The present invention relates to a cosmetic refill for applying a hair product intended for use in a hair treatment system. The invention also relates to a hair treatment system comprising a refill of this type and to a method for treating the hair using such a system.

Prior art

American patent US 8 561 620 describes a cosmetic refill comprising a porous application member soaked with product. A refill of this type does not allow as constant an application of hair product as desired during its use. The amount of product deposited on the hair in fact decreases very rapidly in step with the number of uses of the refill.

International applications WO 2014/064660 and WO 2015/097625 disclose cosmetic refills allowing the application of a hair product which have a reservoir containing the product and a porous application member separate from the reservoir, the product being conveyed from the reservoir towards the application member by means of a pump. Refills of this type are fairly complex and expensive to produce owing to the presence of the pump.

Likewise, patent application US 2009/0025247 discloses a hair product refill containing a reservoir and a porous application member, the latter being partially immersed in the reservoir and coming into contact with the hair during use of the device. The supply of product to the application member tends to vary as a function of the orientation of the refill, which may be detrimental to the uniformity of the result. There is a need for a hair product refill that is easy to manufacture and to use and that allows a quality of application of hair product that is relatively constant over time.

Summary

According to a first of its aspects, the invention responds to this need with the aid of a cosmetic refill intended to be inserted in a removable manner into a housing of a system for treating the hair, this refill comprising:

- a hair product reservoir that has an opening,

- a porous application member extending partially into the reservoir through the opening, the application member being fixed in the reservoir when the refill is used. The fact that the application member is unable to move in the reservoir makes it possible to have an application member with a position in the reservoir that is the same irrespective of the level of hair product in the reservoir or the pressure exerted on the application member when the hair product is applied to the hair. Thus, the amount of product delivered when treating the hair is, to all intents and purposes, independent of the orientation of the refill. Application of the hair product by the application member is therefore more easily controllable and reproducible. Moreover, the fact that the application member is unable to move lowers the risk of hair product leaking out at the reservoir opening.

Preferably, the refill comprises a body comprising a cavity forming the reservoir, the hair product being preferably in a liquid form.

Preferably, the application member extends into the reservoir over the entire height of the latter, advantageously bearing on the bottom of the reservoir. This enables the application member, irrespective of the position of the refill, to be in contact with the hair product contained in the reservoir and to always be supplied with hair product.

Preferably, the application member extends over only a portion of the width of the reservoir.

Preferably, the application member extends over entire length of the reservoir.

Preferably, the application member has at least two opposite sides extending at least partially into the reservoir and at least partially in contact with the hair product contained in the reservoir. The fact that there are two opposite sides in contact with the hair product permits a larger contact surface area between the hair product and the application member and a more uniform supply to the application member.

The application member may be made from any material capable of conveying the product by means of capillary effect.

Preferably, the application member is rigid enough to retain its form at the time of application. This makes it possible, in particular, to avoid a pump effect, which is undesirable.

Preferably, the application member is made from a sintered material, in particular a plastics, preferably thermoplastics, frit, for example a polyolefm and in particular a PE frit, for example a frit sold by Porex Corporation under reference XS-49010. Preferably, the application member is molded. This enables it to have a wide range of possible forms.

Preferably, the application member has a substantially prismatic form, in particular a parallelepiped, especially a right parallelepiped. Such a form is easier to produce.

Preferably, the application member has a rounded application surface in order to facilitate application to the hair.

The porosity of the application member, defined by the ratio of the volume of pores to the total volume of the material, may be between 0.05 and 2, better still substantially equal to 0.4.

The application member may have a density of between 0.11 and 0.25 g/cm ³ .

The mean pore size may be between 5 and 100 μιη, better still between 20 and 60 μιη. This level of porosity allows good retention of the hair product in the application member, while still permitting a good supply of hair product to the application member by capillary effect. Preferably, the porosity of the application member is chosen as a function of the viscosity of the hair product such that, when the application member is oriented head downward, the application member is soaked with hair product but said product does not flow from the application member under gravity.

The thickness of the application member may be less than or equal to 3 cm. Such a thickness means that the hair product can easily soak the application member to the core between two applications. When the application member is engaged in an elongate opening, the thickness is measured perpendicularly to the axis of the opening and to the longitudinal axis of the application member.

The hair product may be an anhydrous or aqueous composition.

Preferably, when the hair product in in oily form, the application member is hydrophobic. This allows better distribution of the hair product in the application member when said product is in oily form.

Preferably, when the hair product in aqueous form, the application member is hydrophilic. This allows better distribution of the hair product in the application member when said product is in aqueous form.

