The present invention relates to an applicator for applying a product to the eyelashes and/or eyebrows, having a moulded applicator member, and to a packaging and application device comprising such an applicator.

A large number of applicators having an applicator member that comprises a core and applicator elements moulded in one piece with the core have already been proposed.

Application EP 2 084 987 discloses an applicator member comprising applicator elements that have a notch at their distal end, said notch being open in a direction away from the core.

Application FR 2 939 619 discloses an applicator member comprising moulded applicator elements that have a fork at their distal end. The fork is composed of a multiplicity of notches that adjoin one another.

Application WO 01/05271 discloses an applicator member comprising applicator elements 1 11 in the form of a fir tree, as illustrated in Figure 3, or in the form of a pine cone, as illustrated in Figure 2. As illustrated in Figures 2 and 3, these applicator elements have, at their periphery, a plurality of protuberances 116 which form notches 114 between one another and are joined to the body of the applicator element 111 having an envelope surface SE. The protuberances 116 end in a point. In the case of the fir-tree shape, illustrated in Figure 3, the protuberances 116 are oriented in the direction of the core 110. In the case of the pine-cone shape, illustrated in Figure 2, the protuberances 1 16 adjoin one another and are oriented in the direction of the free end 126. The notches 1 14 defined by the protuberances 116 adjoin one another. There is a need to further improve applicators having a moulded applicator member in order to allow the user to apply makeup such that the eyelashes are loaded and separated as effectively as possible.

Summary

A subject of the invention, according to one of its aspects, is an applicator for applying a product to the eyelashes and/or eyebrows, comprising a moulded applicator member having:

a core having a longitudinal axis X,

a plurality of applicator elements extending outwardly from the core, the applicator elements each having at least two adjacent notches that are open in a direction away from the core and do not adjoin one another.

The fact that at least some applicator elements of the applicator have at least two adjacent notches that are open in a direction away from the core makes it possible, when the applicator is used with a cosmetic product, in particular mascara, to have a greater storage capacity for the product to be applied to the eyelashes and/or eyebrows, thereby making it possible to load the eyelashes and/or eyebrows effectively with product during application.

The fact that the notches do not adjoin one another makes it possible for the notches to be sufficiently rigid to limit the deformation of the applicator element and as a result to provide effective retention of product, and also allows a relatively large contact surface area between the eyelashes and/or eyebrows and the applicator element and as a result makes it possible to provide effective loading of the eyelashes.

An applicator element is viewed from the front when it is viewed in projection onto a plane defined by the longitudinal axis of the applicator element and the axis of its largest dimension in cross section, the longitudinal axis of the applicator element being the axis defined by the largest dimension of the applicator element perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the core. When the applicator element is axi symmetrical, the front view is defined as the projection onto any longitudinal plane of the applicator element. When the applicator element has a flattened overall shape, the front view corresponds to a projection in a direction perpendicular to the flattening plane.

The expression "longitudinal axis of the core" denotes the line connecting all of the centres of mass of the cross sections of the core. The longitudinal axis may be a central axis, or even an axis of symmetry for the core, in particular when the core has a circular cross section or a cross section in the overall shape of a regular polygon. The longitudinal axis of the core may be rectilinear or curved and may be contained in a plane, which may be a plane of symmetry for some, or even for all of the cross sections of the core. Preferably, the longitudinal axis of the core is rectilinear.

The expression "applicator elements" denotes individualizable projecting elements that are used to apply the product and to separate the eyelashes and are produced in accordance with the invention.

The term "notches" denotes small openings, produced in an applicator element, that extend from the interior of the applicator element towards the periphery thereof. Preferably, the notches are through-notches, that is to say that they open towards the outside on at least two opposite sides of the applicator element. The notches are preferably visible when the applicator element is viewed from the front.

The expression "adjacent notches that do not adjoin one another" denotes notches which follow one another on the applicator element but are discontinuous; that is to say that they do not share any point on the contour of the applicator element. The notches are preferably separated by a solid section of the applicator element, having a straight or curved contour in front view, said section not being limited to a point. The adjacent notches may each be located on a different side of the applicator element or be located on the same side of the applicator element. It is possible for the applicator element to have only two adjacent notches, each on one side of the applicator element.

