Applicator device for paste products, typically cosmetics

Abstract

Applicator device ( 1 ) for a paste product, typically a cosmetic, typically intended to cooperate with a receptacle containing the paste product, contains a longitudinal body ( 2 ) with an axial direction ( 20 ), the longitudinal body ( 2 ) including an axial rod ( 3 ) and an applicator ( 4 ) fixed to the axial rod ( 3 ). The axial rod ( 3 ) is intended to cooperate with a manual gripping means of the applicator device ( 1 ), the applicator ( 4 ) is capable of sampling a fraction of the product contained in the receptacle, typically by cooperation of the applicator with a wiper, so that it can be applied on a support, usually a part of the body or the face when the product is a cosmetic. The applicator ( 4 ) forms a single piece plastic part ( 4 ′), typically a molded part made of one or several plastic materials, has a shape factor L/D varying from 2 to 7, where L is the axial length and D is the maximum radial diameter of the applicator ( 4 ) or a surrounding volume ( 40 ) of the applicator, the axial length L is between 10 and 20 mm, the applicator includes a support ( 8 ) and a plurality ( 5 ) of radial discontinuities ( 5 ′) fixed to the support ( 8 ), the plurality of radial discontinuities ( 5 ) forming a plurality ( 6 ) of cavities and/or a plurality ( 7 ) of elements in relief ( 7 ′) such that the device offers a high contact surface area S with the product and a high retention volume V of the product.

1 . Applicator device ( 1 ) for a paste product, typically a cosmetic, typically intended to cooperate with a receptacle containing the said paste product, containing a longitudinal body ( 2 ) with an axial direction ( 20 ), the said longitudinal body ( 2 ) including an axial rod ( 3 ) and an applicator ( 4 ) fixed to the said axial rod ( 3 ), the said axial rod ( 3 ) being intended to cooperate with a manual gripping means of the said applicator device ( 1 ), the said applicator ( 4 ) being capable of sampling a fraction of the said product contained in the said receptacle, typically by cooperation of the said applicator ( 4 ) with a wiper, so that it can be applied on a support, usually consisting of a part of the body or the face when the said product is a cosmetic, characterized in that: 
 a) the said applicator ( 4 ) forms a single piece plastic part ( 4 ′), typically a molded part made of one or several plastic materials,    b) the said applicator ( 4 ) has a shape factor L/D varying from 2 to 7, where L is the axial length and D is the maximum radial diameter of the said applicator ( 4 ) or a surrounding volume ( 40 ) of the said applicator ( 4 ),    c) the said axial length L is between 10 and 20 mm,    d) the said applicator ( 4 ) includes a support ( 8 ) and a plurality ( 5 ) of radial discontinuities ( 5 ′) fixed to the said support ( 8 ), the said plurality of radial discontinuities ( 5 ) forming a plurality ( 6 ) of cavities and/or a plurality ( 7 ) of elements in relief ( 7 ′), such that the said applicator ( 1 ) offers a high contact surface area S with the said product and a high retention volume V of the said product,    e) and in that the said single piece plastic part ( 4 ′) forming the said applicator ( 4 ) is a moulded part made of one plastic material.    
   
   
       2 . Device according to  claim 1  in which the said surrounding volume ( 40 ) of the said applicator ( 4 ) is oval and possibly is spindle-shaped, the said applicator ( 4 ) having an upper end ( 41 ) on the side opposite the said axial rod ( 3 ) with a section S m  less than 0.5 S M , the said sections S m  and S M  being cross sections in a plane perpendicular to the said axial direction ( 20 ), the said section S M  being the maximum section of the said surrounding volume ( 40 ), the said section S M  typically being located at mid-height of the said applicator ( 4 ) at a distance equal to approximately 0.5 L A  from the upper end ( 41 ) and the lower end ( 42 ) of the said applicator, where L A  is the axial length of the said applicator ( 4 ).  
   
   
       3 . Device according to  claim 1  in which the said plurality of radial discontinuities ( 5 ) includes a plurality of elements ( 7 ) in relief ( 7 ′), typically parallel to each other and at a spacing from each other so as to form intermediate cavities, typically annular cavities ( 71 ′) capable of retaining the said product when the said applicator device ( 1 ) is immersed in the said product contained in the said receptacle.  
   
   
       4 . Device according to  claim 3  in which the said plurality ( 7 ) of ( 7 ′) elements in relief ( 7 ′) includes a number Nt of transverse tabs ( 70 ) parallel to each other and perpendicular to the said axial direction, where Nt varies from 5 to 15, and preferably from 7 to 12, so as to form a plurality of transverse cavities ( 71 ).  
   
