Cosmetic product applicator

Abstract

A cosmetic product applicator, typically for mascara, includes a) a cap, typically threaded, b) a longitudinal stem in an axial direction, and c) a brush including an axial support and an application material securely attached to the support by means of a method of attachment, the application material typically forming a multitude of bristles or tufts of bristles, the longitudinal stem being securely attached, at its upper extremity, of the cap and, at its lower extremity, of the axial support of the brush. It is characterized in that the support is made of plastic including part or all of the means of attachment, and in that the application material includes a multitude of bristles or tufts of bristles.

1 . Cosmetic product applicator ( 1 ), typically for mascara, designed to operate in conjunction with the neck of a recipient designed to contain the cosmetic product, the applicator ( 1 ) consisting of a) a cap ( 2 ), typically threaded ( 20 ), designed to operate in conjunction with the neck in order to seal the recipient by screwing on in an axial direction ( 10 ) of the applicator, b) a stem ( 3 ), longitudinal in relation to the axial direction, and c) a brush ( 4 ) consisting of an axial support ( 5 ) and an application material ( 6 ) firmly connected to the support ( 5 ) by means of a connection method, the application material ( 6 ) typically forming a multitude of bristles or tufts of bristles ( 61 ), the longitudinal stem ( 3 ) being connected at its upper extremity ( 30 ), to the cap, and at its lower extremity ( 31 ) to the axial support ( 5 ) of the brush, characterized in that: 
 1) the support ( 5 ) is a support made of plastic, including part or all of the means of attachment, and in that the application material includes a multitude of bristles or tufts of bristles,    2) the axial support ( 5 ) includes a multitude of cavities or housings ( 50 ), each cavity or housing firmly connected to at least one tuft of bristles, typically in a “U” shape at its base or its foot, the multitude of cavities or housings forming part of the means of attachment,    3) and in that the means of attachment ( 8 ) consists of a multitude of retaining clips ( 80 ), each retaining clip ( 80 ) being adapted to each cavity ( 50 ), in a manner a to secure at least one tuft of bristles ( 60 ) in each cavity.    
   
   
       2 . An applicator according to the  claim 1  in which the axial support ( 5 ) includes one or more plastic parts.  
   
   
       3 . An applicator according to  claim 1  in which part or all of the axial support ( 5 ) forms a solid piece ( 7 ) with the longitudinal stem ( 3 ).  
   
   
       4 . An applicator according to  claim 1  in which each cavity or housing ( 50 ) is made up of a single cavity ( 51 ) firmly connected to a tuft of bristles ( 61 ).  
   
   
       5 . An applicator according to  claim 1  in which the cavity or multitude of cavities ( 50 ) is made up of a groove, typically axial ( 52 ) or helical ( 52 ′) firmly connected to a multitude of tufts of bristles ( 61 ).  
   
   
       6 . An applicator according to  claim 4  in which the support ( 5 ) includes a multitude of single cavities ( 51 ), each single cavity ( 51 ) including a retaining clip ( 80 ) blocking a tuft of bristles ( 61 ).  
   
   
       7 . An applicator according to  claim 1  in which the support ( 5 ) includes one or more grooves, typically axial ( 52 ) or helical ( 52 ′), each groove including a retaining clip, typically in the form of a rod ( 81 ), blocking a multitude of tufts of bristles ( 61 ).  
   
   
       8 . An applicator according to  claim 1  in which the axial support ( 5 ) includes at least a row of single cavities ( 51 ) and at least one groove ( 52 ,  52 ′).  
   
   
       9 . An applicator according to  claim 8  in which the support ( 5 ) includes two rows of single cavities ( 51 ) or two grooves ( 52 ), typically oriented at 180° to one another according to the axial direction ( 10 ).  
   
   
       10 . An applicator according to  claim 9  in which the support ( 5 ) is a flat support ( 53 ), with an edge ( 56 ) of thickness E, the two rows of cavities ( 51 ) or two grooves ( 52 ) being located on the edge ( 56 ).  
   
   
       11 . An applicator according to  claim 10  in which the edge ( 56 ) is a slotted edge ( 57 ) forming a succession of hollowed out parts ( 570 ) and raised parts ( 571 ), each hollowed out part ( 570 ) typically including a single cavity ( 51 ), so as to have a brush forming a brush-comb ( 4 ′) due to the succession of raised parts. ( 571 ).  
   
   
       12 . An applicator according to  claim 8  in which the support ( 5 ) includes three rows, typically axial, of single cavities ( 51 ) or three grooves ( 52 ), typically oriented at 120° to one another in relation to the axial direction.  
   
   
       13 . An applicator according to  claim 8  in which the support ( 5 ) includes four rows of single cavities ( 51 ) or four grooves ( 52 ), oriented at 90° to one another in relation to the axial direction ( 10 ).  
   
   
       14 . A applicator according to  claim 1  in which the tufts of bristles ( 61 ) are typically identical as to the nature of the bristles, typically their chemical nature, and/or their diameter, and/or their length, and/or their form.  
   
