successively between a non-snapped-on position, a distal snapped-on position in which the flexible member is in contact with the snap-on fastening surface, and a proximal snapped-on position in which the rod is longitudinally closer to the gripping member than in the distal snapped-on position;

- the first connecting system and the second connecting system are adapted so as to allow centering of the rod on the guiding finger around the longitudinal direction, the centering ensuring that, at least in the proximal snapped-on position, the flexible member remains at a distance from the snapped-on surface when the rod rotates relatively to the guiding finger around the longitudinal direction;

- the rod comprises a skirt forming a proximal end of the rod in the mounted configuration.

The invention also relates to an assembly comprising an applicator as described above and to a body defining a reservoir intended to contain the cosmetic product, the applicator being movable between a rest position, in which it is attached onto the body and the rod is at least partly engaged into the reservoir, and a position of use, in which the rod is at a distance from the reservoir.

The object of the invention is also a method for applying a cosmetic product on keratinous fibres of a user including the following steps:

- providing an assembly as defined above;

- bringing the application member in contact with keratinous fibres;

- driving into rotation the application member and the rod relatively to the gripping member by displacement of the member over the keratinous fibres; and

- depositing a cosmetic product on the keratinous fibres.

The invention will be better understood upon reading the description which follows, only given as an example and made with reference to the appended drawings, wherein:

- Fig. 1 is a schematic perspective view of an assembly according to the invention, the applicator being illustrated at a distance from the reservoir,

- Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the assembly illustrated in Fig. 1 , the applicator being in the mounted configuration and in the rest position,

- Fig. 3 is a front view of the support and of the rod of the applicator illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, the applicator being in the mounted configuration,

- Fig. 4 is a front view of the finger of the support of the applicator illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2,

- Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of the proximal end of the finger relatively to the gripping member, - Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the finger illustrated in Figs. 2, 4 and 5, the sectional view being made at the first connecting system of the means for mounting the rod on the support,

- Fig. 7 is a front view of the rod of the applicator illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3,

- Fig. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view of the skirt of the rod illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3 and 7, and

- Fig. 9 is a view of the rod illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3, 7, and 8, the view being taken along the longitudinal direction.

With reference to Figs. 1 and 2, an assembly 1 according to the invention is described, comprising a body 3 defining a reservoir 5 intended to contain a cosmetic product (not shown), and an applicator 7 adapted for applying the cosmetic product.

The assembly 1 advantageously has a general oblong shape along a longitudinal direction L, preferably curved like a pen.

The cosmetic product is for example mascara.

The applicator 7 comprises a gripping member 9, a support 1 1 secured to the gripping member 9, a rod 13, means 15 for mounting the rod 13 on the support 1 1 , and a member 17 for applying the cosmetic product borne by the rod 13.

The applicator 7 is movable between a mounted configuration (Figs. 1 and 2), in which the rod 13 is attached onto the support 1 1 , for example by snap-on fastening, and a disassembled configuration (not shown), in which the rod 13 is at a distance from the support 1 1 .

In the mounted configuration, the applicator 7 is further movable between a rest position (Fig. 2), in which it is attached onto the body 3, and the member 17 is at least partly engaged into the reservoir 5, and a position of use (Fig. 1 ), in which the rod 13 is at a distance from the body 3 and the member 17 has left the reservoir 5.

The reservoir 5 comprises a wiper 6 adapted for wiping the application member 17. The gripping member 9 exteriorly has the shape of a substantially axisymmetrical cap around the longitudinal direction L. The gripping member 9 defines an internal housing 19 (Fig. 2) opened longitudinally on the side of the body 3 in the rest position of the applicator 7.

The support 1 1 includes an end piece 21 (Figs. 2 and 3) located in the internal housing 19 and secured to the gripping member 9, and a guiding finger 23 extending in the longitudinal direction L from the end piece 21 .

As visible in Fig. 2, the end piece 21 forms a proximal end of the support 1 1 relatively to the gripping member 9. The end piece 21 also has a substantially general axisymmetrical shape around the longitudinal direction L. The end piece 21 is able to be inserted by force into the internal housing 19 (Fig. 2). As visible in Fig. 3, the end piece 21 includes a lateral surface 25 provided with raised/recessed portions 27 adapted for preventing rotation of the end piece 21 in the housing 19 relatively to the gripping member 9. The end piece 21 further defines a housing 29 for anchoring the guiding finger 23. The end piece 21 includes an internal threading 31 intended to allow the applicator 7 to be screwed onto the body 3.

The lateral surface 25 has a circular and radially protruding distal edge 33.

The edge 23 is configured so as to cooperate with a notch 35 made in the internal housing 19 for preventing the end piece 21 from being longitudinally uncoupled from the gripping member 9.

