The present invention relates to brushes for applying a cosmetic product to the eyelashes or eyebrows, in particular a makeup or care product, for example mascara, and to packaging and application devices comprising such a brush.

A very large number of applicators, in which the brush comprises a core formed by two arms of a metal wire that are twisted together and grip bristles, are known. Since the bristles used are generally the same length, once the arms are twisted, the brush has an envelope surface in the form of a cylinder of revolution. Such a cylinder of revolution shape has limited effectiveness in terms of loading the eyelashes with product and separation.

Efforts have thus been made to give the envelope surface more complex shapes so as to form on the brush, after wiping, zones that are more heavily laden with product, making it possible to properly load the eyelashes, and zones that are less heavily laden or are laden little, these being usable to separate the eyelashes. Finding the shape that results in the optimum makeup result requires numerous tests, since a large number of factors come into play.

In addition, it is economically advantageous for the brush to be able to be manufactured quickly and easily.

Numerous brushes have been proposed, with facets or notches machined in the longitudinal direction of the core.

The patent applications EP 0 792 603, EP 1 236 419, EP 1 236 420 and EP 1 236 421 disclose mascara brushes that can comprise facets which can be substantially planar and parallel to the core, and which have a generally oval contour. In these applications, the facets of one and the same brush are all identical.

The application FR 2 748 913 relates to a toothed brush, which, on account of the presence of the teeth, comprises longitudinal notches.

The subject of the patent application FR 2 715 038 is a mascara brush comprising a variable-width face, having non-rectilinear edges, and being able to define grooves.

FR 2 605 505 describes a mascara brush comprising facets that form ridges between one another. The patent US 5 357 987 discloses a mascara brush comprising a cross section with a rectangular overall shape.

In EP 0 842 620, the cross section of the brush can be droplet-shaped, the brush comprising a longitudinal edge.

In FR 2 874 798, the cross section of the brush can be star-shaped, the brush being able to comprise longitudinal edges distributed all around the axis.

US 2008/0163884 relates to a mascara brush comprising two cut faces separated by a U-shaped channel.

In FR 2 715 038, the brush may comprise planar facets or longitudinal grooves. The subject of WO 2012/140572 is a mascara brush comprising non-planar faces that define non-rectilinear edges between one another.

Finally, FR 2 991 560 relates to a brush with a flattened cross section.

There is a need to make it easier to apply makeup along the entire row of eyelashes, and in particular at the corner of the eye.

There is also a need to improve brushes, in particular to benefit from brushes that are capable of satisfactorily making up the eyelashes and eyebrows, by providing a sufficient load of product and suitable combing.

The invention aims to meet all or some of these needs and therefore the subject thereof, according to one of its aspects, is a brush for applying a product to the eyelashes and/or eyebrows, comprising:

- a core, in particular a twisted core, that extends along a longitudinal axis X, and

- bristles that are held by the core in a portion of the core carrying the bristles, the bristles having free ends that define an envelope surface S,

the envelope surface S having at least one grooved zone, the grooved zone extending along more than half the length of the portion carrying the bristles,

the envelope surface S having at least first and second facets that are disposed on either side of the grooved zone and converge in the direction of the grooved zone when the brush is viewed in cross section, the grooved zone being delimited laterally by two outer edges, the spacing between the two outer edges being smaller than a largest radius of the envelope surface in the cross section. A "facet" is understood to be a cut face delimited by visible edges of the envelope surface of the brush. A facet is defined preferably by a generatrix extending in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the core and progressing along a directrix, for example coplanar with the longitudinal axis of the core. A facet may be planar or non- planar, having, for example, a curvature that is concave or convex toward the outside. Such a curvature may depend on the rectilinear or curved form of the generatrix. In a variant, the curvature of the facet may vary, being, for example, wavy. A facet may be planar or convex. The facet(s) may promote the application and the transfer of the product onto the eyelashes or eyebrows.

The grooved zone may comprise at least one groove, or a plurality of grooves.

Thus, the two outer edges of the grooved zone may be separated by a groove or a plurality of grooves, for example at least two grooves, or even three grooves. The grooves may extend along at least half the length of the portion of the core carrying the bristles. The brush may also comprise one or more grooves that extend along less than half the length of the portion of the core carrying the bristles.

A "groove" is understood to be a long, narrow recess made in the envelope surface of the brush. Within the meaning of the invention, a facet is different than a groove. A groove is long and narrow, having the form of a slot, whereas a facet is relatively wide and flattened. A groove is narrower than a facet. The grooves may make it possible to form a reserve of product in the troughs between the edges.

