EP1362524A1 - Device for applying a product, especially cosmetics, and method for making the same - Google Patents

Abstract

Applicator (1), particularly for cosmetic products, consisting of a fibrous or cellular element (2) has at least part, and preferably half, of its surface (5, 6) used for application covered with projecting fibres (7) made from the same material as that part of the surface. Applicator (1), particularly for cosmetic products, consisting of a fibrous or cellular element (2) has at least part, and preferably half, of its surface (5, 6) used for application covered with projecting fibres (7) made from the same material as that part of the surface. The fibre-covered part of the applicator is made from an elastically deformable or compressible material such as a foam or felt, with a proportion of the fibres made from burst cells or with branches. The applicator can be supplied with a container of a cosmetic product and cam be fitted to a holder.

Description

The present invention relates to devices for applying a product, especially cosmetic, and their manufacturing processes.

"Cosmetic product" means a product as defined in the Council Directive 93/35 / EEC of 14 June 1993 amending for the sixth time 76/768 / EEC.

Many application devices are known which include an organ Foam applicator whose surface is used for the application of the product on the skin, by example a powder, a milk or a cream.

To increase the homogeneity of the makeup result or the comfort to the application, the foam is sometimes flocked. For some products, the presence of flocking may reduce the amount of product that can be loaded by the applicator, which may result in less coverage and / or require the user to recharge more frequently the application member produces.

In addition, it has been found using foams shaped by cutting with a sharp tool that the cell partitions present on the surface of the foam have tendency to scrape the product on the skin, thus making it difficult to deposit a thickness appropriate product.

There is therefore a need to benefit from an application device having an application member that is both comfortable to the application and capable to deposit on the skin the desired quantity of product.

According to one of its aspects, the subject of the invention is an application device a product, in particular a cosmetic product, comprising an applicator member comprising at least less a fibrous or cellular element whose surface serves to apply the product, this device capable of being characterized by the fact that at least a portion of said surface has protruding fibers, these fibers being formed of the same material as the part of the element to which they are connected.

The term "fiber" should be understood in a broad sense and encompasses structures that may not be completely filiform, for example presenting one or several free ends and one or more zones, for example two or three, connected to the rest of the element. A fiber can thus comprise, for example, ramifications. A fiber may comprise one or more filiform extensions having free ends, and connect flexibly to the rest of the element. The fibers are made of one holding with the part of the element to which they are connected.

Thanks to the invention, the surface of the element used for the application can be made more comfortable and more able to load with an increased amount of product.

Fibers can form a down that covers more than a quarter or more of the half, for example more than three quarters of the area used for the application.

The element may be elastically deformable and / or compressible.

The element can be a felt or a foam. This felt or foam may not have only one material.

The term "felt" here means a fibrous structure comprising filaments entangled in all directions. Such a structure can be relatively compact.

At least a portion of the fibers may be formed by cell walls exploded. Such down may provide a softness to the application comparable to that brought by a flocking, without presenting its disadvantages.

The aforementioned down may extend over a surface of the foam which corresponds by example to more than half of the surface of application.

Most of the fibers may have ramifications.

The foam may have on its surface craters, which may have example a depth greater than or equal to 0.4 mm, possibly greater than or equal to at 0.7 mm, for example greater than or equal to 1.3 mm, or even greater than or equal to 1.5 mm. Such craters, which can be obtained by removing the walls of a group of cells, this comprising for example between 5 and 15 cells, allow the foam to store on the surface a quantity of product superior to that which is the case when the Foam was cut with a sharp tool without further processing. The fibers can extend around each crater.

The craters can be scattered, especially regularly scattered, on a surface of the foam which corresponds to more than half of the area of application, by example.

The foam may comprise a network of filiform walls, being made by example in a material chosen from the following list: polyurethane, polyether, polyester, polyvinyl chloride, EVA, this list not being limiting. The element may have hydrophilic properties, in particular incorporating at least one water-absorbing compound, by for example a polyacrylate.

In the case where the foam has hydrophilic properties, and possibly contains water-absorbing compounds, the fact that the foam has a surface condition as defined above can further enhance its affinity for products containing water.

The application member may be, for example, an independent sponge any support.

The application member may be used to take product from a container, being for example housed in the container when it is closed, in the absence of use.

The applicator member may be secured to a support, this support being able to example include a handle or a gripping member adapted to also constitute a closure member of a container containing the product to be applied.

The applicator member may comprise a first foam element attached to a second foam member so as to form an application member connected to a support or alternatively a sponge independent of any support.

The two elements can define between them an interior cavity, in particular a cavity filled with air, giving the application member more flexibility to the application.