The guiding finger 23 (Fig. 4) comprises in the longitudinal direction, an anchoring portion 35 able to be inserted into the housing 29 of the end piece 21 , a proximal portion 37, and a distal portion 39. The guiding finger 23 includes a flange 41 inserted between the proximal portion 37 and the anchoring portion 35. The guiding finger 23 extends longitudinally over a distance DT.

The flange 41 is positioned so as to bear upon the end piece 21 at the entrance of the housing 29.

As visible in Fig. 5, the anchoring portion 35 is longitudinally split so as to define at least two claws 43, 45 adapted so as to be hooked in the housing 29. The anchoring portion 35 also bears raised/recessed portions 47 longitudinally oriented so as to prevent rotation of the anchoring portion 35 in the housing 29 relatively to the end piece 21 around the longitudinal direction L.

The distal portion 39 is for example substantially cylindrical (Fig. 4).

With reference to Figs. 7 to 9, the rod 13 comprises an elongated portion 49, and a skirt 51 flaring from the elongated portion 49 and forming a proximal end of the rod 13 along the longitudinal direction L when the applicator 7 is in the mounted configuration. The rod 13 further defines an internal housing 53 adapted so as to receive at least partly (Fig. 2) the guiding finger 23 in the mounted configuration of the applicator 7.

The rod 13 is rotatably mounted on the guiding finger 23 by mounting means 15, advantageously in a "floating" way, i.e., with a longitudinal play J1 (schematically illustrated in Fig. 8) and a radial play J2 relatively to the longitudinal direction L.

As will be described in more detail hereafter, the rod 13 is advantageously longitudinally movable relatively to the guiding finger 23, successively between a non-snapped-on position (not shown), a distal snapped-on position (not shown), which is the position of the rod 13 immediately after its snap-on fastening, and a proximal snapped-on position (Fig. 2) in which the rod 13 is longitudinally closer to the gripping member 9 than in the distal snapped-on position. The distal snapped-on position is simply inferred from the proximal snapped-on position by longitudinal translation of the rod 13 which moves the rod away from the gripping member 9.

The rod 13 extends as far as the gripping member 9 so that the rod 13 prevents the cosmetic product from penetrating between the rod 13 and the support 1 1 .

The longitudinal play J1 is for example comprised between 0.1 mm and 1 .5 mm. The longitudinal play J1 corresponds to the position difference between the distal snapped-on position and the proximal snapped-on position of the rod 13.

The radial play J2 is for example comprised between 0.1 mm and 0.5 mm. The internal housing 53 comprises a distal segment 55, for example substantially cylindrical with a longitudinal axis, defined by the distal portion 49 of the rod 13, and a proximal segment 57, with a general flared shape, defined by the skirt 51 .

The distal portion 49 of the rod 13 (Fig. 7) has an external surface 59 for example substantially cylindrical with a longitudinal axis, and a distal chamfer 61 .

The application member 17 is for example located in the longitudinal extension of the rod 13. The application member 17 for example consists of a brush 63.

The brush 63 includes a substantially longitudinal core 65 inserted into the distal end of the guiding finger 23, and substantially radial bristles 67.

As visible in Fig. 8, the skirt 51 flares while defining an annular edge 69 for example substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal direction L.

The skirt 51 allows total isolation of the inside of the reservoir 5 from the outside, notably for example, from the support 1 1 by cooperating with the wiper 6 in the closed position of the assembly 1 .

The annular edge 69 includes a proximal face 71 able to abut against the support 1 1 when the rod 13 is displaced longitudinally relatively to the guiding finger 23 towards the gripping member 9, and a distal face 73 turned towards the body 3 in the rest position of the applicator 7.

The proximal face 71 includes a plurality of longitudinal protrusions 75 angularly distributed, advantageously regularly, around the longitudinal direction L.

The protrusions 75 are for example six in number and successively form between them angles a of about 60°. The longitudinal protrusion 75 advantageously has a convex shape which allows a quasi point-like contact with a locally planar surface 77 (Fig. 2) of the support 1 1 .

The distal face 73 includes a bead 79 for example located substantially at the periphery of the distal face and able to cooperate with a surface 81 of the body 3 in order to prevent the cosmetic product from penetrating into the internal housing 53. In the illustrated example, the mounting means 15 are adapted so as to allow free displacement of the rod 13 relatively to the guiding finger 23 along the longitudinal direction L in the mounted configuration. This displacement is free over a range corresponding to the longitudinal play J1 (Fig. 8).

In the mounted configuration, the mounting means 15 are adapted so that the rod 13 rotates freely relatively to the guiding finger 23 around the longitudinal direction L.