   
       5 . Device according to  claim 3  in which the said plurality ( 7 ) of elements in relief ( 7 ′) comprises a number Na of axial tabs ( 72 ) or quasi-axial tabs oriented along the said axial direction, where Na varies from 2 to 6 and preferably from 3 to 5, so as to form a plurality of axial cavities ( 73 ).  
   
   
       6 . Device according to  claim 4  in which the said plurality ( 7 ) of elements in relief ( 7 ′) forms a number Nt.Na of isolated pads ( 74 ) by intersection of the said transverse cavities ( 71 ) and axial cavities ( 73 ), typically at a right angle.  
   
   
       7 . Device according to  claim 3  in which the said elements in relief ( 7 ′) of the said plurality of elements in relief ( 7 ), typically with non-adjacent bases, are arranged in p columns along the said axial direction and q rows along the said transverse direction perpendicular to the said axial direction, so as to form a number of elements in relief ( 75 ) equal to p.q, each element in relief typically forming a half-sphere ( 75 ′).  
   
   
       8 . Device according to  claim 1  in which the said plurality ( 5 ) of radial discontinuities ( 5 ′) includes the said plurality ( 6 ) of cavities ( 6 ′), the said support ( 8 ) comprising or forming an element of relief between the said cavities ( 6 ′), the said cavities ( 6 ′) of the said plurality ( 6 ) of cavities being capable of retaining the said product when the said applicator device is immersed in the said product contained in the said receptacle.  
   
   
       9 . Device according to  claim 8  in which the said plurality ( 6 ) of cavities ( 6 ′) forms a plurality of N transverse cavities ( 60 ) parallel to each other and perpendicular to the said axial direction ( 20 ).  
   
   
       10 . Device according to  claim 9  in which the said transverse cavity ( 60 ) is an annular cavity, typically composed of an annular groove ( 60 ′) formed in the said support ( 8 ).  
   
   
       11 . Device according to  claim 8  in which the said plurality ( 6 ) of cavities ( 6 ′) forms a plurality of n axial cavities ( 62 ), typically distributed with a uniform angular spacing, each axial cavity ( 62 ) extending over an angle of 360°/n, the said angle being taken in a transverse plane perpendicular to the said axial direction ( 20 ).  
   
   
       12 . Device according to  claim 8  in which the said plurality ( 6 ) of cavities ( 6 ′) forms a plurality of typically non-adjacent cavities arranged in p′ columns along the said axial direction and q′ rows along the transverse direction perpendicular to the said axial direction, so as to form a number of cavities equal to p′.q′, each cavity typically forming a half-sphere ( 64 ).  
   
   
       13 . Device according to  claim 1  in which the said support ( 8 ) comprises two faces ( 80 ,  80 ′) carrying the said plurality ( 5 ) of discontinuities ( 5 ′), in which the two faces ( 80 ,  80 ′): 
 either both support the said plurality ( 7 ) of elements in relief ( 7 ′),    or both support the said plurality ( 6 ) of cavities ( 6 ′),    or one face supports the said plurality ( 6 ) of cavities ( 6 ′) and the other face supports the said plurality ( 7 ) of elements in relief ( 7 ′).    
   
   
       14 . Device according to  claim 1  in which the said support ( 8 ) comprises several distinct support elements in a transverse plane, over at least part of the axial length of the said applicator, the said distinct support elements typically forming a corresponding number of axial branches ( 81 ) connected to the said upper end ( 41 ) and lower end ( 42 ) of the said applicator ( 4 ), each axial branch ( 81 ) acting as a support for the said plurality ( 6 ) of cavities ( 6 ′) and/or the said plurality ( 7 ) of elements in relief ( 7 ′).  
   
   
       15 . Device according to  claim 14  in which the said support ( 8 ) comprises 2 or 3 axial branches ( 81 ), each axial branch ( 81 ) acting as a support to a number Nt′ of transverse tabs ( 70 ) parallel to each other and perpendicular to the said axial direction ( 20 ), where Nt′ varies from 5 to 15 and preferably from 7 to 12, so as to form a plurality of transverse cavities ( 71 ) between the said transverse tabs ( 70 ) taken in pairs.  
   
   
       16 . Device according to  claim 14  in which the said support ( 8 ) includes 2 or 3 axial branches ( 80 ) possibly but not necessarily located in the same plane, that define at least one axial space ( 82 ) between the said axial branches ( 81 ), the said axial space ( 82 ) being separated by a plurality of elements fixed to the said axial branches ( 81 ).  
   
