COSMETIC ARTICLE TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to the field of cosmetics and more particularly but not exclusively to cosmetic articles intended for making up or caring for human keratin materials, notably the skin.

BACKGROUND ART

It is known to impregnate a porous structure with a cosmetic composition, it being possible to bring a finger or an applicator into contact with said porous structure in order to load it with product.

Numerous patent application publications deal with cosmetic articles of this type.

WO 2017/016608 Al discloses an article comprising a mat of fibres constituted by a nonwoven, covered on one face with a screen.

A problem that arises with this kind of article is the compromise that needs to be found between various parameters such as the capacity to store a large quantity of composition and to restore it progressively and as completely as possible during use, and the. need to benefit from shape memory and an ability to receive compositions of variable viscosity, all with a small overall size and a manufacturing cost compatible with the requirements of large-scale marketing.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

The invention aims to further improve cosmetic articles having a reservoir containing a cosmetic composition. According to a first aspect, an object of the invention is a cosmetic article having a reservoir comprising a 3D woven fabric at least partially permeable to a cosmetic composition, having a thickness and capable of retaining at least some of said composition within said thickness.

The reservoir according to the invention has a free space for the composition due to the fact that the fabric is tri-dimensional. The capacity of the reservoir to store the composition makes it possible if desired, to have a reservoir that is thinner, with an equivalent quantity of composition contained, than some known reservoirs.

The 3D woven fabric may have a cellular structure. In a variant, the fabric is weaved with some free spaces remaining between the yarns so that the composition can fill these spaces.

The 3D woven fabric preferably comprises a first fabric layer and a second fabric layer spaced from each other. The first layer and the second layer are interconnected together by connecting portions preferably integrally woven with at least one of the first and second layers. The connecting portions may be being woven portions and/or individual yarns.

The 3D woven fabric may be externally lined by a third layer that is permeable to the composition. The third layer may be textured.

The cosmetic composition may be selected among foundations, rouges, eyeshadows, sun protection creams. The reservoir may already contain the cosmetic composition at the first time of use.

According to the present invention, a composition that can be used is a foundation, in particular a liquid foundation.

Foundations according to the invention are preferably chosen from gels, creams and emulsions. Preferably, the foundations are emulsions, such as oil-in-water emulsions, water-in-oil emulsions, and water-in-oil-in-water emulsions.

Suitable foundations according to the invention may contain one or more compounds that are well known by one skilled in the art and are commonly found in foundations. In particular, foundations according to the invention may contain solvents, in particular volatile solvents which evaporate on contact with the skin or other keratinous tissue, waxes and/or resins, pigments, film-forming polymers, fillers, actives... The dry matter content of foundations suitable according to the invention is preferably comprised between 0.1% and 99.0% by weight, better yet between 25.0% and 75.0% by weight, relative to the total weight of the composition.

It is obvious that one skilled in the art will adapt the nature of the compounds and the dry matter content of the composition using his general common knowledge to prepare a composition that can be used in the context of the invention.

A further object of the invention is such an article with the cosmetic composition contained at least partially within the thickness of the 3D woven fabric, preferably mostly or entirely contained within said thickness.

[3D woven fabric]

A 2D woven fabric is produced by a conventional 2D weaving process in which two orthogonal sets of threads (warp and weft) are interlaced on a 2D weaving device.

The structure of 3D woven cellular fabrics such as the ones serving to make the reservoir is well known in the industry for reinforcing composite materials inter alia. Example of such multiply fabrics are given in US 3 102 559, US 3 207 185, US 5 673 726, US 3 943 980 and US 20090149100 Al . The 3D woven fabrics according to the invention may be made in accordance with the teaching of these applications or patents.

The 3D woven fabric is not a knitted fabric and may be obtained by interlacing three orthogonal sets of yarns on a specifically designed 3D weaving machine.

The 3D woven fabric may be a multiply fabric and preferably comprises a first fabric layer (which may be an upper layer) and a second fabric layer (which may be a bottom layer) connected together by connecting portions. The connecting portions may form preferably woven walls (also called ribs) or pillars or be limited to isolated yarns or bounds of yarns. The walls may form an internal cellular structure within the 3D fabric. The cellular structure may comprise channels having in cross section various shapes such as polygonal or non-polygonal, for example square, rectangle or hexagonal. The reservoir may comprise more than one row of cells within its thickness.

The first layer may be flat or profiled. An example of a profiled first layer is obtained with cavities forming a honey comb structure when viewed in cross section. The first and second layers may each be planar. The first and second layers may extend in parallel planes. In some embodiments, the connecting portions extend orthogonally to the first and second layers. The connecting portions may also extend at least partially at an angle. jwith respect to the first and second layers.