The mounting means 15 comprise a first connecting system 83 and a second connecting system 85 respectively forming a first pivot connection and a second pivot connection between the rod 13 and the guiding finger 23 around the longitudinal direction L, and a third connecting system 87 adapted for allowing snap-on fastening of the rod 13 on the guiding finger 23 along the longitudinal direction L.

The first connecting system 83 and the second connecting system 85 are further adapted so as to allow centering of the rod 13 on the guiding finger 23 around the longitudinal direction L.

By "centering the rod 13", is notably meant that the rod 13, in the mounted configuration of the applicator 7, cannot be translated perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction L by a distance greater than the radial play J2.

The first connecting system 83 is for example located longitudinally at the proximal portion 37 of the guiding finger 23 in the mounted configuration. The first connecting system 83 comprises a first surface 89 (Figs. 4 to 6) secured to the guiding finger 23, and a second surface 91 (Fig. 8) secured to the rod 13 and adapted for sliding over the first surface 89.

The first surface 89 is of a general annular shape, and preferably includes several radial protrusions 93 angularly distributed around the longitudinal direction L.

The second surface 91 is for example of an annular shape. The second surface 91 is for example cylindrical. The second surface 91 is defined in the example illustrated by the internal face of a circular rib 94 protruding in the proximal segment 57 from the skirt 51 .

The rib 94 protrudes from the skirt 51 substantially longitudinally.

According to an alternative not shown, the radial protrusions 93 are borne by the second surface 91 instead of being borne by the first surface 89, and the first surface 89 is of an annular shape and free of protrusions.

This prevents buttressing of the rod 13 during use.

For example, the radial protrusions 93 are three in number and successively form between them angles β of about 120° around the longitudinal direction L (Fig. 6). The radial protrusions 93 advantageously have a convex shape which allows quasi point-like contact with the second surface 91 . The second connecting system 85 is for example located longitudinally at the distal portion 39 of the guiding finger 23 in the mounted configuration, advantageously substantially at the distal end of the guiding finger 23.

The second connecting system 85 comprises a tip 95 (Figs. 2 and 4) secured to the guiding finger 23 and extending it longitudinally, and a third surface 97 (Fig. 2) secured to the rod 13 and able to slide over the tip 93 along the longitudinal direction L.

The third surface 97 for example forms the bottom of the internal housing 53 defined by the rod 13. In the mounted configuration, the third surface 97 is wound around the tip 93.

The first connecting system 83 and the second connecting system 85 are for example longitudinally separated by a distance D (Fig. 4) greater than or equal to 2.5 times the internal diameter Dl of the distal segment 55 of the internal housing 53, preferentially greater than or equal to 5 times the diameter Dl and even more preferably at 10 times this diameter.

The distance D is for example defined as the longitudinal distance between the end of the tip 95 and the radial protrusions 93. The distance D is advantageously comprised between 20 and 50 mm. For example, the distance D has a value of at least 50% of the distance DT.

The radial play J2 (Fig. 8) between the rod 13 and the guiding finger 23 in the illustrated example is the maximum play existing between the radial protrusions 93 and the second surface 91 .

The radial play J2 also exists between the tip 95 and the third surface 97.

The third connecting system 87 comprises a snap-on fastening surface 99 (Figs. 4 to 6) secured to the support 1 1 , and several flexible members 101 (Figs. 8 and 9) secured to the rod 13 and able to cooperate by longitudinal snap-on fastening with the snap-on fastening surface 99.

The snap-on fastening surface 99 is for example borne by the proximal portion 37 of the guiding finger 23. The snap-on fastening surface 99 has a general cylindrical shape with a longitudinal axis. The snap-on fastening surface 99 defines several radial and centrifugal bulges 103 relatively to the longitudinal direction L.

The bulges 103 are for example four in number and advantageously angularly distributed around the longitudinal direction L.

The flexible members 101 are for example three in number. They are advantageously angularly distributed around the longitudinal direction L.

The flexible members 101 form longitudinally protruding claws in the proximal segment 57 from the skirt 51 . Each flexible member 101 includes an end forming a centripetal bulge 105 relatively to the longitudinal direction L. The flexible members 101 are movable between a rest position, in which they are for example substantially oriented along the longitudinal direction L, and a flexed position, in which they are a greater distance from the longitudinal direction L as in the rest position.

The bulges 105 are able to cooperate by snap-on fastening with the bulges 103.

In the distal snap-on position of the rod 13, the bulges 105 of the flexible members

101 are in abutment on the bulges 103.

In the proximal snapped-on position of the rod 13 (Fig. 2), the bulges 105 are not in contact with the bulges 103. The bulges 105 are located longitudinally between the bulges 103 and the flange 41 . Advantageously, the distal end of the tip 95 does not touch the bottom of the internal housing 53 in the proximal snapped-on position.