Both elements can have surface states substantially identical or different.

The applicator member may be fixed by a central region on a support and present a free peripheral region, capable for example of flexing while being pressed when using against the surface on which the product is to be deposited.

The surface of the application member for the application can be concave outward, such a shape that can increase the amount of product that is responsible for the application organ.

The element may further comprise a flocking.

The application member may have two portions of its surface serving to the application having different surface states, one corresponding for example to the cutting of a foam by a cutting element and the other surface state being different from first, corresponding for example to the treatment of the foam by an abrasive tool.

The abrasion can be carried out by means of a grinding wheel, a milling cutter or a brush.

Abrasion can be performed while the element is compressed.

Another subject of the invention, according to another of its aspects, is a method of manufacture of an application device in which a surface of an element is treated fibrous or alveolar, intended to serve as an application surface, so as to form fibers in the same material as the element, these fibers projecting from the surface of item.

Such a surface state can in particular be obtained by subjecting the surface of the element an abrasive treatment, which allows in the case of a foam to burst the walls of the cells present on the surface of the foam, creating a down and craters.

The abrasive treatment can be carried out by means of a grinding wheel, a milling cutter or of a brush, and take place for example while the element is compressed.

The surface condition may be different depending on the roughness of the wheel or the used strawberry or the nature of the brush and the pressure exerted on the element during the treatment thereof.

The general shape of the element before and after the abrasive treatment may not be substantially modified. The abrasive treatment can alternatively contribute to giving the element its definitive form.

Another subject of the invention, according to another of its aspects, is a device comprising an applicator member comprising at least one fibrous or cellular element, in particular a foam, a surface of which serves for the application of the product, this device characterized by the fact that at least a portion of said surface has a surface state different from that which would be obtained by cutting the element by means of a sharp tool.

Another object of the invention is, according to another of its aspects, a kit of conditioning and application of a cosmetic product, comprising a container containing the product to be applied and an application device as defined above.

Another subject of the invention, according to another of its aspects, is a method of manufacture of an application device in which a surface of an element is treated fibrous or alveolar material, in particular a foam intended to serve at least partially surface of application, so as to give it a surface state different from that obtained by cutting the element with a sharp tool.

• la figure 1 représente de manière schématique une éponge réalisée conformément à l'invention,
• la figure 2 représente de manière schématique une cellule de la mousse,
• la figure 3 est une photographie de la surface d'une mousse après traitement abrasif,
• la figure 4 est une photographie de la surface d'une mousse obtenue par coupe au moyen d'un élément tranchant,
• la figure 5 représente isolément un exemple de fibre,
• les figures 6A à 6D représentent de manière schématique différents outils pouvant être utilisés pour traiter la mousse,
• les figures 7 à 10 illustrent différentes variantes d'éponges, et
• les figures 11 à 15 représentent de manière schématique et partielle, quelques exemples de dispositifs, parmi d'autres, mettant en oeuvre l'invention.

The invention will be better understood on reading the detailed description which follows, non-limiting examples of implementation, and on examining the appended drawing, in which:

• FIG. 1 schematically represents a sponge made according to the invention,
• FIG. 2 schematically represents a cell of the foam,
• FIG. 3 is a photograph of the surface of a foam after abrasive treatment,
• FIG. 4 is a photograph of the surface of a foam obtained by cutting by means of a cutting element,
• FIG. 5 represents, in isolation, an example of a fiber,
• FIGS. 6A to 6D schematically represent various tools that can be used to treat the foam,
• Figures 7 to 10 illustrate different variants of sponges, and
• Figures 11 to 15 show schematically and partially, some examples of devices, among others, implementing the invention.

FIG. 1 shows a sponge 1 intended for example for application a powdery product on the skin.

In the example illustrated, the sponge 1 is constituted by a block of a foam open cells, for example a flexible polyurethane foam. Alternatively, the sponge could be done in a felt.

It can be seen in FIG. 2 that each cell 3 is formed by a plurality of interconnected filiform walls 4 extending in multiple directions. Each cell may for example comprise a succession of four or five walls 4 each substantially rectilinear, forming a loop.

The sponge 1 shown in FIG. 1 has two opposite main faces 5 and 6, slightly concave to the outside, having each received an abrasive treatment in order to form on their surface a down 7 and craters.

The down 7 is formed by the walls of the shredded cells, as can be see the photograph shown in Figure 3.

The surface state of faces 5 and 6 is therefore different from that which would be obtained by cutting the foam with a sharp tool.

There is shown in Figure 4 a photograph of the surface of the foam in the case where it would be cut by means of a cutting tool.

