Applicator for applying a cosmetic composition to the human body and method of manufacturing the applicator

Abstract

The invention relates to an applicator (1) for applying a cosmetic composition onto the human body, comprising a main part (2) and an application section (3). The main part (2) and the application section (3) are made of the same material as a single piece, and the surface of the application section (3) is at least partly curved, wherein the application section (3) has first sections (4), which have a partly curved surface and are provided with flock fibers (5), and second sections (6), which are partly curved and are free of flock fibers (5). The invention also relates to a method for producing an applicator (1).

Description

[0001] Applicator for applying a cosmetic composition to the human body and method for producing the applicator

[0002] The invention relates to an applicator for applying a cosmetic composition to the human body, comprising a base body and an application section, wherein the base body and the application section are formed of the same material and in one piece, wherein the application section is at least partially provided with flock fibers, and a method for producing the applicator.

[0003] Such an applicator is known, for example, from WO 2019 / 045494 A2. The applicator described therein comprises a base body and an application section, wherein the base body and the application section are formed from the same material and in one piece. The surface of the application section is at least partially curved, and the application section is partially provided with flock fibers.

[0004] EP 3 583 866 A1 discloses an applicator that is partially curved and partially covered with flock fibers. The applicator has two sections that are joined after flocking.

[0005] From JP 2008 - 119453 A, WO 2018 / 007622 A1, DE 603 07 714 T2, DE 10 2018 115 689 A1 and US 2008 / 060669 A1, applicators for applying a cosmetic composition to the human body are known, which are partially flocked and provided with bristles.

[0006] Such applicators are typically used in conjunction with the application of liquefied cosmetics to the face. Flocked applicators are used, for example, for picking up and applying lip gloss, but also for mascara, eyebrows, concealer, and foundation, or for applying hair care products. For picking up and applying, the applicator is immersed in a cosmetic container. Once the applicator is withdrawn, the cosmetic adheres to the flock fibers and is then applied to parts of the body, especially the face.

[0007] If the entire application section is covered with flock fibers, the targeted application of cosmetics may be difficult, depending on the application. The invention is based on the object of providing an applicator for applying a cosmetic composition to the human body, which enables the targeted application of cosmetics to the human body.

[0008] This object is achieved by the features of claim 1. The subclaims refer to advantageous embodiments.

[0009] The applicator according to the invention for applying a cosmetic composition to the human body comprises a base body and an application section, wherein the base body and the application section are formed of the same material and in one piece, wherein the surface of the application section is at least partially curved, wherein the application section has first sections which at least partially have a curved surface and are provided with flock fibers, and second sections which are at least partially curved and are free of flock fibers.

[0010] Accordingly, the applicator according to the invention has areas that are provided with flock fibers and areas that are free of flock fibers. The base body and the application section are made of the same material and are formed in one piece. The base body and application section are preferably made of injection-moldable plastic and can therefore be produced cost-effectively and in large quantities. Because the base body and the application section are made of the same material and are formed in one piece, it is particularly unnecessary to assemble components thereof separately during manufacture of the applicator. The flocked applicator is free of longitudinal joints. In the peripheral area near the applicator tip, the applicator has a compact design and a closed and partially flocked surface. The applicator according to the invention has a compact design.There is no need for a film hinge to pivot differently flocked areas relative to one another. Nevertheless, the application section is only partially provided with flock fibers. The application section has curved, i.e. three-dimensional, surface sections provided with flock fibers, and the application section has further curved and three-dimensional surface sections that are free of flock fibers. As a result, the application section is partially provided with flock fibers, with the cosmetic to be applied adhering particularly well to the sections provided with flock fibers, whereas only a small amount of cosmetic adheres to the second sections that are free of flock fibers. To apply a cosmetic composition, the applicator can be guided in such a way that a large amount of cosmetic is applied either via the flocked section or a small amount via the unflocked section.This allows for targeted application of cosmetics in the desired quantities.