   
       17 . Device according to  claim 16  in which the said plurality of elements is formed by an axial sequence of elements in relief ( 7 ′), typically spheres ( 77 ), the said spheres ( 77 ) typically adjacent and having a variable diameter in the case in which the said applicator forms a spindle.  
   
   
       18 . Device according to  claim 14  in which the said branches ( 81 ) form strips ( 83 ) or a strip folded on itself ( 83 ′), delimiting an inner space ( 84 ), the said strips ( 83 ) or the said folded strip ( 83 ′) acting as a support for the said plurality ( 5 ) of radial discontinuities ( 5 ′) or the said plurality ( 6 ) of cavities ( 6 ′) and/or the said plurality ( 7 ) of elements in relief ( 7 ′).  
   
   
       19 . Device according to  claim 18  in which the said strip ( 83 ,  83 ′) acts as a support for a plurality of elements in relief ( 830 ) and for the cavities ( 831 ), the said cavities ( 831 ) opening up on the said inner space ( 84 ).  
   
   
       20 . Device according to  claim 16  in which the said applicator ( 4 ) comprises a central axial arm ( 85 ) designed to partially fill the said axial space ( 82 ) so as to limit the quantity of the said product that cannot be transferred onto the said support during the said application.  
   
   
       21 . Device according to  claim 1  in which the said plurality ( 5 ) of radial discontinuities ( 5 ′) forms a plurality ( 7 ) of N elements in relief ( 7 ′) fixed to an axial rod portion ( 86 ) forming the said support for the said plurality of elements in relief, where N varies from 5 to 30, and typically from 10 to 25.  
   
   
       22 . Device according to  claim 21  in which the said plurality ( 7 ) of elements in relief ( 7 ′) is formed by at least a plurality of transverse projections ( 76 ), typically arranged symmetrically on each side of the said axial rod portion ( 86 ) and aligned along the same axial plane containing the said axial direction ( 20 ), the said transverse projections ( 76 ) forming a plurality of transverse recesses ( 65 ) combining to form the said contact surface S with the said product and the said retention volume V of the said product, each transverse recess ( 65 ) being formed by a spacing between two adjacent projections ( 76 ).  
   
   
       23 . Device according to  claim 22  in which the said plurality ( 7 ) of elements in relief ( 7 ′) is formed by two pluralities P 1  and P 2  of transverse projections ( 76 ), the said transverse projections ( 76 ) of each plurality P 1  and P 2  typically being arranged symmetrically on each side of the said axial rod portion ( 86 ) and aligned along the same axial plane containing the said axial direction ( 20 ), the said pluralities P 1  and P 2  forming an acute angle α typically less than 70°, and possibly a complementary acute angle β typically greater than 110°, such that the said adjacent portions forming the said acute angle α between them form a dihedron retaining the said product, such that the said adjacent projections forming the said complementary acute angle β between them form a comb for eye lashes during the said application.  
   
   
       24 . Device according to  claim 23  in which the said pluralities P 1  and P 2  form a plurality of four concurrent projections or “X”-shaped teeth in a plane perpendicular to the said axial direction ( 20 ), two successive teeth of a said plurality having a transverse recess ( 65 ) contributing to forming the said contact surface S with the said product and the said retention volume V of the said product, two concurrent teeth forming the said angle α between them thus also contributing to forming the said contact surface S with the said product and the said retention volume V of the said product.  
   
   
       25 . Device according to  claim 22  in which the said applicator ( 1 ) comprises a sequence of at least two axial zones ( 45 ,  45 ′), the said adjacent axial zones having a variation of the transverse length of the said transverse projections ( 76 ) and/or a variation of the said spacing.  
   
   
       26 . Device according to  claim 1  in which the said axial rod ( 3 ) and the said applicator ( 4 ) form a longitudinal body ( 2 ′) made of a moulded single piece part ( 2 ′) formed of only one or several plastic materials.  
   
   
       27 . Device according to  claim 1  in which the said manual gripping means is a cap ( 9 ) with a skirt threaded on the inside capable of cooperating with a neck of the said receptacle by screwing, the said product typically being a mascara, and the said receptacle typically being a mascara flask, the said longitudinal body ( 2 ) comprising a head ( 21 ), the said head ( 21 ) typically forming a single piece molded part ( 2 ″) with the said longitudinal body.  
   
   
       28 . Device according to  claim 27  in which the axial length of the said axial rod ( 3 ) varies from 20 mm to 70 mm so as to cooperate directly or indirectly with the said cap by means of the said head ( 21 ).  
   
   
       29 . Device according to  claim 1  in which the said axial rod ( 3 ) includes a rigid part and a flexible part, the said flexible part typically having a section at least half the size of the said rigid part, so that the said axial rod ( 3 ) bends during the said application.