The applicator elements may consist of the same material as a part of the core, better still all of the core. The applicator elements may thus be injection- moulded from thermoplastic material with at least a part of the core, better still all of the core.

Moulding may be carried out with the aid of a mould with slides making it possible to produce the notches. The notches are preferably produced in the demoulding direction so as to make it easier to design and open the mould after manufacturing.

Each applicator element may comprise at least three notches, better still at least four notches, which may appear to be through-notches when the applicator element is viewed from the front.

The applicator elements preferably have a flattened cross section, the largest dimension, in cross section, being at least three times larger than the maximum thickness of the applicator element, in particular being between 0.6 mm and 2.4 mm. The notches are preferably produced in the flattening plane.

The expression "flattened cross section" should be understood as meaning that the applicator elements have, at least over a part of their height, a cross section, measured perpendicularly to their direction of elongation, which has an elongate shape in a flattening plane, that is to say is wider than it is thick.

The applicator elements preferably have, in front view, an envelope surface that is approximately in the form of a petal or half a petal. The envelope surface may have, in front view, a width that increases over a part of its height which extends from the base of the applicator element in the direction of the free end of the latter, and then decreases over the rest of its height. Preferably, the contour of the envelope surface, in front view, does not have any angular points. This form makes it possible in particular to have a large contact surface area with the eyelashes and/or eyebrows during the application of the product.

As a variant, the applicator elements have, in front view, a width which increases in the direction of their distal end over their entire height. The applicator elements may each be in the form, in front view, of an inverted truncated triangle.

Each applicator element preferably comprises, in side view, two lateral edges that extend from the core towards the free end of the applicator element. The two lateral edges may have a straight or curved, in particular convex or concave, profile.

The expression "side view" denotes the projection onto a plane at right angles to the flattening plane and parallel to the longitudinal axis of the applicator element.

Preferably, the applicator elements narrow, in side view, towards their free end over a part of their height, better still over their entire height, the distance between the two lateral edges of each applicator element decreasing in the direction of the free end of the applicator element.

The angle which the two lateral edges of the applicator element form in side view may be between 1° and 15°.

The applicator elements may all be identical, give or take one homothetic transformation, if need be.

As a variant, at least two applicator elements are different, in particular have different shapes and/or do not have the same notches in terms of shape and/or position. Each applicator element may be symmetrical with respect to its longitudinal axis Z.

The angle that each notch forms, in front view, with the longitudinal axis of the applicator element is preferably less than 90°, better still between 0° and 70°.

Two adjacent notches are preferably oriented, in front view, in different directions, the angle between the axes of the two adjacent notches preferably being between 0° and 180°.

One of the notches may extend along the longitudinal axis of the applicator element.

The notches each preferably have, in front view, two outwardly extending edges. These two edges may be straight lines or curves, in particular diverging or being parallel towards the outside.

The notches may each be V-shaped in front view.

As a variant, the notches may each have, in front view, a width that is approximately constant along their entire length, the width of the notches preferably being between 0.2 mm and 2 mm, better still between 0.5 and 1.2 mm.

The notches preferably have a depth of between 0.5 mm and 2.5 mm.

The ratio t/p of an applicator element may be between 0.1 and 1, better still between 0.2 and 0.5, t being, in front view, the total opening length defined by the sum of the intersection lengths t _1} ...t _n between the notches and the envelope surface S, p being the total solid length defined as the sum of the intersection lengths pi, ...p _n+ i between the solid sections and the envelope surface S.

In front view, the section of the notches of each applicator element preferably makes up less than 40%, better still less than 20%, of the total section of the applicator element, the total section of the applicator element being the section delimited by the envelope surface of the applicator element, the section of the notches being defined as the sum of the sections of each notch of the applicator element, the section of each notch being peripherally delimited by the envelope surface of the applicator element.

The angle between the flattening plane of each applicator element, in profile view, and the longitudinal axis X of the core may be between 60 and 120°. The applicator elements preferably extend perpendicularly to the core. As a variant, the applicator elements are inclined with respect to the core. The expression "in profile view" denotes the projection on a plane parallel to the longitudinal axis of the core and to that of said applicator element.