[0011] A further advantage is that flock fibers can be arranged only in the areas of the applicator required for applying cosmetics. Currently, applicators are provided with flock fibers across the entire application section, even areas unsuitable for cosmetic application. The flocked areas always contain unattached, loose flock fibers and insufficiently attached flock fibers. These unbound flock fibers can get into the cosmetics or onto body parts. With the applicator according to the invention, only the application-active areas of the application section can be provided with flock fibers. This reduces the amount of flock fibers, and therefore also the amount of unbound flock fibers.

[0012] Furthermore, it is conceivable that the second sections represent functional areas. For example, the functional areas can represent contact areas where the applicator comes into contact with other elements. This can be advantageous during the manufacture of the applicator or during its intended use.

[0013] It is also conceivable for a three-dimensional marking to be incorporated into the second section. In particular, it is conceivable for the marking to be incorporated into the second section by laser engraving. Such a marking is particularly delicate and could not previously be applied to application sections because the adhesive bed covering the entire application section also covers delicate structures and markings. However, in the applicator according to the invention, the second section is free of adhesive, so that delicate structures remain visible.

[0014] In this context, it is conceivable for the marking to be designed as a stamp. Upon immersion, the application section is moistened with cosmetic. If the application section then passes a scraper, the cosmetic can be wiped off the second section in such a way that only the cosmetic remains in the recesses of the marking, thus making the marking clearly visible. It is also conceivable for the marking to be raised and protrude above the surface.

[0015] An advantageous cosmetic packaging comprises an applicator according to the invention, a container with an opening, and a wiper associated with the opening. The wiper is designed to wipe cosmetics from the applicator when it is pulled out of the container.

[0016] The application quantity can also be varied particularly well by the fact that the application section is at least partially curved in both the flocked sections and the unflocked sections and has a three-dimensional shape.

[0017] The first sections and / or the second sections can have convex or concave surfaces. Convex surfaces allow for particularly easy application of cosmetics. Concave surface sections allow for the absorption of a particularly large amount of cosmetic.

[0018] The first sections can have concavely curved surfaces, with the concavely curved surfaces being provided with flock fibers. The concave sections forming a recess can hold particularly large amounts of cosmetics. If the concave sections are provided with flock fibers, this results in particularly good retention of the cosmetics contained in the concave sections, allowing them to be applied precisely and preventing any loss during the application movement.

[0019] The second sections can have convexly curved surfaces, wherein the convexly curved surfaces are free of flock fibers. In this configuration, cosmetics are transported primarily via the concave sections, which enables particularly targeted application of cosmetics.

[0020] The application section can have a cylindrical shaft and a spherically curved free end. The cylindrical shaft allows the application section to be easily attached to a rod-shaped applicator. The spherically curved free end enables targeted application of cosmetics.

[0021] According to the invention, at least some of the first sections are arranged within the second sections. This arrangement results in island-like, flocked sections that are at least partially curved and enable a particularly targeted application of even a particularly small amount of cosmetic to specific areas of the body.

[0022] The first and second sections can be strip-shaped. First and second sections can alternate. The first and second sections can be arranged axially on the application section. This configuration creates areas surrounding the applicator in which a larger amount of cosmetic can be absorbed, with these areas each adjacent to areas with a smaller amount of cosmetic.

[0023] A region of the application section associated with the first section can be spatula-shaped, wherein the surface of the spatula-shaped region can extend at an angle of more than 0° to the main axis of the application section. In this embodiment, a spatula-shaped region is angled or bent relative to the axis of the application section. The resulting spatula-shaped region enables the targeted application of even a larger amount of cosmetic. In this context, it is particularly conceivable for the surface of the spatula-shaped section to be convex or concave.

[0024] The fiber length of the flock fibers is at least 0.7 mm, preferably 1.0 mm. Good results can be achieved with flock fibers with a fiber length of 1.5 mm, but fibers with a length of more than 2.5 mm are less advantageous.

[0025] A fiber length of at least 0.7 mm results in relatively long flock fibers, which on the one hand create a particularly soft and pleasant feel and on the other hand also allow the absorption of a particularly large amount of cosmetics.

