EP0944340A1

EP0944340A1 - Mascara applicator

Info

Publication number: EP0944340A1
Application number: EP97911306A
Authority: EP
Inventors: François Lhuisset; Alain Meybeck
Original assignee: LVMH Recherche GIE
Current assignee: LVMH Recherche GIE
Priority date: 1996-10-18
Filing date: 1997-10-20
Publication date: 1999-09-29
Also published as: WO1998017143A1; JP2001502573A; FR2754685A1; FR2754685B1

Abstract

The invention concerns a mascara applicator comprising an applying head (1) provided with a plurality of hoops (4) defining an arc-shaped case internally empty for forming a mascara reserve co-operating with both the mascara housed in the adjacent hoops and the mascara dispensed by the head (1) in the spaces between the hoops (4) arranged in straight line. Such an applicator ensures a homogeneous make-up of the eyelashes over their whole surface.

Description

"Mascara applicator device".

The present invention relates to a mascara applicator device. We have already proposed mascara applicator devices, for example forming brushes, and which may have various configurations.

Among these devices, mention should be made of those comprising, in general, a head which comprises a multiplicity of application elements and which is connected to a handle forming, in a way, a mascara reservoir in communication with the head. . Thus, as can be understood, the mascara is distributed between the elements that the head carries, thereby supplying the latter with mascara in order to make up the eyelashes of the eye.

However, such an applicator device has drawbacks in that, in particular, it does not make it possible to perform effective and homogeneous makeup of the eyelashes of the eye over their entire surface. In other words, the makeup of the eyelashes can only be partial since the eyelashes of the eye are not completely coated with mascara and the aesthetic effect after makeup is therefore not perfect. The object of the present invention is therefore to remedy these drawbacks in particular by proposing a sophisticated applicator device which makes it possible to quickly and effectively make up the eyelashes, providing a marked aesthetic effect due to the homogeneity of the mascara coating on the eyelashes. '*

To this end, the subject of the invention is a device for applying mascara for the eyelashes of the eye, of the type comprising a head capable of being supplied with mascara and comprising a multiplicity of elements between which the mascara is distributed, characterized in that each element has the shape of a hoop defining an internally empty arched envelope to form a reserve for mascara cooperating with both the mascara housed in the neighboring arches and with the mascara distributed by the head between said arches to ensure uniform makeup of the eyelashes of the eye over their entire surface.

It is therefore understood that, in this way, the distribution of the somewhat viscous product that constitutes the mascara, in the applicator head, will advantageously be homogeneous, regular and controlled, that is to say without risk of accumulation or a lack of mascara at the level of such or such part of said head.

According to another characteristic of this device, the arches originate from two edges opposite a tubular element forming the aforementioned head, which element is split along a generator and forms a mascara reservoir in direct communication with 1 ' inside the arches and the spaces between arches.

This device is further characterized in that the base of the arches is located on the aforementioned edges in an offset manner relative to a hollow rod carrying at its end the aforementioned head or tubular element.

According to a preferred embodiment, the offset distance between the external surface of said rod close to the application head on the one hand and the top of the arches on the other hand, is equal to approximately 5 millimeters.

The device of the invention is further characterized in that the slot of the above-mentioned tubular element gradually widens from its end connected to the hollow rod to its free end.

The aligned hoops can also be tilted to form an obtuse angle with the axis of the rod.

The applicator device according to this invention may also comprise at least one row of teeth forming a comb coming integrally with the wall of the element. aforementioned tubular and extending parallel to the row of arches.

The row or rows of teeth forming a comb consist of teeth with rounded ends and / or sections, of identical or different pitch.

It will also be specified here that the two opposite ends of the split tubular element are respectively closed by a flange or the like completely closing the free end of this element and partially closing the other end of this element to allow its communication with the hollow rod .

The applicator device of this invention will also advantageously be made in one piece obtained by molding.

But other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear better in the detailed description which follows and refers to the appended drawings, given only by way of example, and in which: FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the head, and a part of the hollow rod carrying it, of the applicator device according to this invention.

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view along the plane shown by line II-II of Figure 1, and which is orthogonal to the main direction of the application head also shown partially in perspective.

FIG. 3 is, in its right part, a top view of this device, and in its left part a sectional view along a horizontal plane materialized by line III-III of FIG. 1.