The angle between the flattening plane of each applicator element, in top view, and the longitudinal axis of the core may be between 60 and 120°. The flattening planes of the applicator elements are preferably perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the core. As a variant, the flattening planes of the applicator elements are oblique with respect to the longitudinal axis of the core.

The expression "in top view" denotes the projection on a plane parallel to the longitudinal axis of the core and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said applicator element.

The applicator elements may be disposed on the core, in one or more rows. The applicator elements of one row may be aligned with or offset with respect to one another, in particular arranged in staggered rows.

Preferably, the rows are distributed equally around the core.

A further subject of the invention is a packaging and application device comprising: an applicator according to the invention, as defined above, a container containing a product to be applied to the eyelashes or eyebrows with the aid of the applicator.

A further subject of the invention is a method for making up the eyelashes and/or eyebrows with the aid of an applicator according to the invention.

The product to be applied may be a mascara or a care product.

The invention may be better understood on reading the following detailed description of non-limiting illustrative embodiments thereof and on examining the appended drawing, in which: - Figure 1 is a schematic and partial view, in longitudinal section, of an example of a packaging and application device produced in accordance with the invention,

Figures 2 and 3 are schematic front views of prior art applicator elements, Figures 4 to 6 are schematic front views of applicator elements according to the invention,

- Figure 7 is a schematic side view of an applicator element according to the invention,

Figures 8 and 9 are schematic and partial top views of applicators,

Figures 10 and 11 are profile views in the direction XI in Figure 8, Figures 12 and 13 are schematic views of applicators according to the invention, viewed along the longitudinal axis of the core, and

Figure 14 schematically and partially illustrates the demoulding of an applicator.

Figure 1 shows a packaging and application device 1 comprising a container 3 containing a product P to be applied to the eyelashes and/or eyebrows and an applicator 2 for applying said product P. The applicator 2 comprises an applicator member 8 according to the invention, which is connected by a stem 7 to a gripping member 5 which also forms a member for closing the container 3. This closure member 5 is, for example, as illustrated, a cap designed to be screwed onto a neck 9 of the container. The container 3 may comprise a wiping member 6 for wiping the applicator 2, fixed in the neck 9 of the container 3.

The applicator member 8 comprises a core 10 carrying applicator elements 11.

If need be, the stem 7 may comprise an annular narrowing at its portion that is positioned opposite the lip of the wiping member 6, so as not to mechanically stress the latter unduly during storage.

The applicator member 8 may be connected to the stem 7 in various ways and comprises for example, as illustrated, an end piece 4 designed to be fixed in a housing thereof.

The applicator member 8 may be fixed to the stem 7 by any means, and in particular by force-fitting, screwing, stapling, snap-fastening, adhesive bonding, welding or crimping, in the corresponding housing provided at the end of the stem 7.

As a variant, the stem 7 may be inserted into a housing provided in the core 10, or the stem and the core may be produced at least partly in one piece.

Core

The core 10 may have an elongate shape along a longitudinal axis X, which may be rectilinear or curved, preferably being rectilinear.

Preferably, and as illustrated in Figures 12 and 13, the core 10 has a circular cross section along the majority of its length.

In a variant which is not illustrated, the core 10 has a polygonal, in particular hexagonal, cross section along the majority of its length, the sides of the core 10 defining longitudinal faces. The latter may all be provided with applicator elements 11. The faces may be curved or flat. In a variant, only a part of the faces of the core 10 carries applicator elements 11. As illustrated, the longitudinal axis X may be central and the core 10 may be inscribed in cross section in a circle having a diameter less than or equal to 5 mm.

The cross section of the core 10 may widen in the direction of the end piece 4. As a variant, the cross section of the core 10 may narrow in the direction of the end piece 4.

At its distal end, the core 10 may have a head which tapers towards the free end so as to make it easier to return the applicator 1 into the container 3.

The core 10 may be made of a thermoplastic material which is or is not relatively rigid, for example SEBS, a silicone, latex, butyl, EPDM, a nitrile, a thermoplastic elastomer, a polyester elastomer, a polyamide elastomer, a polyethylene elastomer or a vinyl elastomer, a polyolefin such as PE or PP, PVC, EVA, PS, PET, POM, PA or PMMA. It is possible in particular to use the materials known under the trade names Hytrel ^® , Cariflex ^® , Alixine ^® , Santoprene ^® , Pebax ^® , this list not being limiting.