Preferably, the application member has a cross section greater than or equal to that of the opening. This makes it possible to achieve gripping of the application member in the opening and to avoid the hair product leaking out at the opening. This dispenses with the need for the presence of an additional seal between these two elements.

Preferably, the applicator member is integral with the reservoir. This makes it possible to guarantee better sealing of the reservoir.

In a variant, the application member is mounted in the reservoir in a removable manner. This makes it possible, when this is desirable, to easily replace a worn-out application member without having to change the reservoir.

The application member may simply be retained in the opening by friction.

Preferably, the body of the reservoir is of substantially cylindrical form, in particular with a polygonal, for example rectangular, base, or preferably with a circular base. With a circular-base cylindrical reservoir it is possible to have a greater amount of hair product while still having good contact between the product and the application member, owing to the form of a funnel toward the application member. Distribution of the hair product in the application member is thus improved, which optimizes the cost and environmental impact of the refill.

The volume of hair product contained in free form in the reservoir, i.e. apart from the product impregnating the application member, may be less than or equal to 100 ml.

The reservoir may comprise a hair-product filling aperture closed by a removable stopper.

Preferably, the reservoir has no air-return port. The application member is, in fact, sufficiently porous to allow air to return. In a variant, the reservoir has an air-return port.

A further subject of the invention is a system for treating the hair, comprising: - an apparatus for treating the hair, and

- a refill, according to a first aspect of the above invention, mounted on the apparatus.

Preferably, the apparatus comprises two arms that are able to move relative to one another between a closed configuration for treating the hair and a spread configuration for engaging hair to be treated between said arms, one of the arms comprising a housing, the refill being arranged in a removable manner in the housing. The arm opposite the arm on which the refill is arranged may have a steam outlet, and preferably also a comb.

Preferably, in particular when the intention is to straighten the hair, the apparatus comprises a heating element intended to come into contact with the hair, and better still two heating elements, each arranged on a respective arm. This or these heating element(s) may each comprise a plate, made of a material that is a good conductor of heat, that defines a hot surface for contact with the hair, the temperature of said surface being for example greater than or equal to 95°C, better still between 90 and 230°C.

Preferably, product is applied to the lock of hair introduced into the apparatus prior to the application of steam and/or straightening by the heating element(s) and/or combing. Thus, the hair introduced between the arms can come into contact with the application member before being exposed to the steam and to the heating elements while the lock is being moved between the arms of the apparatus.

Preferably, the apparatus for treating the hair according to the invention is a straightener having flat heating elements, in particular which come into contact in the closed configuration of the arms.

A further subject of the invention is a method for treating the hair comprising the step consisting in applying a hair product to a lock of hair using a system according to the invention, as defined above.

Preferably, the amount of hair product deposited in one application, exerting a pressure of 34N and moving the applicator at a speed of 2 cm/s over a standard 80g/m ² sheet of paper 27 cm long, is between 0.005 g and 0.5 g.

The amount of hair product deposited with the refill in one application, exerting a pressure of 34N and moving the applicator at a speed of 2 cm/s over a standard 80g/m ² sheet of paper 27 cm long, may vary by up to 50%, better still 35%, even better 20%), from the amount of product deposited between the first and the 75th applications.

The invention may be better understood from reading the following detailed description of non-limiting exemplary embodiments thereof and from examining the appended drawing, in which:

- Figure 1 shows a perspective view of an example of a system for treating the hair,

- Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view on II-II in Figure 1 , - Figure 3 is a perspective view of an example of a refill,

- Figure 4 is a view along IV of the example of a refill in Figure 3,

- Figure 5 is a graph representing the amount of hair product applied using a refill according to example 1 described below,

- Figure 6 is a graph representing the amount of hair product applied according to example 2 described below using a refill according to Figures 3 and 4,

- Figure 7 shows a variant refill,

- Figure 8 is a graph representing the amount of hair product applied according to example 3 described below using a refill according to Figure 7,

- Figure 9 shows another variant refill, and

- Figure 10 is a graph representing the amount of hair product applied according to example 4 described below using a refill according to Figure 9.

In the rest of the description, identical or similar elements or elements having identical or similar functions bear the same reference sign. For greater conciseness, such elements are not described for all the figures, and only the differences between the embodiments have been indicated.

Figures 1 and 2 show the handpiece 2 of an example of a system for treating the hair according to the invention.

This handpiece 2 has two jaws 3 and 4 that are able to move relative to one another between a spread configuration (not shown) for introduction of a lock of hair between said jaws, and a closed configuration for treatment.

The jaws 3 and 4 are carried by an upper arm 5 and a lower arm 6, respectively, which, in the example in question, are connected together at one end by a joint 8, the handpiece 2 thus forming tongs.