The 3D woven fabric may not comprise any intermediate layer between the uppermost layer and the lowermost layer. Alternatively, the 3D woven fabric comprises at least one intermediate layer spaced from the uppermost and lowermost layers. This intermediate layer may be connected to the adjacent layers by connecting portions that may be constituted by yarns extending straight and/or at an angle or along loops.

The 3D woven fabric may present a constant height or a variable height. The height may be maximum or minimum in the centre of the reservoir when seen from above.

The 3D woven fabric may present connecting yarns at an angle with the layers that they connect for better resistance against shear. These oblique connections may be combined with straight connections. The fabric connecting portions may be constituted of yarns that extend along a loop between the first and second layers.

The first and second layers may form with the connecting portions a structure that is woven on a same device. The connecting portions may be integrally woven with the first and second woven layers.

The 3D woven fabric defines between the first and second layers internal cavities where the composition can accumulate. These cavities can be cells as mentioned above or spaces existing between yarns because of the density with which it is weaved.

At least one of the first and second layers is permeable to the cosmetic composition. Preferably, both the first and second layers are permeable to the cosmetic composition.

The permeability of the first and/or second fabric layer to the composition may be obtained by lowering the mesh density and/or by cutting or providing openings otherwise therethrough.

By adjusting the structure, length and number of the connecting portions, and the material of the yarns, it is possible to control the elastic properties of the 3D woven fabric relatively precisely and thus the deformation thereof under load when collecting product. It is thus possible to adapt it easily to the nature of the composition and the keratin materials to be treated. The connecting portions may deform elastically and ensure good properties of returning to the initial shape as soon as collecting is finished. The connecting portions may have at least one portion that is oriented perpendicularly to the first and second layers. In one illustrative embodiment of the invention, the connecting portions have an arched shape. This can give the reservoir greater compressibility and reduce the force to be exerted in order to move the first and second layers towards one another.

The invention also allows a large choice of materials, textures and porosities for the first layer. It is thus easily possible to adapt the latter to the nature of the composition and to the desired touch. For example, for a very fluid composition, it is possible to use a fine-mesh woven fabric as first layer, which provides strong resistance to the passage of the composition. For a more viscous composition, it is possible to use a larger-mesh woven fabric which allows the product to pass through more easily.

The invention also makes it possible, if desired, to hold a composition that is more viscous than is generally allowed with foam reservoirs, for example a composition with a viscosity, measured at 25°C and atmospheric pressure, that is greater than or equal to 4.5 Pa.s at a shear rate of 200 s ^"1 and less than or equal to 100 Pa.s (using a Brookfield Rheomat RM 180 viscometer equipped with No. 4 spindle, the measurement being carried out after 10 minutes of rotation of the spindle so as to stabilize the speed of rotation and the viscosity). The viscosity may of course be less than 4.5 Pa.s, for example between 1 mPa.s (or 1 CPo) and 4.5 Pa.s at a shear rate of 200 s ^_1 (using a Brookfield Rheomat RM 180 viscometer equipped with No. 4 spindle, the measurement being carried out after 10 minutes of rotation of the spindle so as to stabilize the speed of rotation and the viscosity).

The composition may be liquid at 25°C, i.e. flow under its own weight.

The first layer may appear to be substantially continuous to the naked eye. The term "to the naked eye" should be understood as meaning viewed at a distance of 15 cm with an eye of normal acuity. In a variant, the first layer appears to be perforated to the naked eye.

Preferably, the first layer, notably when it defines the surface on which the product is collected by the user, is less open than the second. The latter can face the bottom of a housing that receives the article, and thus not serve for collecting the composition. The fact that the second layer is open can make it easier to initially load the reservoir with composition, when the loading is carried out by pushing the composition-free article, first layer upwards, into the housing filled with composition.

The presence of openings in the second layer may also reduce the quantity of connecting portions which join the first and second layers, since the connecting portions start out from the non-opened regions of the second layer, and thus makes it possible to increase the free volume that can hold the composition.

More than 50% by weight of the composition may be contained in the reservoir at at least one given time during the use of the article. Compared with the fibrous mat disclosed in the application WO 2017/016608 Al, it is possible to easily produce as many openings as desired in order to increase the capacity of the reservoir.

All of the composition may be contained in the reservoir upon first use. In other words, the article is offered to the user with the reservoir containing all of the composition to be applied. In a variant, the user loads the reservoir with composition upon first use by pushing it into a housing that initially contains the composition. When the reservoir reaches the bottom of this housing, the majority of the composition, or all of the composition, is then contained in the thickness of the reservoir.

Generally, the largest dimension of an opening may be between 1 mm and 15 mm. The cross-sectional area of each opening may be between 1 mm ² and 100 mm ² . All of the openings are preferably the same shape.

At least one layer has openings, and preferably the second layer, has openings.