The core 10 is preferably solid.

The core 10 may be produced in one piece with the stem 7 by being moulded together therewith.

The core 10 may be twisted, the applicator elements 11 then following the twist produced by the core 10.

Applicator elements

The applicator member 8 comprises applicator elements 11 which each extend outwardly from the core 10 in the direction of a free end 26, and each have at least two adjacent notches 14 that do not adjoin one another, as illustrated for example in Figure 4.

The applicator elements 11 may each have at least three notches 14, better still at least four notches 14. The applicator elements 11 may each be symmetrical with respect to their longitudinal axis Z.

As a variant, as illustrated in Figure 12, it is possible for the applicator elements 11 not to have an axis of symmetry, and in particular it is possible for the distribution of the notches not to be symmetrical, in particular with respect to the longitudinal axis Z of the applicator element 11.

The two adjacent notches 14 are preferably separated by a solid section 16 of the applicator element 11, the solid sections 16 having a free edge 28, in front view, that is flat or curved, in particular concave, as illustrated in Figure 4.

As illustrated in Figures 4 and 5, an applicator element 11 may have, in front view, a width that increases towards the free end 26, in particular starting from the base 24, over a portion A of its height, and then decreases towards the free end 26 over a portion B of its height. In particular, the applicator element may have, in front view, the form of a hibiscus petal, as illustrated in Figures 4, 5 and 13, or half a hibiscus petal, as illustrated in Figure 12.

In a variant illustrated in Figure 6, the applicator element has, in front view, a width that increases over its entire height L _max , for example an approximately triangular shape.

As illustrated in Figure 7, in side view, the applicator element 11 may have two, preferably flat, sides 32 and 34 that form an angle β at their free end 26. The angle β may be between 1° and 15°. As a variant, the two sides 32 and 34 are curved, being for example portions of parabolas or of hyperbolas.

As illustrated in Figure 7, in side view, the free end 26 preferably forms a plate. As illustrated in Figure 7, the maximum thickness p of each applicator element, in particular at its base, is between 0.1 mm and 2 mm, better still between 0.2 mm and 0.8 mm.

As illustrated in Figures 8 and 9, the applicator elements may be flattened, in particular at their bases, along a flattening plane W. The largest dimension D in cross section of each applicator element 11 is preferably at least three times larger than the maximum thickness p of the applicator element 11, in particular between 0.6 mm and 2.4 mm.

The flattening plane JFmay form, in top view, as illustrated in Figures 8 and 9, an angle a with the longitudinal axis X of the core 10 and, in profile view, as illustrated in Figures 10 and 11, an angle y with the longitudinal axis X of the core 10. The angles a and y are preferably between 60° and 120°.

As a variant, the angle a may be approximately equal to 0°, the flattening plane JFbeing oriented along the longitudinal axis Xoi the core 10.

Preferably, as illustrated in Figures 8 and 11, the applicator elements are perpendicular to the longitudinal axis X of the core 10, the angles a and y being equal to 90°.

As a variant, as illustrated in Figure 9, the applicator elements 11 are oblique with respect to the longitudinal axis X of the core 10, the angle a being other than 90° and the angle y being equal to 90°.

As a variant, as illustrated in Figure 10, the applicator elements 11 are inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis X of the core 10, the angle a being equal to 90° and the angle y being other than 90°. The applicator elements 11 may all be identical, give or take one homothetic transformation.

As a variant, at least two applicator elements 11 are different. Their shape and/or the shape of at least one of their notches 14 and/or the position of at least one of their notches 14 may be different.

The applicator elements 11 are preferably injection- moulded, preferably with the core 10 and from the same material as the core 10.

Notches

The notches 14 of each applicator element 11 are open in a direction away from the core 10. The notches 14 extend from the interior of each applicator element 1 1 towards the periphery of the latter.

One of the notches 14 of at least one of the applicator elements 11 may extend along the longitudinal axis Z of said applicator element 11.

The notches 14 are preferably through-notches, that is to say that the notches 14 open, as illustrated in Figure 7, onto at least two opposite sides 21 and 23 of the applicator element 11.