By virtue of the presence of the grooves and facet(s), the invention thus makes it possible to form both reserves of product and application zones, thereby allowing the user to fully make up at least one eye, or even both eyes, without having to reload the brush with product.

Moreover, on meeting the eyelashes during application, the outer edges of the grooved zone make it possible to catch hold of and stick to the eyelashes from the root thereof. In addition, the groove(s) of the grooved zone make it possible to load the eyelashes with product.

The "outer edges" of the grooved zone are understood to be the two farthest- apart edges of the grooved zone when the latter is viewed in cross section, in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis X of the core. The two outer edges of the grooved zone are spaced apart for example by a distance of between 0.5 and 8 mm, better still between 1 and 4 mm, for example 2 mm.

In one embodiment, the two outer edges of the grooved zone belong, in a cross section of the envelope surface, to a contour of non-circular overall shape of an angular sector of the envelope surface.

The two outer edges of the grooved zone may be joined, in a cross section of the envelope surface, to the first and second facets, respectively. The first and second facets may be planar, concave or convex, preferably planar or concave.

The two outer edges of the grooved zone may be rectilinear, in particular parallel to one another. They may be parallel to the longitudinal axis X of the core or inclined with respect to the latter. In a variant, the outer edges of a groove are curved, being for example concave or convex toward the outside.

The spacing between the two outer edges may be smaller than a greatest width of at least one of the first and second facets. The width of a facet is measured perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the core.

The first and second facets may extend along at least half the length of the portion of the core carrying the bristles.

In one embodiment, an angular extent of the grooved zone about the longitudinal axis of the core is less than 120° or less than 90°, better still less than 60°, even better still less than 45°.

An angular extent of the angular sector comprising the grooved zone and the facets, measured about the longitudinal axis of the core, may be greater than 120°, or greater than 150°, better still greater than 180°.

In one embodiment, the outer edges of the grooved zone contain the point farthest from the core, when the brush is viewed in cross section, in the half cross section comprising said outer edges.

The cross section of the brush may have a plane of symmetry which is a median plane for the grooved zone.

The grooved zone may have a difference in radius between trough Rl and peak R2 of between 1/2 and 1/8, or between 1/3 and 1/6, or even between 1/4 and 1/5 of the maximum radius R of the envelope surface in said cross section. The term "peak" is understood to mean all of the points of the grooved zone that are farthest from the core, when the brush is viewed in cross section. The term "trough" is understood to mean all of the points of the grooved zone that are closest to the core, when the brush is viewed in cross section. The difference in radius may be measured between the highest peak, that is to say the one farthest from the core, and the deepest trough, that is to say the one closest to the core.

The cross section may be taller than it is wide and the grooved zone may be situated at the top or bottom end of the cross section.

The envelope surface may be of cylindrical overall shape. The overall shape of the envelope surface corresponds to the envelope surface minus the grooves and facets.

The envelope surface S may be at least partially in the form of a cylinder of revolution about the longitudinal axis X of the core. In cross section, the brush has at least one angular sector portion that does not have grooves and facets.

The brush may comprise at least two facets, these two facets being able to be symmetrical to one another with respect to a plane containing the longitudinal axis of the core, or even three or more. In one embodiment, the brush comprises exactly two facets or exactly three facets.

As seen along the longitudinal axis of the core in cross section, a facet may extend about the axis over an angular extent of less than 120°. This ensures that each facet is located on one side of the brush.

The facets may all be identical. At least two facets may be identical to one another.

In a variant, the envelope surface has at least one first facet and at least one second facet that are different from one another. On account of its different shape, the second facet may make it possible to provide different makeup characteristics.

"Facets different from one another" should be understood as meaning that the first and second facets differ from one another in terms of one at least of their width, length, depth, distance to the core and angle relative to the core.

The second facet may be smaller than the first facet in terms of at least one of its dimensions, i.e. at least one of its width and/or its length and/or its depth is smaller than the width and/or length and/or depth of the first facet. A facet may have a width which increases or decreases toward the proximal end of the portion of the core carrying the bristles, along at least a portion of the length of the facet, or even along the entire length of the facet.

A facet may have a width which decreases or increases toward the distal end of the portion of the core carrying the bristles, along at least a portion of the length of the facet.

A facet may extend along the entire length L of the portion of the core carrying the bristles, or only along a part thereof, for example along at least 50% of this length L, better still at least 60%, or even at least 70%. The facet may extend along less than 95% of the length L of the portion of the core carrying the bristles, or along less than 90%, or even along less than 80%>.

