FR3028155A1 - DEVICE FOR APPLYING A COSMETIC PRODUCT - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a device for applying a cosmetic product, comprising an applicator head having an upper surface intended to come into contact with a surface to be treated, and a lateral surface, the upper surface being generally inclined in an oblique plane. rearward and downward, at an angle to the longitudinal axis (X) of the device, and having at the front an outline of generally triangular shape converging towards the front, when viewed along the longitudinal axis ( X) of the device.

Description

The present invention relates to devices for applying a cosmetic, care or make-up product, and in particular but not exclusively those comprising an applicator head formed by a membrane, defining an application surface intended to be brought into contact with the surface to be treated.

A device of this type is known from the application US 2007/0189841 A1, in the name of the applicant. In this known device, the membrane has an external mounting skirt, and it is made with an internal product supply duct, coaxial with the mounting skirt, for channeling the product from the container to distribution orifices opening on the application surface. The supply duct is engaged on a rigid tip, formed by molding thermoplastic material with a piece fixed on a neck of the container. To avoid any risk of leakage between the nozzle and the supply duct, the latter must be adjusted narrowly on the nozzle, which may hinder its axial displacement relative to the nozzle, and thus affect the deformability of the membrane during application. Furthermore, the membrane has a shape that is generally symmetrical about the container axis, or pyramidal, and is not completely adapted to precisely treat a surface of shape as complex as that of the face. If the application of a care composition allows a certain inaccuracy during the application, it is less the case for a makeup product such as a liquid foundation, small application defects can often be easily noticed. Finally, the container can hinder the visibility of the membrane when the user treats the face by looking at himself with a mirror.

There is therefore a need to remedy all or some of the above disadvantages. According to one of its aspects, the invention thus relates to a device for applying a foundation, comprising an applicator head having a top surface intended to come into contact with a surface to be treated, and a surface lateral, the upper surface being generally inclined in an oblique plane towards the rear and towards the bottom, forming an angle with the longitudinal axis of the device, and presenting at the front an outline of triangular general shape, converging towards the front when observed along the longitudinal axis of the device. Thanks to the invention, the user can easily treat both large areas of the face, for example the cheeks, and areas requiring more precision in the gesture, such as the contour of the nose or eyes. The inclination of the upper surface tends to deter the user from orienting the device with its longitudinal axis perpendicular to the skin, which improves the visibility of the application surface when the user wears makeup in front of a mirror. The upper surface and the lateral surface are preferably respectively by an upper wall and by a peripheral skirt of the applicator head, forming together a membrane, preferably elastically deformable. When the device comprises a container, a product dispensing orifice advantageously opens on the application surface, in particular in the center of the upper surface.

The container may define a gripping surface of the device when the applicator head is secured to the container during the application of the product to the surface to be treated. Preferably, the application surface is movable relative to a support of the container. The applicator head may comprise a product supply duct on the application surface, having a mounting portion fixedly mounted on the support and a flexible intermediate portion, located between the mounting portion and the upper wall, the deformation of the intermediate portion allowing the application surface to move relative to the support during application, without moving the mounting portion relative to the support.

It is possible to achieve the intermediate portion with great flexibility, and thus not to unduly hinder the deformation of the upper wall to the application, while ensuring a good seal of the connection between the supply duct and the container, due to the static contact between the mounting part and the support. The comfort of use is improved, and the risk of leakage decreased.

By "mobile application surface relative to the support", it should be understood that it may deform during application and thus have at least some areas that move relative to the support. As defined by "fixed mounted mounting part", it should be understood that the mounting portion does not move axially when using the applicator head and its possible deformation in contact with the surface to be treated. The mounting part can be snapped onto the support.

By "top wall", it is necessary to understand the wall facing upwards when the device is observed vertically with the applicator head at the top. The intermediate portion is advantageously made with a bellows, which can deform both axially and flexibly, which allows the upper wall to deform multidirectionally to better match the shape of the surface on which the product is applied. The applicator head can also, if necessary, rotate slightly to follow the relief of the face, if the mounting of the applicator head on the support allows it. The bellows also provides the rigidity required for easy mounting of the applicator head, in particular by snapping on the support. The applicator head can be attached to the support only with the help of the intermediate part, which increases the mobility. The applicator head may or may not interact with the container other than at the mounting portion. For example, the applicator head abuts against the container during the deformation of the head during use. The container can thus be arranged to guide the applicator head in axial displacement. The applicator head may comprise, as mentioned above, a peripheral skirt extending towards the container. This peripheral skirt can engage in an annular groove formed by the container, for example an annular groove existing between two coaxial amounts of the support. This can limit the angular movement of the applicator head to use, and obtain the aforementioned axial guidance. The intermediate part may be molded in one piece with the upper wall, preferably being made of the same thermoplastic material, preferably a thermoplastic elastomer. The applicator head can thus be made of a non-cellular material, which can facilitate its cleaning. The application surface, in particular the aforementioned upper surface of the applicator head, is preferably flocked. The lateral surface of the applicator head is preferably flocked as well. In this case, it may be advantageous for the aforementioned peripheral skirt to be externally covered over a portion of its height by a tubular upright of the support, since this makes it possible to mask the lower edge of the flocked zone, which may be irregular and unsightly.