When the applicator elements 11 are flattened, the notches 14 are preferably produced in the flattening plane W, as illustrated in Figures 4 to 6.

The notches may have, in front view, two outwardly extending lateral edges 20 and 22. The lateral edges 20 and 22 may be curved in front view, as illustrated in Figure 4, or straight, as illustrated in Figures 5 and 6.

As illustrated in Figure 4, the two lateral edges 20 and 22 may diverge towards the outside of the applicator element 1 1, the distance e between the two lateral edges 20 and 22 then increasing towards the outside. As a result, the notches 14 may be V-shaped. As illustrated in Figures 5 and 6, the distance e between the two lateral edges 20 and 22 may be constant and may be between 0.2 mm and 2 mm, better still between 0.8 mm and 1.2 mm.

As illustrated in Figures 4 to 6, each notch 14 preferably has a depth L of between 0.5 mm and 2.5 mm.

In front view, the smallest distance k between the notches, as illustrated in Figures 4 to 6, is preferably greater than or equal to 0.3 mm, the distance k being the smallest distance that separates two notches 14 of an applicator element 11.

As illustrated in Figures 4 and 5, each notch 14 forms an angle Θ with the longitudinal axis Z of the applicator element, the angle Θ being less than 90°, better still between 0° and 70°.

Two adjacent notches 14 preferably form an angle ω between one another, the angle ω being defined as the angle between the elongation axes Yj,... Y _n of the notches 14. The angle ω is preferably between 0° and 180°.

As illustrated in Figures 4 to 6, each notch 14 intersects, in front view, the envelope surface S over an opening length t _1} ...t _n .

As illustrated in Figures 4 to 6, the length, in front view, of the ends of the solid sections 16 defines a solid length p _1} ...p _n +i-

The notches 14 of each applicator element 11 define, in front view, a total opening length t as the sum of the opening lengths t _1} ...t _n .

The solid sections 16 of each applicator element 11 define, in front view, a total solid length p as the sum of the solid lengths pi, ...p _n +i-

The ratio t/p is preferably between 0.1 and 1, better still between 0.2 and 0.5. As illustrated in Figures 4 to 6, the notches 14 of an applicator element 11 each define, in front view, an empty section T _1} ... T„ defined as the surface area of the notch 14 delimited by the envelope surface S.

In front view, the total section J of the notches 14 of an applicator element 1 1, defined as the sum of the empty sections T _1} ... T„ of an applicator element 11 preferably makes up less than 40%, better still less than 20%, of the total section of the applicator element 11 defined as the section delimited by the envelope surface S.

The notches are preferably produced with the aid of a mould with slides 30, as illustrated in Figure 14.

Applicator member

As illustrated in Figures 12 and 13, the applicator elements 11 form at least one row 40, better still a plurality of rows 40.

Preferably, the applicator elements 11 are aligned, as illustrated in Figures 12 and 13, or disposed in staggered rows within one row 40.

The applicator member 8 may have at least two rows 40, better still at least four rows 40 disposed around the longitudinal axis X of the core 10.

All the rows 40 of the applicator member 8 are preferably identical.

The applicator elements of each of the rows 40 preferably have the same abscissae, along the longitudinal axis X, as the applicator elements 1 1 of the same rank in the adjacent rows 40. Thus, the applicator elements 11 of the same rank appear to be aligned when the applicator member 8 is viewed in profile.

The rows 40 are preferably spaced apart regularly around the longitudinal axis of the core 10.

The rows 40 are preferably distributed equally around the core 10. The height L _max of the applicator elements 11 may vary within one row 40.

The applicator elements 11 may have a height L _max that increases in the direction of the stem 4.

As a variant, the applicator elements 11 have a height L _max that decreases in the direction of the stem 4.

The invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments which have just been described, the characteristics of which may be combined with one another as parts of variants which are not illustrated.

The applicator member may have applicator elements as described above, which alternate with applicator elements without notches.

The applicator member may have spikes which alternate with the applicator elements as described above.

The applicator elements may be flocked and as a result have a roughness or may undergo a chemical or mechanical treatment that promotes sliding on the eyelashes or eyebrows.

The expression "comprising a" should be understood as being synonymous with "comprising at least one", and "between" is understood as including the limits, unless specified to the contrary.