Profiled system for applying cosmetic products, a method for fabricating this system, an applicator assembly and a method for assembling such an assembly

Abstract

In order to enable application of a calibrated dose of product deposited on the brush, the invention proposes an application system whereof the stem, the brush and the stripper have a similar type of profiled shape. A profiled system for applying a cosmetic product comprises an applicator mounted on a stem, and a stripper ( 32 ) having an opening ( 34 ) through which the applicator passes. The stem is integral with a capsule ( 12 ) and the stripper mounted on the neck of a small bottle containing the cosmetic product. The invention is characterized in that the applicator consists of a comb ( 10 ) and the stem ( 14 ) forms an extension of the comb ( 10 ). The stem, the brush and the opening of the stripper have a substantially identical cross-section, whereof the contour includes a protuberance with substantially elongated section in a median plane (P).

1 . A profiled system for application of cosmetic product, from a flask, onto eyelashes or eyebrows, the system comprising: a casing; an elongated shaft integral with the casing, the elongated shaft ( 14 ) having at least one continuous projection along its longitudinal axis (X′X); an applicator mounted on the elongated shaft, wherein the applicator is a comb ( 10 ) with a contour whose cross-section is largely identical to that of shaft ( 14 ), and; and a wiper integral with a groove defined by the flask, the opening ( 34 ) in wiper ( 32 ) having a contour that is largely fitted to the cross-section of shaft ( 10 ) along its longitudinal axis, the wiper defining an opening through which the applicator passes. 
   
   
       2 . The profiled system according to  claim 1 , wherein comb ( 10 ) has at least one row of teeth ( 11 ) whose interstitial dimensions ( 20 ) are determined as a function of the composition and texture characteristics of the product ( 50 ) to be applied, in order to calibrate the quantity of cosmetic product that might remain during application. 
   
   
       3 . The profiled system according to  claim 1  wherein casing  12  is screwed onto flask ( 30 ). 
   
   
       4 . The profiled system according to  claim 1  wherein casing  12  is snapped onto flask ( 30 ). 
   
   
       5 . The profiled system according to  claim 1 , wherein the wiper has at least one orientation ramp ( 37 ) for comb ( 10 ) on opening ( 34 ) of the wiper, to allow alignment of the comb contour ( 10 ) with opening ( 34 ). 
   
   
       6 . The profiled system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a lip ( 36 ) bordering the opening of wiper ( 32 ) in order to scrape the excess cosmetic product deposited on the comb, and a guiding bead ( 38 ), the lip being formed inside wiper ( 32 ) to ensure centering of the comb ( 10 ) and the shaft ( 14 ) onto lip ( 36 ). 
   
   
       7 . The profiled system according to  claim 1 , further comprising at least one retaining ring ( 33 ,  33   a ,  33   b ) on the external side of wiper ( 32 ) permitting rotation of wiper ( 32 ) while keeping its axial position inside vial ( 30 ). 
   
   
       8 . The profiled system according to  claim 1 , in which the comb includes one or two projections that are diametrically opposed with respect to the longitudinal axis (X′X), spread out along a median plane (P) and having one ( 11   c ) or two rows ( 11   a ,  11   b ) of teeth. 
   
   
       9 . The profiled system according to  claim 8 , in which the two rows ( 11   a ,  11   b ) of teeth are diametrically opposed with respect to longitudinal axis (X′X). 
   
   
       10 . The profiled system according to  claim 1 , in which the shaft, comb and opening in the wiper each have a cross-section that is substantially identical with three to eight projections, forming a star-shaped section profile. 
   
   
       11 . The profiled system according to  claim 8 , in which the teeth in each row ( 11   a ,  11   b ) are adapted to functions determined by the various spacings ( 20   a ,  20   b ) between the teeth in the first row relative to the second, on the one hand, and by the flat (F a ) or biconcave (F b ) shape of the external sides of the respective rows ( 11   a ,  11   b ) on the other, for applying cosmetic product ( 50 ) on upper or lower eyelashes, respectively, as well as to produce a “voluminizing” or separating effect. 
   
   
       12 . The profiled system according to  claim 11 , wherein the functions intended to produce a separating effect or to apply cosmetic product on lower eyelashes are carried out by a comb ( 10 ) that has flat size which fits into a convex lip ( 36 ) of wiper ( 32 ) in order to exert pressure on the row with flat sides ( 11   a ) greater than that exerted on the concave row ( 11   b ). 
   
   
       13 . The profiled system according to  claim 9 , wherein the profiles of the shaft, comb and opening ( 34 ) of the wiper are quadriconcave, quadrilinear or biconcave-bilinear in shape. 
   
   
       14 . The profiled system according to  claim 13 , in which means of visual or mechanical foolproofing are formed on the comb and/or wiper, in order to position the means so that it faces the comb and the wiper that must fit together during the insertion of the shaft into the wiper. 
   
   
       15 . The profiled system according to  claim 1  in which the comb has, at one end, at least one beveled portion ( 14   a ) which facilitates insertion of the comb into the wiper. 
   
   
       16 . The profiled system according to  claim 1 , in which the shaft and the comb and, optionally, the casing, are made from a single molded piece. 
   
   
       17 . The profiled system according to  claim 1 , in which wiper material selected from one or more of a low-density polyethylene and an elastomeric thermoplastic material. 
   
   
       18 . The profiled system according to  claim 1  in which the comb and shaft material selected from one or more of polypropylene, polyamide and polyoxymethylene. 
   
   
       19 . A method for producing a profiled application system comprising:
 molding a shaft and comb assembly in a mold having lands(s) that are arranged outside the toothed portion ( 11   a ,  11   b ,  11   c ) of comb ( 10 ).   
   
   
       20 . The method according to  claim 19 , in which the mold advantageously features air holes in close proximity to the ends of the teeth, in order to allow air to escape during plastic injection molding. 
   
   
       21 . The method according to  claim 19  wherein the comb is molded around an axial pin to hold the comb according to the longitudinal axis (X′X) during the stripping. 
   
   
       22 . An applicator assembly comprising the profiled application system according to  claim 1 , combined with a casing ( 12 )-flask ( 30 ) assembly adapted to the applicator system. 
   
   
       23 . A method for assembling an applicator assembly according to  claim 22 , characterized in that wiper ( 32 ) is initially pre-positioned on shaft ( 14 ), and that once the flask has been filled with the product, shaft ( 14 ) is inserted into the groove ( 31 ) of the flask, and characterized in that, during the initial closure, while casing  12  abuts the flask, and wiper ( 32 ) is drawn in by casing  12  and becomes permanently set into the groove ( 31 ) of the flask. 
   
   
       24 . A method according to  claim 23 , in which, when casing ( 12 ) abuts vial ( 30 ), the wiper is located in an intermediate position in which ring ( 33 ) is in contact with a portion of groove ( 34 ) such that the latter exerts an axial-component force (F) on the ring, which is then introduced into the groove in a permanently retained position, creating play between the wiper ( 32 ) and the gap ( 12   a ) in the casing.