[0026] The flock fibers are preferably chopped flock fibers. Chopped flock fibers are obtained by cutting fibers. When using flock fibers with a fiber length of at least 0.7 mm, it is possible to use chopped flock fibers that exhibit particularly good material quality and a uniform fiber length. Flock fibers with a shorter fiber length, for example, with a fiber length of less than 0.3 mm, cannot be produced by cutting and are usually milled. Such fibers exhibit a lower material quality due to the manufacturing process, particularly due to manufacturing-related variation in fiber length.

[0027] The fiber fineness of the flock fibers is at least 3.3 dtex. Such flock fibers, with a fiber length of at least 0.7 mm, have a soft feel and allow for the absorption of a large amount of cosmetic. Fibers with a fiber fineness of more than 12 dtex have a bristle-like feel and are therefore not preferred for the applicator according to the invention and its application.

[0028] The flock fibers can be attached to the application section using an adhesive layer, with the thickness of the adhesive layer being at least 0.07 mm, preferably 0.1 mm. For flock fibers to be securely attached to a surface, the adhesive bed into which the flock fibers are immersed must have a certain thickness. It has been shown that the thickness of the adhesive bed should be approximately 1 / 10 of the length of the flock fibers. Accordingly, the thickness of the adhesive layer should be at least 0.07 mm for a fiber length of 0.7 mm.

[0029] Preferably, the second sections are free of adhesive. This prevents flock fibers from adhering to the second sections that are free of flock fibers.

[0030] In the method according to the invention for producing an applicator, in a first step the base body and the application section are produced from a thermoplastic material in an injection molding process as a single piece, in a second step the application section is provided with an adhesive such that first sections are wetted with the adhesive and second sections are free of adhesive, in a third step flock fibers are applied to the application section in an electrostatic flocking process, wherein the flock fibers are immersed in the adhesive applied to the first section and adhere, and the second sections remain free of flock fibers.

[0031] Flock fibers with a fiber length of at least 0.7 mm are used, and the adhesive layer is at least 0.07 mm thick. Applying an adhesive layer with such a thickness is not feasible using a transfer process, for example, using a transfer stamp. Therefore, the process according to the invention preferably uses a dipping process, in which the applicator is immersed in a tool and partially coated with an adhesive.

[0032] Some embodiments of the applicator according to the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to the figures. These show, schematically: Fig. 1 an applicator with a curved application section; Fig. 2 an applicator with markings; Fig. 3 an applicator with a spatula-shaped, convex section; Fig. 4 an applicator with a spatula-shaped, concave section.

[0033] The figures show an applicator 1 for applying a cosmetic composition to the human body. According to an advantageous use, the applicator 1 serves for applying eyebrow cosmetics and eyelash cosmetics.

[0034] The applicator 1 comprises a base body 2 and an application section 3, wherein the base body 2 and the application section 3 are formed of the same material and in one piece.

[0035] The base body 2 and the application section 3 are made of the same material and are formed as a single piece as an injection-molded part made of a thermoplastic material.

[0036] The surface of the application section 3 is partially curved, and the application section 3 has first sections 4, which have a partially curved surface and are provided with flock fibers 5. The application section 3 further has second sections 6, which are at least partially curved and which are free of flock fibers 5. The application section 3 has a cylindrical shaft 7 and a spherically curved free end 8.

[0037] The fiber length of the flock fibers 5 in the present embodiments is 1.0 mm, and the fiber fineness of the flock fibers 5 is 3.3 dtex. The thickness of the adhesive layer by which the flock fibers 5 are attached to the application section 3 is 0.1 mm in the embodiments shown.

[0038] Figure 1shows a first embodiment of the applicator 1, in which the second sections 6 have concave surfaces. The first sections 4 have convex sections. A portion of the first sections 4 is arranged within the second sections 6.

[0039] The first sections 4 and the second sections 6 are strip-shaped, wherein the first sections 4 and the second sections 6 are arranged on the application section 3 running in the axial direction.

[0040] Figure 2 shows a second embodiment of the applicator 1, in which the application section 3 is curved, so that a region of the first section 4 is spatula-shaped. The second section 6 extends over the cylindrical region of the application section 3. A three-dimensional marking in the form of a laser engraving is introduced into the application section 3 within the second section 6.