A largest dimension of the openings may range between 1 mm and 15 mm. The cross-sectional area of the openings may range between 1 mm ² and 100 mm ² .

A thickness of the reservoir measured between opposing faces of the first and second layers may range between 1 mm and 25 mm, better still between 5 mm and 15 mm. For makeup application, a thickness of between 1 and 15 mm may be preferred, and for care application, a thickness of between 5 and 25 mm may be preferred.

The reservoir may have a surface in top view which takes up between 1 and

80 cm ² .

The reservoir is preferably made entirely of a synthetic material, preferably thermoplastic. For example, the reservoir is made of polyester, polyamide, polyolefm, among other plastics materials. The yarns that are used for making the 3D woven fabric may be multifilament yams, monofilament yarns and/or spun yarns. The 3D woven fabric may be made by weaving stripes of yarns.

The contour of the reservoir may be circular, but other shapes are possible, notably polygonal shapes. The shaping may have been effected by cutting, notably using a punch or laser, as appropriate.

In one illustrative embodiment of the invention, the first layer is externally lined by a third layer that is porous to the composition. The presence of this third layer is very particularly advantageous when the first layer has perforations of non-negligible size, in that it improves the distribution of the composition over the outer surface of the reservoir, said outer surface being defined by this third layer.

The third layer may or may not be textured. The third layer may be chosen from woven and nonwoven materials.

According to the invention, the cosmetic composition present in the article is preferably mostly contained between the first layer and the second layer.

The expression "mostly contained between the first layer and the second layer" means that between 70% and 100% by weight of the cosmetic composition, with respect to its total weight in the article, is contained between the first layer and the second layer, advantageously between 80% and 100% and more advantageously between 90% and 100%.

Preferably, the article according to the invention does not have an intermediate absorbent structure, notably such as a foam, attached between a first layer and a second layer. More preferably, the article according to the invention has a single first layer and a single second layer. The cosmetic article according to the invention advantageously does not have any layer of foam, such as PU, SBR or polyolefm foam, for example.

A further object of the invention, according to another of its aspects, is a cosmetic casing, notably for makeup, having a body in which the reservoir according to the invention is held, and a cover that is movable relative to the body, for example hinged on the body.

The reservoir may be entirely filled with the composition upon first use of the casing by the user. In a variant, the composition is contained in the body and the reservoir is packaged separately, in or not in the casing. A membrane seal may close the housing containing the composition. Upon first use, the user can remove the membrane seal and fit the reservoir in the housing. By pressing the reservoir into the bottom of the housing, the user ensures that it is loaded with product.

A further subject of the invention is an assembly comprising an article according to the invention and a casing, a refill or a sachet.

The casing has for example a body which holds the article and a cover for preventing access to the article when it is not in use. This cover can close the casing in a leaktight or non-leaktight manner. The article is carried for example by a dish and the body of the casing is configured to hold the dish. The article with the dish may form a refill, which may be packaged for example in a box or a sachet.

The body of the casing is made for example of a thermoplastic material.

The cover of the casing may be screwed or hinged on the body. A snap- fastening or magnetic locking system may be provided to keep the casing in the closed configuration.

The casing may have a mirror and exhibit a housing for holding a cosmetic applicator, if need be.

The cover may have a rectangular, elliptical, circular or other contour in top view.

The article may be retained by any means in the casing and for example by a retaining ring attached to the body of the casing.

The casing may have an outer surface that has been decorated in various ways, for example metallized, painted, screen-printed, or decorated in some other way.

The refill may contain the article in a form which is such that all that is necessary is to fit the refill on the casing so that the user can use the article in order to collect the composition therewith.

The refill may have an article holding dish which is made of plastics material.

This dish may have a height greater than that of the article, or, in a variant, less than that of the article.

When fitted, the dish can define the bottom of the casing, on the opposite side from the cover.

The article may also be disposed directly in the body of the casing, without being carried by a dish attached to the body of the casing. The dish can be fastened to the body of the casing by snap-fastening, friction, or screwing.

When the article is contained in a sachet, the article may be disposed in a dish and form a refill. In a variant, the sachet contains only the article, and also the composition, if appropriate. The sachet may be made of a thermoplastics material, optionally metallized. The sachet may have been closed by heat sealing. The sachet may have a notch that constitutes the start of a tear, making it easier to open.

The sachet may comprise a polyolefin.

The sachet may be hermetically sealed, so as to avoid any evaporation of volatile constituents of the composition.