   
       15 . A applicator according to  claim 1  in which the tufts of bristles ( 61 ) are not identical as to the nature of the bristles, typically their chemical nature, and/or their diameter, and/or their length, and/or their form.  
   
   
       16 . A fabrication process for an applicator according to  claim 1  in which: 
 a) The support ( 5 ,  5 ′) is supplied typically securely connected to the stem ( 3 ), the support ( 5 ,  5 ′) including the multitude of cavities or housings ( 50 ,  51 ,  52 ,  52 ′), the cavities ( 50 ,  51 ,  52 ,  52 ′) being situated and located by a system of angular coordinates 0 and axial coordinates z according to the axial direction, each cavity C 1  being located by a system of angular coordinates 0 and axial coordinates z,    b) the support ( 5 ,  5 ′) is automatically oriented typically by means of a displacement device ( 90 ) typically controlled by a command device or by a computer ( 93 ), so that the cavities C 1  are placed facing a supply or distribution device ( 91 ) for tufts of bristles T 1 , and a retaining clip distribution device ( 92 ) V 1  ( 80 ,  81 ).    
   
   
       17 . Process according to  claim 16  in which the retaining clip ( 80 ,  81 ) is inserted or projected by force into the cavity ( 50 ,  51 ,  52 ,  52 ′), the retaining clip V 1  ( 80 ,  81 ) carrying along with it a tuft of bristles T 1 .  
   
   
       18 . Process according to  claim 16  in which the cavities ( 50 ) include single cavities Cu i  ( 51 ) or are typically made up of single cavities Cu i  ( 51 ).  
   
   
       19 . Process according to  claim 16  in which the cavities ( 50 ) include grooves C r  ( 51 ,  52 ′), typically axial grooves ( 52 ), or are made up of grooves Cr ( 52 ,  52 ′).  
   
   
       20 . Process according to claims  16  in which the supply or distribution device ( 91 ) for tufts of bristles Ti ( 61 ) includes at least two tuft T 1  and tuft T 2  supply channels, so as to obtain a brush ( 4 ,  4 ′) including a predetermined distribution of tufts T 1  and tufts T 2 .  
   
   
       21 . An applicator fabrication process ( 1 ,  1 ′) of a product, typically a cosmetic product comprising a support ( 5 ,  5 ′,  5 ″,  53 ,  53 ′,  54 ,  55 ,  58 ) to which is attached an application material ( 6 ) in which: 
 a) the support ( 5 ,  5 ′,  5 ″,  53 ,  53 ′,  54 ,  55 ,  58 ) is formed or supplied, the support ( 5 ,  5 ′,  5 ″) including on part or all of its surface a multitude of housings or cavities ( 50 ), cavities that are isolated ( 51 ) or in contact to form at least one groove ( 52 ,  52 ′),    b) to the multitude of housings or cavities ( 50 ,  51 ,  52 ,  52 ′) is applied the application material ( 6 ), the application material ( 6 ) forming or not, portions of material ( 60 ), typically in the divided state,    c) into each housing or cavity ( 50 ,  51 ,  52 ,  52 ′) is inserted, typically by projection or force, a portion of the application material ( 610 ,  620 ,  620 ′,  630 ,  630 ′) in such a way that the application material ( 6 ,  60 ,  61 ,  62 ,  62 ′,  63 ,  63 ′) is firmly connected to the support ( 5 ,  5 ′,  5 ″,  53 ,  53 ′,  54 ,  55 ,  58 ), at the level of each housing or cavity ( 50 ,  51 ,  52 ,  52 ′).    
   
   
       22 . A process as per  claim 21  by which is inserted into each housing or cavity ( 50 ,  51 ,  52 ,  52 ′) a piece forming a retaining clip ( 80 ,  81 ), in such a way as to block the portion of said application material ( 610 ,  620 ,  620 ′,  630 ,  630 ′) in each housing or cavity ( 50 ,  51 ,  52 ,  52 ′).  
   
   
       23 . A process according to  claim 16  in which the support ( 5 , 5 ′,  5 ″,  53 ,  53 ′,  54 ,  55 ,  58 ), is a support made of plastic, forming typically a moulded part and preferably a support to form a cream, powder or liquid applicator.  
   
   
       24 . A process according  claim 16  in which the application material ( 6 ) is material, typically in the divided state, forming a multitude of portions of material ( 60 ), typically chosen from among the tufts of bristles ( 61 ), identical or not as to the nature of the bristles, typically their chemical nature, and/or their diameter, and/or their length, and/or their form, or from among the elastomer bands or strips, identical or not as to their nature, typically the chemical nature of the elastomer, and/or their size, and/or their thickness, and/or their length, and/or their form.  
   
   
       25 . A process according to  claim 16  in which the material is in band form, typically chosen from among the non-fabric bands of material, or from among the bands of foam, or from among pieces of absorbent cotton, the bands of non-fabric material, or of foam, or the pieces of absorbent cotton, being identical or not as to their nature, typically their chemical nature, and/or their width, and/or their thickness, and/or their length, and/or their form.  
   
   
       26 . A process according to the  claim 25  in which the application material is divided once attached to the support, so as to produce a multitude of portions of material ( 60 ).