[0041] Figure 3 shows a further embodiment of the applicator 1, in which a region 9 of the application section 3 associated with the first section 4 is spatula-shaped, wherein the surface of the spatula-shaped region 9 extends at an angle of less than 90° to the main axis of the application section 3 or the base section 2. Accordingly, the surface of the spatula-shaped region 9 is angled or bent to the main axis of the application section 3 and the base section 2. In the embodiment according to Figure 3 the surface of the spatula-shaped area 9 is convex and bulging.

[0042] Figure 4 shows an alternative design to Figure 3 , wherein in the present embodiment the surface of the spatula-shaped region 9 is concave.

[0043] To produce the applicator 1, in a first step, the base body 2 and the application section 3 are manufactured from a thermoplastic material in a single piece using an injection molding process. In a second step, the application section 3 is provided with an adhesive such that the first sections 4 are wetted with the adhesive and the second sections 6 are free of adhesive. In a third step, flock fibers 5 are applied to the application section 3 in an electrostatic flocking process, with the flock fibers 5 immersed in the adhesive applied to the first section 4 and adhering thereto, while the second sections 6 remain free of flock fibers 5.

[0044] To apply the adhesive to the application section 3, the application section 3 is immersed in a tool and partially coated with adhesive.

Claims

1. Applicator (1) for applying a cosmetic composition to the human body, comprising a base body (2) and an application portion (3), wherein the base body (2) and the application portion (3) are formed of the same material and in a single piece, wherein the surface of the application portion (3) is curved at least in parts, wherein the application portion (3) has first portions (4), which have a curved surface at least in part and are provided with flock fibres (5), and second portions (6), which are curved at least in part and are free of flock fibres (5), wherein the fibre length of the flock fibres (5) is at least 0.7 mm and the fibre fineness of the flock fibres (5) is at least 3.3 dtex, characterised in that at least part of the first portions (4) is arranged inside the second portions (6).

2. Applicator according to claim 1, characterised in that the first portions (4) and / or the second portions (6) have surfaces formed convex and / or concave.

3. Applicator according to claim 2, characterised in that the first portions (4) have concavely curved surfaces, wherein the concavely curved surfaces are provided with flock fibres (5).

4. Applicator according to either claim 2 or claim 3, characterised in that the second portions (6) have convexly curved surfaces, wherein the convexly curved surfaces are free of flock fibres (5).

5. Applicator according to any of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the application portion (3) has a cylindrical shaft (7) and a spherically curved free end (8).

6. Applicator according to any of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the first portions (4) and the second portions (6) are formed strip-shaped.

7. Applicator according to claim 6, characterised in that the first portions (4) and the second portions (6) are arranged extending in an axial direction on the application portion (3).

8. Applicator according to any of claims 1 to 7, characterised in that a region (9) of the application portion (3) assigned to the first portion (4) is formed scoop-shaped, wherein the surface of the scoop-shaped region (9) extends at an angle of more than 0° to the main axis of the application portion (3).

9. Applicator according to any of claims 1 to 8, characterised in that the base body (2) and the application portion (3) are formed of the same material and in a single piece as an injection-moulded part consisting of a thermoplastic plastics material.

10. Applicator according to claim 1, characterised in that the flock fibres (5) are fixed to the application portion (3) by means of an adhesive layer, wherein the thickness of the adhesive layer is at least 0.07 mm.

11. Applicator according to claim 10, characterised in that the second portions (6) are free of adhesive.

12. Method for manufacturing an applicator (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein in a first step the base body (2) and the application portion (3) are manufactured in the same material and in a single piece in an injectionmoulding process from a thermoplastic plastics material, in a second step the application portion (3) is provided with an adhesive in such a way that first portions (4) are wetted with the adhesive and second portions (6) are free of adhesive, and in a third step flock fibres (5) are applied to the application portion (3) in an electrostatic flocking process, wherein the flock fibres (5) dip into the adhesive applied to the first portion (4) and adhere, and the second portions (6) remaining free of flock fibres (5).

Images