The mounting portion may be rigid, preferably due to the presence of an insert on which a tubular covering portion, integral with the intermediate portion, is overmolded. This insert is preferably in the form of a ring. The insert is preferably made of a material that is more rigid than the tubular portion that covers it, the latter being advantageously molded in the same material as the flexible intermediate portion. The mounting portion may be attached to a mouthpiece, surmounting a dispensing cannula, which may be rigid. The device according to the invention may comprise a non-return valve, upstream of the dispensing orifice of the applicator head.

The device according to the invention may also comprise a closure cap provided with a closing pin of the dispensing orifice. The applicator head preferably has a shape without symmetry of revolution and without axial symmetry. The upper wall of the applicator head is of non-circular contour, when viewed from above, along the longitudinal axis of the container. The outline of the upper wall in plan view has a front portion tapered more than the rear portion. The outline preferably has the form of a tear, the rear portion being for example substantially semicircular, and the front part generally triangular. The outline of the front part can be delimited laterally by two arcs joined at the front by an arc of smaller radius of curvature than the others. These arcs are preferably convex towards the outside. The angle of inclination of the plane in which the upper surface extends relative to a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the device may be between 3 and 10 °, for example between 3 and 5 °.

The peripheral skirt preferably has in cross section and in the upper part a non-circular shape, substantially of the same contour as the upper wall, preferably to a recess where the peripheral skirt becomes cylindrical in revolution to its lower end. The connection of the peripheral skirt and the upper wall can be done without angular zone.

The top wall may have a recess at the dispensing orifice, which may be unique. This recess has for example a form of sphere portion. The dispensing orifice is preferably in the longitudinal axis of the device. The area occupied by the upper surface may be between 2 and 5 cm 2. The container may contain a makeup product, including a liquid foundation. The subject of the invention is also a process for the makeup of human keratin materials, in particular the skin of the face, in which a makeup product is applied using a device according to the invention, as defined above. The invention will be better understood on reading the following detailed description, non-limiting examples of implementation thereof, and on examining the appended drawing, in which: FIG. in elevation, an example of a device for packaging and application according to the invention, - Figure 2 shows the device of Figure 1 in perspective, protective cover removed, - Figures 3 and 4 are two longitudinal sections of the device of 1 and 2, in perpendicular section planes, and with a movement of the piston corresponding to the emptying of the container, FIG. 5 represents in isolation, in perspective and in plan view, the applicator head, FIG. FIG. 7 is an axial section of the applicator head; FIG. 8 is a front view according to VIII of FIG. 7; FIG. 9 is a view from below. according to IX of Figure 7, - the FIG. 10 is a top view along X of FIG. 7, FIG. 11 represents the outlet cannula of the receptacle in isolation, FIG. 12 represents, in isolation, the tip on which the delivery conduit of the applicator head is fixed, FIG. 13 shows an embodiment of the applicator head, in longitudinal section, FIG. 14 is a view similar to FIG. 1 of an alternative embodiment of the packaging and application device, and FIGS. and 16 are longitudinal sections, respectively similar to FIGS. 3 and 4, of the device of FIG. 14.

The packaging and application device 10 according to a first example of implementation of the invention, represented in FIGS. 1 to 13, comprises a container 20 with a longitudinal axis X. This container 20 comprises, as can be seen in Figures 3 and 4 in particular, a body 21 which defines a reservoir 28 containing the product to be applied, for example a makeup product such as a liquid foundation. The body 21 is engaged in a support 23 on which can be mounted removably a protective cover 24. The body 21 protrudes axially downwardly from the support 23, to allow the user to rotate it relative to the support 23, in order to cause the dispensing of the product, as illustrated in FIG. 2. The body 21 houses a piston 26, axially movable along the axis X, which can descend into the body 21 while passing from a high position where the reservoir 28 is full of product as illustrated in Figure 3, at a low position shown in Figure 4, corresponding to emptying the tank 28.

The piston 26 comprises a central tubular portion 30, threaded internally, which is screwed on a drive rod 32, hollow, of axis X. The drive rod 32 extends axially to the vicinity of the bottom 34 of the reservoir 28. The piston 26 comprises at its periphery an annular sealing skirt 35, which is applied with clamping on an inner surface 36, cylindrical of revolution of axis X, of the reservoir 28.