Figure 4 is an elevational and side view of this device.

Figure 5 is a front view of the device, that is to say applicator head seen from above. Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 4 but showing another configuration as to the arches of the applicator head.

Figure 7 is also a view similar to Figure 4, but showing yet another configuration of arcs for the applicator head.

Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 7 showing an applicator head with incorporated comb.

Figure 9 is a perspective view of an applicator device according to the invention comprising several combs.

FIG. 10 is a sectional view along a plane orthogonal to the main direction of the applicator head and shown by line X-X in FIG. 9.

We see in the figures a mascara applicator device essentially comprising a head 1 connected to a hollow rod 2 capable of supplying mascara to the head 1 which carries a plurality of elements 3 allowing the application of the mascara to the eyelashes of the eye (not shown).

According to the invention, the elements 3 of the application head 1 consist of a multiplicity of arches 4 aligned and spaced from each other, each arch 4 defining an arcuate envelope and internally empty, therefore susceptible to form a mascara reserve, as will be described in detail below, it being understood that mascara, as is known, is a more or less viscous product. Each arch 4, as can be seen in ** Figures 1, 2 and 9 in particular, originates from its two branches 4a respectively on the two edges 5 opposite a tubular element 6 forming the applicator head 1. More specifically, the tubular element 6 is split along a generatrix to somehow form a slot 7 defining the facing edges 5 from which extend the branches 4a of the arches 4 which are spaced, aligned and whose branches 4a are, according to the embodiment shown, substantially parallel. The tubular element 6 connected to the hollow rod 2 through which can be conveyed, using any means (not shown) of the mascara, therefore constitutes a mascara reservoir which is in direct communication, through the slot 7 , not only with the interior of the arches 4, but also with the spaces between these arches, which spaces are identified at 8, in Figures 1, 3 and 9 in particular.

Thus, as is already understood, the passage of the applicator head 1 over the eyelashes of the eye will cause said eyelashes to penetrate into the spaces 8 between the arches 4 and will both receive the mascara contained inside two neighboring arches 4 or adjacent, as the mascara distributed by the tubular element 6 between said arches. Therefore, a uniform and regular makeup of the eyelashes of the eye over their entire surface will be ensured. In other words, with an applicator device structure according to this invention, it is certain that the spaces 8 between arches 4 will always be adequately supplied with mascara, and this over the entire length of the row of arcs, so as to ensure application regular mascara on the entire surface of the eyelashes.

As can be clearly seen in FIG. 3, the slot 7 of the tubular element 6 defining the two facing edges 5 where the branches 4a of the arcea x 4 are located has a uniform width from one end to the other. other of the row of arches 4.

According to another embodiment visible in Figure 5, we see that the slot 7 of the tubular member 6 widens gradually from the end 6a of the element 6 connected to the hollow rod 2 to the end free 6b of the tubular element 6. Referring now to FIG. 4, it can be seen that the top of the arches 4 is offset relative to the outer surface S of the hollow rod 2 carrying at its end the applicator head 1. More precisely, the offset distance D between said outer surface S and the apex of the arches 4 can be equal to approximately 5 millimeters, which allows a better approach of the eye as well as an efficient use of the applicator head 1 even as regards its part closest to the rod 2.

The arches 4 may be identical and all have the same height as seen in Figures 1 and 4, but it is perfectly possible, without departing from the scope of the invention, to provide a variable height for said arches.

Thus, as can be seen in FIG. 6, the height of the arches 4 increases progressively from the end 6a of the tubular element 6 connected to the hollow rod 2 to the free end 6b of this tubular element. Consequently, the hoops 4 higher and higher will open more and more widely the tubular element 6 containing the mascara.