A facet may in particular extend as far as the proximal end of the portion of the core carrying the bristles.

A facet may extend parallel to the longitudinal axis X of the core. This means that the facet is made in a plane parallel to the longitudinal axis X of the core. It is possible for the envelope surface not to have facets that are not parallel to the longitudinal axis X of the core.

In a variant or in addition, the envelope surface may define at least one facet that extends longitudinally and in an inclined manner with respect to the longitudinal axis X of the core in the direction of the distal end. The term "inclined" should be understood as meaning that a general direction of the facet makes an angle with the longitudinal axis of the core. The generatrix defining the corresponding facet may in particular progress along a directrix that is not parallel to the longitudinal axis of the core, in particular rectilinear and at an angle thereto, or curved.

A facet may be inclined in the direction of the distal end of the core, i.e. the inclination of the facet with respect to the longitudinal axis of the core is such that the facet approaches the longitudinal axis of the core toward the distal end of the brush. All of the facets of the brush may be inclined in the direction of the distal end. It is possible for the brush not to have a facet inclined in the direction of the proximal end.

In a variant or in addition, a facet may be inclined in the direction of the proximal end of the core. This means that the inclination of the facet with respect to the longitudinal axis of the core is such that the facet approaches the longitudinal axis of the core toward the proximal end of the brush. All of the facets of the brush may be inclined in the direction of the proximal end. It is possible for the brush not to have a facet inclined in the direction of the distal end.

The envelope surface may have an overall shape that is at least partially frustoconical or ogival. This may make it possible for there to be zones on the envelope surface that are situated at different distances from the core and are thus wiped differently. The zones that are loaded the most may be used to load the eyelashes with product and the zones that are less loaded may be used to separate the eyelashes.

The envelope surface may comprise a frustoconical distal portion with a cross section that becomes smaller toward the free end of the core. The frustoconical distal portion may extend along a length greater than one quarter of the length L of the portion of the core carrying the bristles, better still greater than one third of the length L of the portion of the core carrying the bristles, and even better still greater than half the length L of the portion of the core carrying the bristles.

The envelope surface may have at least one cross section with a shape that is not entirely polygonal, in particular a shape that is at least partially circular, in particular of circular shape on the distal-end side. "On the distal-end side" should be understood as meaning that said at least one cross section is nearer to the distal end than to the proximal end of the portion of the core carrying the bristles; in other words, less than ½ L from the distal end of the portion of the core carrying the bristles and greater than ½ L from the proximal end of the portion of the core carrying the bristles, where L is the length of the portion of the core carrying the bristles measured between its proximal end and its distal end. Said at least one cross section may be less than one third, or even less than one quarter of the length L from the distal end of the portion of the core carrying the bristles. The length L may be between 15 mm and 45 mm, better still between 20 mm and 40 mm, for example between 25 mm and 35 mm.

It is possible for the brush not to have a distal end in the form of a point. It may be of not entirely prismatic shape, at least at its distal end.

The circular cross section may be provided at a point of the core located less than 1/3 L from the distal end of the portion of the core carrying the bristles. The circular cross section may be provided at a point of the core located less than 1/4 L from the distal end of the portion of the core carrying the bristles. It is possible for the brush not to have any cross section of rectangular form, in particular at its distal end.

The brush may be chamfered at its proximal and/or distal end. In one exemplary embodiment, the brush is chamfered at its distal and proximal ends.

The envelope surface, apart from the facets and the grooves, may be cylindrical. The envelope surface, apart from the facets and the grooves, may be a surface of revolution.

The envelope surface may be symmetrical with respect to the longitudinal axis X of the core. In a variant, the envelope surface does not exhibit axial symmetry.

The longitudinal axis of the core of the brush may be rectilinear or curved. It is for example rectilinear.

When the longitudinal axis of the core of the brush is curved, the grooved zone may be situated on the side of the brush that is convex toward the outside. Such a configuration of the brush makes it possible to accentuate the reservoir effect of the grooved zone, inasmuch as the bristles are more spaced apart there on account of the effect of the curvature of the core which is convex toward the outside.

The core may comprise a portion carrying bristles that has a proximal end intended to be fixed to the stem of the applicator and a distal end.

The distal end of the core may be situated on the longitudinal axis Y of the stem to which the core is attached.

At its opposite end from the brush, the stem may be fixed to a closure cap of a container.