A further subject of the invention, according to another of its aspects, is a makeup method, comprising the steps of collecting the composition on the reservoir of an article according to the invention, as defined above, and applying it to human keratin materials, notably to the skin, possibly with the aid of an applicator. During collection, the user can deform the connecting portions in order to move the first and second layers towards one another.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from reading the following detailed description of non-limiting illustrative embodiments thereof and from examining the appended drawing, in which:

- Figure 1 is a section through an example of a casing according to the invention,

- Figure 2 shows the reservoir on its own,

- Figure 3 is a bottom view of a variant of the reservoir,

- Figures 4A to 4C show variant embodiments of reservoirs and connecting portions, and

- Figure 5 shows a variant embodiment of a reservoir with an external layer added. BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

The cosmetic article 1 according to the invention, shown in Figure 1, has a casing 2 having a body 3.

The casing 2 also has a cover 5, which is for example hinged on the body 3 or fastened in some other way, for example screwed onto the latter.

The casing 2 accommodates an applicator holder 6, which is for example an element that is hinged about the same axis of rotation as the cover 5 on the casing body 3.

The applicator 7 is for example of the powder-puff type, being for example constituted by a foam sponge.

In the example shown, a dish 4 is received in a housing 8 of the body 3 of the casing. The dish 4 accommodates a reservoir 10 made in accordance with the invention.

The casing 2 has an annular lip 9 which reaches above the dish 4, this lip 9 having an edge that is folded towards the bottom of the dish 4, in order to keep the reservoir 10 in position.

The reservoir 10 is made by a 3D woven fabric having a first 11 and a second 12 woven fabric layer that are joined together by a set of connecting portions 13, as can be seen in Figures 1 and 2. Such a fabric can be manufactured by the Belgium company 3D WEAVING.

The height e of the connecting portions 13 is for example between 1 and

25 mm, better still between 10 and 15 mm.

In accordance with the invention, the reservoir 10 contains a composition C, the latter being mostly contained inside the reservoir 10, notably being entirely contained in the reservoir.

The first layer 11 may be a fine-mesh layer such that it constitutes a filter which tends to slow the exit of the composition C from the reservoir 10 when the user presses the latter with the aid of their finger or the applicator 7 in order to collect the product.

The second layer 12 may have a same structure.

In a variant, as shown in Figure 3, the second layer 12 has a less dense structure, with openings 14 which facilitate the passage of the composition C, notably when the reservoir 10 is fitted in the dish 4 when the latter contains the composition C. During this operation, the reservoir 10 is pressed in the direction of the bottom of the dish. The presence of the openings 14 allows the composition to penetrate more easily into the free space between the first and second layers 11 and 12. The openings 14 preferably opens out on the cells 16.

The connecting portions 13 can be given various orientations within the reservoir 10. For example, as illustrated in Figure 3 A, the connecting portions 13 may extend obliquely with respect to first and second layers 11 and 12.

The connecting portions 13 may form cells 16 having alternating V shaped cross sections, as shown in Figure 4A.

The connecting portions 13 may be oriented obliquely parallel to each other, as shown in Figure 4B.

The reservoir may comprise no intermediate planar fabric layer between the first and second layers, as shown in Figure 2.

In a variant, as shown in Figure 4C, the reservoir 10 may comprise at least one intermediate woven fabric layer between the upper most first layer 11 and the lower most second layer 12.

The woven intermediate layer 18 may be planar and parallel to the first and second woven layers.

Connecting portions 13 may extend between the first 11 and second 12 layers.

Each of these connecting portions 13 may comprise as shown a first connecting sub- portion 13a connecting the first layer to the intermediate layer 18 and a second connecting sub-portion 13b connecting the intermediate layer 18 to the second layer 12.

Each connecting sub-portion 13a or 13b may be constituted by a bundle of yarns forming loops or parts thereof, when the fabric is observed in cross section.

The openings 14 can be given very diverse shapes and dimensions.

The reservoir 10 can be shaped by cutting, with the aid for example of a punching element or a laser.

The invention is not limited to particular materials for producing the reservoir 10. For example, it is possible to use polyamide, polyolefin, notably polypropylene, or polyester threads.

It is possible to use a mixture of threads made of different materials.

Various treatments can be applied, to the first layer 11, for example abrasion treatments, in order to make the surface softer. The first layer may comprise bristles formed by cutting some yarns used for making the 3D woven fabric.

It is also possible, as illustrated in Figure 5, to attach at least one upper layer 19, which is permeable to the composition C, for example a textile or a nonwoven, to the first layer 11. In this case, it may be advantageous to produce the first layer 1 1 with openings with a size for example comparable to those 14 in the second layer 12 of the variant of Figure 3, so as to make it easier for the product to arrive at this upper layer 15.

The latter is for example bonded to the first layer 11 or fastened in some other way, for example by welding or stitching.

The layer 19 maybe textured, depending on the touch desired therefor. For example, the layer 19 is embossed.

In one variant, several 3D woven spacer fabrics are superposed on one another. It is also possible to fold a 3D woven spacer fabric on itself to form the reservoir.

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

It is possible, notably, to mount the reservoir in a casing made in some other way.