The body 3 includes a neck 107 having an external threading 109 mating the internal threading 31 of the end piece 21 . The body 3 comprises a wiping member 1 1 1 positioned inside the neck 107.

The wiping member 1 1 1 defines a diaphragm 1 13 adapted for letting through the rod 13 and the member 17 for applying the cosmetic product. The member 1 1 1 defines the surface 81 which cooperates with the bead 79 of the skirt 51 .

The operation of the assembly 1 will now be described.

In order to put the applicator 7 into the mounted configuration, the rod 13 is attached on the support 1 1 by placing it on the guiding finger 23, the finger being received into the internal housing 53. The rod 13 is pushed longitudinally towards the gripping member 9. The rod then successively passes from the non-snapped-on position to the distal snapped-on position and then to the proximal snapped-on position.

The third assembly 87 allows longitudinal snap-on fastening of the rod 13 on the support 1 1 . More specifically, when the rod 13, not yet snapped on, is longitudinally pushed towards the gripping member 9, the bulges 105 come into contact with the bulges 101 and move away radially from each other. This causes elastic flexure of the flexible members 101 . Once the bulges 105 have longitudinally passed the bulges 103, the flexible members 101 return to their rest position.

Once it is snapped-on, the rod 13 remains longitudinally movable relatively to the guiding finger 23 over a displacement range corresponding to the longitudinal play J1 between the distal snapped-on position and the proximal snapped-on position.

In the illustrated example, the proximal snapped-on position is obtained when the skirt 51 comes into contact with the support 1 1 . The longitudinal protrusions 75 then slide over the surface 77 without any appreciable friction when the rod 13 rotates relatively to the support 1 1 around the longitudinal direction L. In the distal snapped-on position, the flexible members 101 come into contact with the snap-on fastening surface 99. Because of the convex shape of the bulges 103 and 105, the friction due to this contact is a minimum.

In the mounted configuration of the applicator 7, the rod 13 is free to rotate relatively to the support 1 1 around the longitudinal direction L by means of the first connecting system 83 and of the second connecting system 85 of the mounting means 15. During the rotary movement, the second surface 91 of the first connecting system 83 slides over the radial protrusions 93. Also, the third surface 97 of the second connecting system 85 slides over the tip 95.

The first connecting system 83 and the second connecting system 85 allow centering of the rod 13 on the guiding finger 23 around the longitudinal direction L. By this centering, in the mounted configuration of the applicator 7, the flexible members 101 remain away from the snap-on fastening surface 99 in the proximal snapped-on position, advantageously from the moment that the rod 13 is not in the distal snapped-on position. Once the rod 13 is snapped-on, the third assembly 87 does not generate any appreciable friction which may oppose the free rotation of the rod 13 around the guiding finger 23.

The axis of rotation of the rod 13 relatively to the support 1 1 and to the gripping member 9 remains set to within the play J2 in the absence of flexure of the support.

The contact between the rotating portions of the applicator 7, secured to the rod 13, and the non-rotating portions, secured to the gripping member 9, is accomplished for most of the time only by the radial protrusions 93 of the first connecting system 83 and the tip 95 of the second connecting system 85. The friction is therefore a minimum. When the rod 13 abuts against the support 1 1 or when the bulges 101 abut against the bulges 103, friction is added, which remains very low.

Advantageously, the mounting means 15, the rod 13 and the support 1 1 are adapted so that, when a mechanical stress expressed by a torque M (Fig. 1 ) relatively to the longitudinal direction L is applied on the member 17, rotation of the rod 13 relatively to the guiding finger 23 is achieved as soon as the torque M exceeds a limiting value of 1 .10 ³ N.m, preferably as soon as the torque M exceeds a limiting value of 0.5.10 ^"3 N.m, and still more preferably as soon as the torque M exceeds a limiting value of 0.1 .10 ³ N.m.

By means of the features above, in particularly the rotary mobility of the rod 13 bearing the application member 17 relatively to the guiding finger 23, the friction processes which apply on the member 17 during application of the mascara will very easily rotate the rod 13 and the brush 63 relatively to the support 1 1 . Thus, the brush 63, instead of rubbing the eyelashes and of removing a portion of the mascara already deposited, rolls over the eyelashes and does not remove the mascara already deposited. The applicator 7 therefore applies the mascara more efficiently.

The distance D (Fig. 4) greater than or equal to 2.5 times the internal diameter Dl of the distal segment 55 of the internal housing 53 advantageously reduces the risk that the rod 13 is jammed in its rotary movement relatively to the guiding finger 23, notably by a lever effect.