Also, the arches 4 can each be located in a plane orthogonal to the axis of the tubular element 6, but, as seen in FIG. 7, they can be inclined to form an obtuse angle with the axis of the rod 2 while remaining parallel to each other. Thus, the biased orientation of the arches 4 will favor makeup with the free end of the head 1. As can be seen in FIG. 8, a row * of teeth 9 forming a comb can be provided on the applicator head 1, in more than the row of arches 4, and for example opposite the row of arches 4. This row of teeth 9, coming integrally with the wall of the tubular element 6 extends parallel to the row d 'hoops 4. In addition, as can be seen in Figure 8, the teeth 9 are advantageously offset by relative to the outer surface of the rod 2. Thus, the comb may, after application of the mascara provided by the arches 4, allow a regularization of the layer of eyelashes coated with mascara over their entire surface. As can be seen in FIG. 9, two tooth combs 9 can be provided implanted on a tubular element 6 having a substantially triangular configuration in cross section, as is clearly visible in FIG. 10. Thus, the user will have two tooth combs 9, the pitch of which may be the same or different as shown in FIG. 9, to perfect the makeup of the eyelashes previously coated with mascara over their entire surface by virtue of the row of arches 4. It will also be observed that the arches 4 and the teeth 9 of the comb or combs have a rounded end which does not risk injuring the eyelid of the eye and facilitating the finishing of the makeup of the eyelashes.

Returning to the previous figures, it will also be noted that the ends 6a, 6b of the tubular element 6 forming the applicator head 1 will be closed by a part forming a flange or the like. At the free end 6b of the tubular element 6, the flange completely closes said end, while at the end 6a, the flange only partially closes this end to allow passage to mascara from the hollow rod 2 towards the tubular element 6, from where it will be distributed in the spaces 8 between the arches 4 as well as inside the arcuate and empty envelopes defined by said arches. *

An applicator of a somewhat viscous product such as mascara was therefore produced according to the invention, which can be produced in a single piece obtained by molding and which allows uniform makeup of the eyelashes of the eye over their entire surface. Of course, the invention is in no way limited to the embodiments described and illustrated which have been given only by way of example.

Thus the arches 4 as well as the teeth 9 may, in cross section, have any suitable shape and capable of ensuring better guidance of the eyelashes between the teeth and the arches, such as for example a partially rounded shape on the outside, c that is to say on the approach side of the eyelashes. The invention therefore includes all the technical equivalents of the means described as well as their combinations if these fall within the scope of the claims which follow.

Claims

claims

1. Device for applying mascara for the eyelashes of the eye, of the type comprising a head (1) capable of being supplied with mascara and comprising a multiplicity of elements (3) between which the mascara is distributed, characterized in that each element (3) has the shape of a hoop (4) defining an internally empty arched envelope to form a mascara reserve cooperating both with the mascara housed in the neighboring hoops (4) and with the mascara distributed by the head ( 1) between said aligned arches to ensure a uniform makeup of the eyelashes of the eye over their entire surface.

2. Applicator device according to claim 1, characterized in that the arches (4) originate from two edges (5) opposite a tubular element (6) forming the head (1), which element ( 6) is split along a generator and forms a mascara reservoir in direct communication with the interior of the arches (4) and the spaces (8) between arches.

3. Applicator device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the base of the arches (4) is located on the aforementioned edges (5) offset relative to a hollow rod (2) carrying at its end the head or Above-mentioned tubular element (6).

4. Device according to claim 3, characterized in that the distance (D) of offset between the outer surface (S) of said rod near the applicator head (1) on the one hand, and the top of the arches (4 ) on the other hand is equal to about 5 millimeters.

5. Device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the slot (7) of the aforementioned tubular element (6) widens progressively from its end (6a) connected to the hollow rod (2) up 'at its free end (6b).

6. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the aforementioned arches (4) have a height which increases progressively from the end (6a) of the tubular element (6) connected to the hollow rod (2) up to 'at its free end (6b).

7. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the aforementioned arches (4) are inclined to form an obtuse angle with the axis of the hollow rod (2).

8. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least the outer face of the arches (4) is rounded to ensure guiding the eyelashes between said arches.

9. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises at least one row of teeth (9) forming a comb coming integrally with the wall of the above-mentioned tubular element (6) and extending parallel to the row of arches (4).

10. Device according to claim 9, characterized in that the row or rows of teeth (9) forming a comb consist of teeth with rounded ends and / or sections, of identical or different pitch.

11. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the two opposite ends (6a, 6b) of the split tubular element are respectively closed by a flange or the like completely closing the free end (6b) of this element and partially closing the other end (6a) of this element to allow its communication with the hollow rod (2).

12. Device according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that it forms a single piece obtained by molding.