The drive rod 32 rotates with the support 23, so that when the user rotates the body 21 relative to the support 23, the rod 32 rotates inside the piston 26 and the latter tends to move axially along the axis X, because it is prevented from rotating relative to the body 21 by the friction of the skirt 35 on the inner surface 36. The device 10 may comprise, as illustrated, a ball check valve 40, which closes the internal channel 41 of the rod 32 in the absence of distribution of the product contained in the reservoir 28. The rod 32 is molded in one piece with a transverse wall 38 which extends perpendicularly to the axis X and which is connected at its periphery to a ring 39 engaging with the support 23 and for transmitting the rotational drive torque to the rod 32. The latter is surmounted by a dispensing cannula 45 which houses a spring 46 allowing solicit bil the valve 40 resting against its seat at rest.

A tip 50, shown in isolation in FIG. 12, is fixed on the cannula 45. This attachment can be made by snapping-in, the tip 50 being for example formed with an annular groove 52 which snaps onto teeth 53 of the cannula 45. The end piece 50 is connected in the example in question to a transverse wall 60, generally perpendicular to the axis X, which extends at its periphery by a tubular upright 61 having a recess towards the outside at its base and applied by a radially outermost part 62 situated under the recess against the radially inner surface of a tubular upright 66 forming the upper part of the support 23. The upright 66 is provided at its base with a bead ring 67, as can be seen in particular in FIG. 4, on which the hood 24 can snap.

The amount 66 surrounds a central portion 70 of the support 23, in which the body 21 is received at its upper part. The central portion 70 has an inward return 48 which supports an annular lip 76, which is applied to the ring 39. The lip 76 serves to hold the plate 78 against the wall 38 and provides a locking rotation.

The tip 50 is provided with an outlet port 80, of diameter smaller than the inner diameter of the cannula 45.

The device 10 comprises an applicator head 100 which is advantageously provided, on its outer surface, with a flocking coating 102. The head 100, which is shown separately in FIGS. 5 to 10, comprises a peripheral skirt 105 and an upper wall 110 which is not symmetrical of revolution and has, when observed from above along the X axis, a non-circular contour in the general shape of a tear, with a tapered front portion 115 and a rear portion 116 of semicircular contour . The peripheral skirt 105 has a top portion 105c which is substantially cylindrical with axis X, direction of the same contour as that of the upper wall 110, namely teardrop in the example. The upper portion 105c is connected by a recess 105d to a lower portion 105b, cylindrical of revolution of axis X. The upper wall 110 is traversed at its center by a dispensing orifice 120, of axis Y, preferably coinciding with the X axis.

The upper wall 110 and the peripheral skirt 105 constitute a membrane, which is molded in one piece with a supply duct 130, which is shown in detail in FIG. 13. This supply duct 130 is made with a mounting part 169 on the endpiece 50 at its base. In the example considered, this mounting part 169 comprises an insert 140 in the form of a ring, provided on its inner surface with two annular grooves 141 and 142 intended to to snap on respective annular bosses 143 and 144 of the nozzle 50. The mounting portion 169 of the feed conduit 130 has a tubular portion 150 which covers the insert 140. The latter and the portion 150 are formed by overmolding, during the manufacture of the head 100. The insert 140 is made of a more rigid material than the tubular portion 150 which covers it. For example, the insert 140 is made of polyolefin and the portion 150 of thermoplastic elastomer. The feed duct 130 has an intermediate portion 160, which is elastically deformable and is in the example in the form of a bellows. The latter comprises for example two folds 165 and 166 inwardly. Each fold is for example defined, as illustrated, by two portions of the supply duct which form between them an angle α of 90 ° in longitudinal section. Each fold 165 or 166 may be delimited internally and externally by different radii of curvature r1 and r2 in longitudinal section, which alternate in the axial direction, with for example r1 = 0.7mm and r2 = 0.2 mm. The thickness e of the duct 130, at the bellows of the intermediate portion 160, is preferably between 0.5 and 1 mm, being for example of the order of 0.7 mm. The inner diameter m of the intermediate portion 160 is preferably between 5 and 10 mm and for example equal to 7 mm.

The head 100 may have on the upper wall 110 a small recess 170 in the form of a sphere portion into which the orifice 120 opens, this recess 170 preferably having a diameter d of between 5 and 15 mm, for example equal to 9 mm. about. The diameter n of the dispensing orifice 120 is for example between 2 and 3 mm.