The upper arm 5 and lower arm 6 each preferably have a total length of between 22 cm and 37 cm, preferably 31 cm, and define, between the joint 8 and the jaws 3 and 4, respective half- handles 10 and 11 on which the user can press in order to close the jaws 3 and 4 together.

An elastic return member (not visible) is preferably provided to return the jaws 3 and 4 to the spread configuration, this elastic return member being, for example, a spring disposed around an axis of the joint 8. The invention is not limited to a particular manner of connecting the upper arm 5 and lower arm 6 together, and the jaws 3 and 4 may be rendered able to move in some other way without departing from the scope of the present invention. However, the presence of a joint is largely preferred for the ergonomics it provides.

The jaws 3 and 4 define between them a region for treating the hair, said region being intended to receive a lock of hair to be treated, the handpiece 2 being moved along said region during the treatment, for example in the direction from the root to the end of the hair.

In the example in question, the handpiece 2 is configured for applying a hair product, to treat the hair with steam and then to carry out a heat treatment on the hair by contact with two hot surfaces 15 and 16.

The direction D of movement of the handpiece 2 over the hair, illustrated in Figure 4, is preferably substantially perpendicular to the upper arm 5 and lower arm 6.

The handpiece 2 is connected by a lead, in the example in question, to a base station (not shown) that is fixed during the treatment and is connected to the mains.

This base station provides electric power to the handpiece 2 and also its supply of water for generating steam, and may also carry out additional functions of processing electrical signals received from the handpiece 2. The lead 18 that connects the handpiece 2 to the base station may thus comprise various electrical conductors and a water supply pipe.

A user interface (not shown in the figures) may be present on the handpiece 2 so as to give the user for example the option of starting up certain components thereof.

The hair product is applied by a refill 20 carried by one of the two arms 5 or 6, in this case the upper arm 5 that comes into contact with a pressing element 21. The latter may be removable.

As may be seen more particularly in Figure 2, the refill 20 comprises a body 23, a reservoir 30 for hair product and a porous application member 26 disposed so as to come into contact with the hair extending through the treatment region.

The refill 20 may be fixed to the arm 5 or 6 by any means, in particular, as illustrated in Figure 2, by sliding a rib of the body 23 into a groove with a complementary shape. The reservoir 30 opens toward the exterior via an opening 31 into which the application member 26 is inserted, along an insertion axis X, while the refill is being manufactured.

Examples of a body 23 are illustrated in more detail in Figures 3 and 4.

The body 23 may have the general form of an elongate rectangular parallelepiped on a longitudinal axis Z. In cross section, the body 23 may, as illustrated in Figure 2, have a rectangular form, partially open on one of its sides, in particular one of its smaller sides, so as to form an opening 31.

The body 23 comprises a front wall 38 and a rear wall 40 that are opposite one another and are connected by two side walls 34 and 36 and by a bottom 42. The walls 34 and 36 have returns 44 toward the interior, defining between them the opening 31 for the passage of the application member 26.

The internal cavity of the body 23 forms the reservoir 30.

The reservoir 30 has, for example, a width K, defined between the side walls 34 and 36, equal to approximately 10 mm, a length L on the longitudinal axis Z equal to approximately 90 mm and a height H, defined between the bottom 42 and the opening 31 , equal to approximately 20 mm. The reservoir 30 contains a hair product in liquid form.

The application member 26 is of substantially rectangular parallelepipedal form.

The application member 26 extends into the reservoir 30 via the opening 31 over the entire height Η of the reservoir, over only a portion of its width and over its entire length.

The height p of the application member 26 is thus greater than the height H of the reservoir 30, its thickness e is smaller than the width K of the reservoir 30 and its length is substantially equal to the length L of the reservoir 30. The thickness e of the application member 26 is substantially equal to, or even slightly greater than, the width of the opening 31. The application member has a height k equal to approximately 21 mm and a thickness e equal to approximately 3 mm.

The application member is in contact with the hair product contained in the reservoir 30 via that portion of its larger opposite side faces 27 and 28 that extends into the reservoir 30. Its upper surface 29 is in contact with the bottom 42 of the body 23. The application member 26 extends outside the body 23 over a height m equal to approximately 1 mm.

The body 23 is made of thermoplastics, for example polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyamide (PA), polypropylene, copolyester, in particular Tritan®, elastomer or a mixture thereof, in particular a mixture of PBT and PET.

The application member 26 is made from a porous, hydrophobic sintered material, in particular from PE, for example Porex ^® , as defined earlier. The pore size is preferably between 20 and 60 μιη.

Preferably, the refill 20 is produced such that the application member 26 can be removed manually from the refill 20 via the opening 31.

