Product application device, particularly for cosmetics, and applicator assembly comprising such a device

Abstract

A device for applying a product, in particular a cosmetic product, said device comprising a rod (12), extending in a rest position along a longitudinal axis (X), the rod (12) comprising an end piece (18) for attachment to a cap (20) of said device and an end piece (14) for applying the product, said application end piece (14) being provided with an application surface (16) intended to come into contact with the skin of a user, said rod (12) being flexible so as to have a flexibility allowing it, during use, to exhibit a curvature from the attachment end piece (18) to the application end piece (14) according to an application effort by the user, the flexibility of the rod (12) allowing it to be oriented in all directions of space under the effect of the user's effort, said attachment and application ends (18, 14) being in continuity of material with said rod (12). Figure for the abridged version: 1

Description

Title of the invention: Device for applying a product, in particular a cosmetic product, and applicator assembly comprising such a device Technical field of the invention

[0001] The invention relates to a device for applying a product, in particular a cosmetic product, and an applicator assembly comprising such a device. Said cosmetic product is, for example, mascara. Technical background

[0002] Applicators are known comprising a rod and an application tip attached to the rod. Even if the tip is flexible, the rod is rigid, which limits the possibilities of applying the product to the user's skin.

[0003] To overcome this drawback, rods have already been proposed having one or more points or zones of flexion, either in a given plane, in the manner of a pivot, or even in all directions of space in the manner of a ball joint. This or these points are however distributed discreetly along the rod and the possibilities of flexion of the rod remain localized at the level of said point(s) or zones, the rod remaining rigid moreover, in particular at the level of a connection zone of the product application tip.

[0004] There is therefore a need to improve applicators for cosmetic products, in particular to obtain applicators with improved comfort of use. Summary of the invention

[0005] The invention at least partially overcomes the preceding drawbacks and relates to this end, according to a first aspect, a device for applying a product, in particular a cosmetic product, said device comprising a rod, extending in a rest position along a longitudinal axis, the rod comprising a tip for attachment to a cover of said device and a tip for applying the product, said application tip being provided with an application surface intended to come into contact with the skin of a user, said rod being flexible so as to have a flexibility allowing it, during use, to have a curvature from the attachment tip to the application tip depending on an application force of the user, the flexibility of the rod allowing it to be oriented in all directions of space under the effect of the user's force, said attachment and application tips being in continuity of material with said rod.

[0006] Thanks to the invention, the possibility of bending the rod does not come from bending points or zones distributed at a distance from each other along the rod. It comes from opposite of the material used to form the rod and / or its shape and / or geometry between its two tips. Said curvature of the rod is thus free to be established from the fixing tip to the application tip, this depending on the force applied. For this, according to the invention, the rod is flexible and the application tip is in continuity of material of the rod in order to avoid the risk of formation of a privileged point of flexion at the interface between the application tip and the rod. For this also, the flexibility of the rod allows it to be oriented in all directions of space under the effect of a user's force. The invention thus allows greater richness and greater comfort of handling.

[0007] According to different embodiments, which may be taken together or separately according to any technically feasible combination which forms as many embodiments of the invention: - said fixing tip is located at a first end of the rod and said application tip is located at a second end of the rod, opposite the first end, - said rod is secured to said cover, - the curvature of the stem is entirely contained in a plane and includes a single concave curvature towards a first side, - said rod is made of an elastomeric material, - said rod has a rounded straight section, - said application tip has a flattened configuration, - said application surface is formed of two large opposite surfaces of said application tip, - said large surfaces are substantially concave, - said application tip comprises a cavity connecting said opposite faces, - said device comprises a ball located in said cavity so as to produce a massaging effect on the user's skin, - said ball is free to rotate in said cavity, or, alternatively, said ball is fixed in said cavity, - said cover is intended to be fixed on a bottle, - said device is configured so that the application tip is inserted into said product, provided to be contained in said bottle, when said cap is fixed on said bottle, - said fixing end piece is secured to said cover by cooperation of corresponding shapes, - said cover has a zone for fixing said rod, - said cover and said rod are overmolded on top of each other, - said fixing zone comprises a finger overmolded by said rod, - said rod has openings crossed by a material of said finger, - said rod is crimped onto said cover, - said rod is glued onto said cover, - said cover comprises a housing receiving a distal end of said rod, - said distal end is crimped into said housing, - said distal end is glued into said housing, - said fixing zone comprises a lug provided with said housing receiving the stem, - said fixing tip is formed from a reduced diameter part of said rod, - said fixing tip is stiffened, - said fixing tip is formed from a portion of enlarged diameter of said stem, - said cover comprises two parts mounted removably relative to each other, the first of the parts being intended to be fixed on said bottle, said rod being attached to the second of said parts, - the cosmetic product is mascara.