When the head 100 is in place on the rest of the device, as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 in particular, the lower part 105b of the peripheral skirt 105 engages in the annular groove 148 existing between the uprights 61 and 66 of the support 23. Preferably, the flocking coating 102 extends back from the lower edge 105a of the peripheral skirt 105, so that it does not interfere with the insertion thereof into the annular groove 148. Preferably, the amount 66 covers the flocking coating 102, which allows to have a clear demarcation between the flocking coating 102 and the support 23. The skirt 105 can move axially in the annular clearance 140. Preferably, as illustrated, the hood 24 is provided with a sealing pin 180 which engages in the orifice 120 so as to close it.

Fixing the supply duct 130 rigidly on the endpiece 50 ensures the sealing of the connection between the container 20 and the head 100. The transverse wall 110 has a curved shape, convex outwardly and upwardly when the head 100 is viewed from the front, as in FIG. 8, the head 100 being symmetrical with respect to a median plane of symmetry M.

When the head is viewed perpendicular to the plane M, in a cross-sectional plane containing the X axis, as in FIG. 7, the wall 110 has a backward inclination.

For example, as illustrated, the wall 110 is generally oriented in oblique plane I. This plane I can be inclined at an angle y with the perpendicular to the axis X, between 3 and 5 °. The front portion 115 of the head 100 is delimited laterally, in plan view, as in FIG. 10, on either side of the symmetrical median plane M, by arcs 200 of radius of curvature r3, for example between 10 and 25 mm, these arcs 200 being joined at the front by an arc 205 of smaller radius of curvature r4, for example between 3 and 5 mm. In use, the upper wall 110 can sink relative to the support 23 through the deformability of the intermediate portion 160, which contributes to the comfort of the application. The generally triangular shape of the front portion 115 of the head 100 makes it easy to treat the contours of the nose and eyes, defining a kind of tip. The inclination of the upper wall 110, generally obliquely rearward and downward relative to the axis X, has the advantage of causing the user not to orient the X axis perpendicular to the skin when use, and this inclination allows the user to better perceive the treated skin area by looking in a mirror. The intermediate region 117 between the front 115 and rear 116 portions of the upper wall 110 allows treatment of the widest areas of the face. The invention is not limited to the example which has just been described. For example, the device 10 can be made in a more compact form, as illustrated in FIGS. 14 to 16. In this example, the body 21 of the container 20 comes in the extension of the support 23, without a recess at the apparent junction 21a. , while being rotatable relative thereto about the axis X. The peripheral skirt 105 of the head 100 is received in the example of Figures 14 to 16 in an annular groove 148 formed between the tubular post 66 present in part 23 of the support, which serves to fasten the cover 24, and the concentric central portion 70 of the support 23, which carries the annular lip 76 applied to the ring 39 for driving the rod 32. The application surface can be flocked or not flocked, the application surface can be silicone covered with a foam or sock.

The expression "comprising a" should be understood as being synonymous with "including at least one", and "included between" means included limits.5

Claims (15)

REVENDICATIONS1. Device for applying a cosmetic product, comprising an applicator head (100) having an upper surface intended to come into contact with a surface to be treated, and a lateral surface, the upper surface being generally inclined in a plane (I) oblique rearward and downward, at an angle to the longitudinal axis (X) of the device, and having at the front a generally triangular shape converging towards the front, when viewed along the longitudinal axis (X) of the device 2. Device according to claim 1, the upper surface and the lateral surface being respectively defined by an upper wall (110) and a peripheral skirt (105) of the applicator head, forming a membrane, preferably elastically deformable. 3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, comprising a container, a dispensing orifice (120) of the product opening on the upper surface. 4. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 3 the applicator head (100) being made of a non-cellular material. 5. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, the upper surface being flocked. 6. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, the applicator head having a shape without symmetry of revolution and without axial symmetry. 7. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, the contour of the upper surface having the form of a tear, the rear portion (116) is preferably substantially semicircular. 8. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, the contour of the upper surface at the front being delimited laterally by two arcs (200) joined at the front by an arc (205) of smaller radius of curvature than others. 9. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, the inclination angle (y) of the oblique plane (I) relative to a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the device being between 3 and 10 °, especially 3 and 50. 10. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, claim 2, the peripheral skirt (105) having in cross section and in the upper part a non-circular shape, substantially of the same contour as the upper wall, to a recess where the peripheral skirt becomes cylindrical of revolution until its lower end. 11. Device according to claim 2 or 10, the connection of the peripheral skirt (105) and the upper wall (110) being without angular zone. 12. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, including claims 2 and 3, the upper wall having a recess at the dispensing orifice (120), which is preferably single. 13. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, claims 2 and 3, the axis (Y) of the dispensing orifice (120) coinciding with the longitudinal axis (X) of the device 14. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, the area occupied by the upper surface being between 2 and 5 cm2. 15. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, claims 2 and 3, the receptacle containing a makeup product, especially a liquid foundation.