It can be seen from the comparison of Figures 3 and 4 that the surface of the foam that has received the abrasive treatment has shredded cells that form the fibers constituting the down 7 and craters 8 created by the removal of groups of cells.

FIG. 5 shows diagrammatically an example of fiber obtained by destructuring the surface of the foam. We see in this figure that the fiber has ramifications 4a, which may be coplanar or not. For a majority of fibers for example, the distance d measured between a connecting end 4b of the fiber to the rest of the element (that is to say the unaltered structure) and a free end 4c may be greater than the average length of a wall 4 of a cell.

The depth of a crater 8 can be determined for example by a optical method, which consists in making a first development, by means of a microscope, on the walls 4 bordering the crater, then to carry out a second at the point on the walls 4 which constitute the bottom of the crater, and to raise the indication concerning the movement of the microscope between the two.

Using this method, we can measure an average depth of crater, which may for example be greater than 0.7 mm.

Various tools can be used to perform the abrasion treatment of the fibrous or cellular element, in particular foam.

The treatment can be carried out for example while the surface to be treated is substantially flat, the element resting for example on a plane support.

The treatment can be carried out by moving the surface of the element grinding wheel M driven around an axis of rotation substantially perpendicular to the surface treated (FIG. 6A) or substantially parallel to the treated surface (FIG. 6B), a cutter F (Figure 6C) or brush B (Figure 6D).

The number and depth of the craters mentioned above, as well as the length of fibers formed, depends on the abrasive treatment performed and in particular on the pressure exerted on the foam during abrasion as well as the surface condition of the tool used to treat the foam, for example its roughness.

The depth of the craters can thus be for example more or less important, for example between about 0.4 mm and about 2 mm.

The fibers created by the abrasion can extend substantially around each crater.

The presence of down 7 and craters 8 provides many benefits.

First, the down 7 makes the foam softer on application and avoids especially that it scrapes the product deposited on the skin when it is moved to its contact.

Then, the craters 8 constitute cavities that can accumulate produced when the application surface is loaded. Thus, the application surface presents greater ability to load product, which can improve coverage and / or the autonomy of the enforcement body.

FIG. 7 shows a variant of sponge having a face 11 which has received an abrasive treatment and has a down 7 on its surface and an opposite face 12 which has has been obtained by cutting in a conventional manner and has a surface condition similar to the one shown in Figure 4.

One or the other of the faces 11 and 12 can be used at the choice of the user depending on the desired effect.

The application member may consist of a single block of cellular material fibrous, especially of foam, as is the case of the examples of FIGS. 1 and 7 or alternatively by assembling at least two elements, in particular two elements made of foam.

By way of example, there is shown in FIG. 8 a sponge which differs from that represented in FIG. 1 by the fact that the foam block 2 is replaced by two elements 13 and 14 foam assembled according to a median plane 15.

A cavity can still be made within the sponge, as shown in the Figures 9 and 10.

In Figure 9, there is shown a sponge which is formed by the assembly of two elements 17 and 18 in foam, for example of discoid shape, each having received a abrasive treatment on one side, these elements forming between them a cavity 19 filled with air. The elements can be welded together at their periphery 20, around the cavity 19.

The example of Figure 10 differs from that of Figure 9 in that only the element 17 has received on its outer face an abrasive treatment.

In the examples which have just been described, the application a sponge, sometimes called still puff.

It is not beyond the scope of the present invention when the application member is integral with a support, as will now be described with reference to the figures 11 to 16.

FIG. 11 shows a packaging and application kit 20 which comprises a receptacle 21 and an application device 22, which comprises an organ for application comprising a foam element 23 having received on at least a portion of its face 24 for application an abrasion treatment to form a down 7 and craters.

The foam is fixed by the opposite face 25 to a support 26 which constitutes also a closure member of the container.

It may be noted, in the example illustrated, that the peripheral region of the element is free, leaving a space 27 with the support, which can make it possible to provide greater flexibility to the enforcement body.

The container may comprise a movable bottom 28 making it possible to move the product P towards the applicator member 23.

Of course, it is not beyond the scope of the present invention when the container is made differently and comprises for example a sieve 60, as illustrated in FIG. Figure 12.

The applicator member may be secured to a rigid or flexible support which may also not be a closure element of a container.

By way of example, FIG. 13 shows a device 30 for the application of a product, which comprises a handle 31 provided with a head 32 on a face of which is fixed a block 33 of a foam having received on the surface an abrasion treatment to form a down 7 and craters.

FIG. 14 shows another example in which the organ application 40 is integral with a rod 41 partially shown. This rod 41 can be intended for example to dive into a container containing the product, with crossing or not of a wiper.