Preferably, the core is a twisted core. The expression "twisted core" should be understood as meaning a core formed by twisting together two arms of a metal wire, in a conventional manner, the bristles being clamped between the arms.

Device

A further subject of the invention is a packaging and application device comprising:

a container containing a product to be applied, in particular a mascara, and

a brush according to the invention, as defined above. The container may be provided with a wiping member for removing the excess product present on the stem and on the brush. This wiping member comprises, for example, a lip made of an elastomer material, defining a wiping orifice which preferably has a circular cross section, the diameter of which corresponds substantially to that of the stem.

Manufacturing method

A further subject of the invention is a method for manufacturing a brush according to the invention, comprising the steps of:

- producing a brush blank, in particular a twisted-core brush blank, in particular having an envelope surface with a cylindrical shape, preferably a rotationally symmetrical shape,

- machining the blank so as to obtain at least one grooved zone and at least first and second facets according to the invention.

The facet(s) may be formed by moving a cutting tool both along an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the core and along an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the core.

In a variant or in addition, the facet(s) may be formed by moving a cutting tool about an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the core, in particular an axis parallel to the facet.

The cutting tool preferably has an axis of rotation parallel or perpendicular to the facet.

The method may also comprise the step of curving the core of the brush so as to obtain a curved brush, the grooved zone being situated on the side of the brush that is convex toward the outside. The core may be curved before the grooved zone is machined or, in a variant, the core may be curved after the grooved zone has been machined.

Makeup method

A further subject of the invention is a makeup method, wherein a brush as defined above is loaded with product, in particular with cosmetic, makeup or care product, and then the product is applied to the surface to be made up, in particular the eyelashes or eyebrows, preferably by performing a rotational movement or a combined rotational and translational movement of the brush relative to the surface to be made up, in particular relative to the row of eyelashes or eyebrows. The rotational movement is carried out about the longitudinal axis X of the core. The combined rotational and translational movement is carried out by rotation about the longitudinal axis X of the core and translation along an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis X of the core.

The rotational movement or the combined rotational and translational movement of the brush makes it possible to bring the surface to be made up into contact with a zone of the brush that is very heavily laden with product, in particular a groove, by catching hold of the eyelashes at their roots via outer edges and loading them with product that has collected in the trough(s) of the grooved zone, and then with a zone that promotes application, in particular a facet.

Detailed description

The invention may be understood better from reading the following detailed description of nonlimiting illustrative embodiments thereof and from studying the appended drawing, in which:

- Figure 1 shows an example of a packaging and application device according to the invention, in schematic and partial longitudinal section,

Figure 2 is a cross section of an example of a brush according to the invention, and

Figures 3a to 3 g are views similar to figure 2 of variant embodiments. In the rest of the description, identical elements or elements having identical functions bear the same reference signs. Their description is not repeated for each of the figures, only the main differences between the embodiments being mentioned.

The packaging and application device 1 shown in figure 1 comprises a container 2 containing a product P to be applied to the eyelashes or eyebrows and an applicator 3 which may be fixed removably to the container 2 in the example in question. The product P comprises, for example, one or more pigments, in particular an iron oxide. It is for example a mascara.

The applicator 3 comprises a stem 5, of longitudinal axis Y, which is provided at a distal end 5 a with a brush 10 according to the invention and at the other end with a gripping member 11, which likewise constitutes a cap for closing the container 2 in a sealed manner. As can be seen in particular in figure 1, said container 2 has a body 13 provided at the top with a threaded neck 14 onto which the gripping member 11 can be screwed in order to close the container 2 in a sealed manner. In a variant, the applicator may be fixed to the container in some other way.

The neck 14 may accommodate, as illustrated, a wiping member 20 which is for example inserted into the neck 14. This wiping member 20 comprises a lip 26 that defines a wiping orifice having a diameter adapted to that of the stem 5.

The brush 10 may be fixed, in a conventional manner, in a seat provided at the distal end 5 a of the stem 5, which is advantageously made of a thermoplastic material. The brush 10 comprises a twisted metal core 40 comprising a portion 43 carrying bristles 41, of length L. The core is fixed at a proximal end 40a in the corresponding seat of the stem 5, via a portion without bristles that may have a length of around 8 mm. The portion 43 of the core carrying the bristles has a free distal end 40b.

As illustrated in figure 2, the free ends of the bristles 41 define an envelope surface S of the brush 10. The bristles 41 extend along a length L of the core of preferably between 25 mm and 35 mm, for example equal to 30 mm.