The body 23 comprises comprises a hair-product filling aperture 48 closed by a stopper 46. Such an aperture 48 makes it possible to fill the reservoir 30 when it is empty without removing the application member.

In the variant illustrated in Figures 7 and 9, the body 23 is of substantially cylindrical form, with a circular base, the application member 26 being introduced into an opening 31 of the cylindrical side wall of the body 23, the circular walls of the ends of the body forming the front and rear walls 38 and 40 of the refill 20. It may be possible to remove at least one of the circular walls 38 and 40 in order to allow filling of the reservoir 30.

In the variant illustrated in Figure 9, the application member 26 has a thickness e equal to approximately 5 mm and the refill 20 comprises a seal 50 in the opening 31 that makes it possible to guarantee the seal between the application member 26 and the edges of the opening 31.

Example 1

In this example, the refill comprises a body that has a cavity and a porous application member filling the cavity. The application member is a non-woven porous member having a density substantially equal to 0.13 g/cm ³ , having a length of 90 mm, for a height of 21 mm and a thickness of 10 mm. The application member is soaked with hair product to the point of saturation.

The hair product introduced into the refill 20 is an anhydrous serum solution.

The refill is mounted on the system of Figures 1 and 2 described above. The system is closed at the end of a standard lock of hair having a length substantially equal to 27 cm and is moved along said lock at a speed of 2 cm/s. This operation of applying the hair product to a lock of hair is repeated 75 times without changing or filling the refill between each operation and each time taking a fresh standard lock of hair. Each lock of hair is weighed to ascertain the amount of hair product applied to it.

The graph according to Figure 5 represents the amount of hair product applied in each operation as a function of the number of times the system has been used on the standard locks of hair.

The amount of hair product applied varies greatly depending on the number of applications. Said amount is 0.45 g in the 7th operation and less than 0.05 g in the 75th operation. The variation in amount of hair product measured per lock is greater than 85%.

Example 2

In this example, the refill 20 is as illustrated in Figures 3 and 4.

The application member is a porous material made from hydrophobic polyethylene having a mean pore size of 20 to 60 μιη.

The hair product contained in the refill is the same as that in Example 1. The weight of hair product contained in the refill is approximately 7.2 g.

The refill 20 is mounted on a system identical to that of Example 1. The hair product is applied to standard locks identical to that of Example 1 according to the same operating method as that of Example 1.

The graph according to Figure 6 represents the amount of hair product applied in each operation as a function of the number of times the system has been used on the standard locks of hair.

The amount of hair product applied is substantially constant between the first and the 75th operations. There is no observable significant decrease, unlike in Example 1.

The amount of hair product measured is 0.064 g +/- 0.02 g per lock. The variation in amount of hair product deposited per lock is less than 35%.

Example 3

In this example, the refill 20 is as illustrated in Figure 7.

The application member is identical to that of Example 2. The hair product contained in the refill is the same as that in Examples 1 and 2. The weight of hair product contained in the refill is approximately 3.8 g.

The refill 20 is mounted on a system identical to that of Examples 1 and 2.

The hair product is applied to a standard lock identical to that of Examples 1 and 2 and the same operating method is used.

The graph according to Figure 8 represents the amount of hair product applied in each operation as a function of the number of times the system has been used on the standard locks of hair.

The amount of hair product applied is substantially constant between the first and the 75th operations. There is no observable significant decrease, unlike in Example 1.

The amount of hair product measured is 0.0126 g +/- 0.0025 g per lock. The variation in amount of hair product deposited per lock is less than 20%.

Example 4

In this example, the refill 20 is as illustrated in Figure 9.

The application member is a porous material made from hydrophobic polyethylene having a mean pore size of 20 to 60 μιη.

The hair product contained in the refill is the same as that in Examples 1 and 2. The weight of hair product contained in the refill is approximately 3.4 g.

The refill 20 is mounted on a system identical to that of Examples 1 and 2. The hair product is applied to a standard lock identical to that of Examples 1 and 2 according to the same operating method.

Figure 10 represents the amount of hair product applied in each operation as a function of the number of times the system has been used on the standard locks of hair.

The amount of hair product measured is substantially constant between the first and the 75th operations. There is no observable significant decrease, unlike in Example 1.

The amount of hair product measured is 0.0364 g +/- 0.0016 g per lock. The variation in amount of hair product deposited per lock is less than 5%.

Examples 2 to 4 above thus clearly show that the invention makes it possible to obtain an application of hair product that is substantially constant over time for at least 75 applications for treating locks.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments described above.

For example, the application member may have a form other than a rectangular parallelepipedal form.