In general, as is the case in the example considered, the applicator member may comprise a first portion 42 whose surface has received an abrasive treatment and a second portion 43, for example diametrically opposed to the first one, having received no abrasive treatment, after being shaped using a conventional tool.

The application member can still, as illustrated in FIG. integral with a container containing the product to be applied.

FIG. 15 shows a kit 50 comprising a container 51 having a mouthpiece 52 in the upper part, dome-shaped, on which is fixed an organ 53 made of a foam element whose outer surface has received a abrasion treatment to form a down 7 and craters.

The application member can still be received in a housing whose bottom comprises at least one product supply port, as shown in FIG. in this figure that the cellular or fibrous element can be configured so as to come supported by its periphery against a side wall of the housing, or even in support against the bottom of the house.

The invention is not limited to the examples which have just been described, of which can combine all or part of the features together.

Throughout the description, including the claims, the expression "Comprising one" must be understood as being synonymous with "comprising at least a ", unless the opposite is specified.

Claims (39)

Device for applying a product, in particular a cosmetic product, comprising an applicator member comprising at least one fibrous or cellular element, one surface of which serves for the application of the product, characterized in that at least a portion of said surface comprises protruding fibers, these fibers being formed in the same material as the part of the element to which they are connected. Device according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the fibers form a down (7) which covers more than half of the surface used for the application. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the element is elastically deformable. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the element is compressible. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the element is a felt. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the element is a foam. Device according to the preceding claim, characterized in that at least a portion of the fibers is formed by exploded cell walls. Device according to Claim 6 or 7, characterized in that at least a portion of the fibers, in particular the majority of the fibers, have branches (4a). Device according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that for a majority of fibers, a distance (d) between a free end (4c) of the fiber and a connecting end (4b) is greater than the average length of a wall (4) of a cell. Device according to any one of claims 6 to 9, characterized in that the surface of the foam comprises craters (8) having a depth greater than or equal to 0.4 mm. Device according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the craters have a depth greater than or equal to 0.7 mm. Device according to claim 11, characterized in that the craters have a depth greater than or equal to 1.5 mm. Device according to any one of Claims 10 to 12, characterized in that the craters are scattered over a surface of the foam which corresponds to more than half of the application surface. Device according to any one of Claims 6 to 13, characterized in that the foam comprises a network of filiform walls (4). Device according to any one of claims 6 to 14, characterized in that the foam is made of a material chosen from the following list: polyurethane, polyether, polyester, polyvinyl chloride, EVA. Device according to any one of claims 6 to 15, characterized in that the applicator member comprises two elements (17, 18) made of foam, assembled. Device according to Claim 16, characterized in that the two elements define an internal cavity (19). Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the element has hydrophilic properties. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the element incorporates at least one water-absorbing compound. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a receptacle containing a product to be applied. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the applicator member constitutes a sponge. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 20, characterized in that the element is secured to a support (26; 31; 41; 52). Device according to claim 22, characterized in that the element is fixed by its central region on the support and has a free peripheral region. Device according to one of claims 22 and 23, characterized in that the support is a gripping member. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the surface (5, 6) used for the application is concave towards the outside. Device according to any one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that the applicator member has two portions (42, 43) of its application surface which have different surface states. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 26, characterized in that the element further comprises a flocking. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the fibers are obtained by subjecting the element to an abrasive treatment. Device according to Claim 28, characterized in that the abrasion is carried out by means of a grinding wheel (M), a milling cutter (F) or a brush (B). Device according to one of claims 28 and 29, characterized in that the abrasion is performed while the element is compressed. Method of manufacturing an application device, in which one treats a surface of a fibrous or cellular element intended to serve as an application surface, to form fibers in the same material as the element, these fibers forming protruding on the surface of the element. Process according to Claim 31, characterized in that the fibers are obtained by subjecting the surface of the foam to abrasive treatment. Process according to Claim 32, characterized in that the abrasive treatment is carried out by means of a grinding wheel, a milling cutter or a brush. Method according to one of claims 32 and 33, characterized in that the abrasive treatment takes place while the element is compressed. Process according to any one of Claims 31 to 34, characterized in that the general shape of the element before and after the treatment is not substantially modified. Process according to any one of Claims 31 to 34, characterized in that the treatment contributes to giving the element its definitive shape. Process according to any one of Claims 31 to 36, characterized in that the element is made of foam. Process according to Claim 37, characterized in that the foam comprises a network of filiform walls (4). Kit (20; 50) for packaging and applying a cosmetic product, characterized in that it comprises a container (21; 51) containing the product and an application device according to any one of claims 1 at 30.

Images