The core 40 is formed conventionally by two arms of a metal wire folded in a

U-shape, the bristles 41 being held between the turns of the core 40. The diameter of the metal wire is for example between 0.1 and 1 mm. The diameter of the bristles is for example between 0.06 and 0.35 mm.

The maximum radius of the envelope surface S, corresponding to the radius of the smallest cylinder of revolution in which the brush is inscribed, is between 3 mm and 6 mm, for example 4.5 mm.

The core 40 of the brush 10 is rectilinear in the example in question, extending along a rectilinear longitudinal axis X. In a variant, it is curved. The grooved zone may be situated, in this case, on the side of the brush that is convex toward the outside.

As illustrated in figure 2, the envelope surface S comprises a first facet 60 and a second facet 65 which extend, as illustrated, parallel to the longitudinal axis X of the core.

The envelope surface S also has a grooved zone 70 which comprises a single groove 75 in the example described, and which extends along at least half the length of the portion of the core carrying the bristles. The first and second facets 60 and 65 are disposed on either side of the grooved zone 70 and converge in the direction of the grooved zone when the brush is viewed in cross section, as illustrated in figure 2.

Moreover, the grooved zone is delimited on either side by two outer edges 71 and 72. The spacing e between the two outer edges 71 and 72 is smaller than a largest radius R of the envelope surface in the cross section.

Moreover, the grooved zone has a difference in radius between the trough Rl and the peak R2 which is around 0.4 of the maximum radius R of the envelope surface in said cross section.

The two outer edges 71 and 72 of the grooved zone 70 do not belong, in a cross section of the envelope surface, to a contour of circular overall shape of an angular sector of the envelope surface. The envelope surface of the brush comprises an angular sector 80 of circular overall shape, which is separated from the two outer edges 71 and 72 by the facets 60 and 65, and the two outer edges of the grooved zone are joined, in the cross section of the envelope surface, to each of said first and second facets.

The spacing e between the two outer edges may be smaller than a greatest width / of at least one of the first and second facets. The width of a facet is measured perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the core.

In one embodiment, an angular extent a of the grooved zone is less than 120° or less than 90°, better still less than 60°, even better still less than 45°.

An angular extent β of the angular sector comprising the grooved zone and the facets may be greater than 120°, or greater than 150°, better still greater than 180°.

On meeting the eyelashes during application, the outer edges of the grooved zone make it possible to catch hold of and stick to the eyelashes from the root thereof. In addition, the groove(s) of the grooved zone make(s) it possible to load the eyelashes with product.

In the example which has just been described, the grooved zone 70 comprises a single groove 75, but if this is not the case, and if the grooved zone comprises a plurality of grooves, for example two, as illustrated in figure 3a, or even more, as illustrated in figure 3b, this does not represent a departure from the scope of the present invention.

The two facets 60 and 65 may be symmetrical to one another, with respect to a plane containing the longitudinal axis of the core, as illustrated in figure 2. In a variant, the envelope surface has at least one first facet and at least one second facet that are different from one another, as illustrated in figure 3c. The second facet 65 is smaller than the first facet 60 in terms of at least one of its dimensions, i.e. at least one of its width and/or its length and/or its depth is smaller than the width and/or length and/or depth of the first facet.

The facets may be planar, as illustrated above, or, in a variant, at least one of the facets may be concave or convex. By way of example, a brush comprising a facet 60 that is concave toward the outside is illustrated in figure 3d and an example of a brush, the envelope surface of which comprises two concave facets 60 and 65 with different shapes from one another, is illustrated in figure 3e.

The brush may comprise even more facets, for example four, as illustrated in figure 3f. In this example, the brush likewise comprises four grooved zones 70 that are disposed in alternation with the facets, which have a concave shape toward the outside. The grooved zones 70 are disposed substantially at 90° to one another.

In another exemplary embodiment, illustrated in figure 3g, the facets are planar, and the cross section of the brush has a substantially square shape, minus the grooved zone 70.

Of course, further combinations of grooves and facets are possible without departing from the scope of the present invention. Generally, the envelope surface can comprise a different number of facets and grooves and it is possible for the latter not to be identical to one another and/or distributed regularly around the core 40.

The ends 40a and 40b of the envelope surface S may be chamfered. This can make it easier for the brush 3 to pass through the wiping member 20. The chamfer at the distal end and the chamfer at the proximal end may be different. The chamfer at the distal end may, in particular, be less inclined than that at the proximal end. In a variant, it is possible for the brush not to have such end chamfers.

The invention is not limited to the illustrative embodiments that have just been described, the features of which may be combined with one another within variants that are not illustrated.