[0008] According to another aspect, the invention also relates to a tip for a device for applying a product, in particular a cosmetic product, said tip being intended to be fixed to a rod of said application device, said tip being provided with an application surface intended to come into contact with the skin of a user, said tip comprising a cavity passing through the tip, said device comprising a ball located in said cavity so as to produce a massaging effect on the user's skin. In other words, said ball emerges from said cavity.

[0009] This provides an applicator that allows both application of the product and massage of the skin.

[0010] Said tip preferably has the characteristics presented above in relation to the first aspect of the invention. In particular, said cavity is through and said ball emerges from said cavity at each of the large opposite faces of the application surface.

[0011] The invention also relates to an applicator assembly for a cosmetic product, comprising:

[0012] - a bottle intended to contain the cosmetic product, and

[0013] - a device for applying the cosmetic product as described above, adapted to be fixed on the bottle, so that the application tip is housed inside the bottle. Brief description of the figures

[0014] Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear during the reading of the detailed description which follows for the understanding of which reference will be made to the appended drawings in which:

[0015] [Fig-1] [Fig.l] is a longitudinal sectional view of an example of an assembly app- applicator comprising a first embodiment of an application device according to the invention;

[0016] [Fig.2] [Fig.2] is a longitudinal sectional view of a second embodiment of the application device according to the invention;

[0017] [Fig.3] [Fig.3] is a side view of the application device of figures 1 or 2 in a first configuration of bending of its rod;

[0018] [Fig.4] [Fig.4] is a side view of the application device of figures 1 or 2 in a second configuration of bending of its rod. Detailed description of the invention

[0019] As illustrated in [Fig.l], the invention relates to an applicator assembly for a cosmetic product, in particular a cosmetic product to be applied to the eyelashes and eyebrows, such as mascara. It may also be, in particular, lip gloss.

[0020] Said applicator assembly comprises a bottle 2 forming a reservoir 4 intended to contain the cosmetic product (not shown).

[0021] Said assembly further comprises an application device 10, also in itself forming the subject of the invention.

[0022] Said device comprises a rod 12 extending in a rest position along a longitudinal axis X. Said rod 12 comprises a fixing end piece 18 for a cover 20 of said device and an application end piece 14 for the product. Said fixing end piece 18 is here located at a first end of the rod 12 and said application end piece 14 is located at a second end of the rod 12, opposite the first end.

[0023] Preferably, said rod 12 is integral with said cover 20. In other words, their connection is configured to be anti-tear and anti-rotation. In other words, said connection does not have any degrees of freedom.

[0024] Said application device 10 is advantageously adapted to be fixed on the bottle 2, in particular by screwing, so that the application tip 14 is housed inside the bottle 2. More precisely, here, the fixing of the application device 10 on the bottle 2 takes place by means of the cover 20, in particular provided with a thread 23 for this purpose. Said cover is advantageously rigid, for example made of TPE. Said device is configured so that the application tip 14 is inserted into said product, provided contained in said bottle 2, when said cover 20 is fixed on said bottle 2.

[0025] According to the illustrated embodiment, said device further comprises a cap 21 for gripping by the user. It is thus by this cap 21 that the user holds said device to screw / unscrew it from the bottle 2 and to apply the product to his skin. Said gripping cap 21 is, for example, crimped onto the cover 20.

[0026] Advantageously, said assembly further comprises a wiper 6 fixed inside the bottle 2, in particular in a neck or opening orifice 8 of said bottle 2. Said neck 8 is here provided externally with a thread 25 for screwing said application device 10.

[0027] Also advantageously, the application tip 14 and the wiper 6 are jointly configured so as to remove excess product present on the application tip 14 by the wiper 6 when the user extracts the application device 10 from the bottle 2.

[0028] As also illustrated in [Fig. 2], said application tip 14 is provided with an application surface 16, intended to come into contact with the skin of a user. It is advantageously configured to allow loading of the product when the application device 10 is in the bottle 2 and application of the product to the skin of the user in use.

[0029] According to the invention, said rod 12 is flexible so as to have a flexibility allowing it, during use, to have a curvature from the fixing tip 18 to the application tip 14 depending on an application force of the user. In other words, said rod 12 has a continuous flexibility between the fixing tip 18 and the application tip 14. This means that the rod is configured to bend under the effect of a force exerted by the user when he presses the application tip 14 onto a support, this according to a curvature which extends from the fixing tip 18 to the application tip 14, said curvature varying continuously depending on the direction and / or the intensity of the force. In other words, the flexibility of the rod 12 is substantially uniform from the fixing tip 18 to the application tip 14.In other words, the rod 12 does not have an alternation of harder points or zones and softer points or zones.

[0030] In relation to such a configuration, the flexibility of the rod 12 allows it to be oriented in all directions of space under the effect of the user's effort. In addition, said application tip 14 is in continuity of material with said rod 12 in order to avoid constituting a hard point. The user thus has a greater wealth of orientation of the tip 14 to apply the product to the skin.

[0031] This is more particularly illustrated in figures 3 and 4 in which a different curvature of the rod 12 is observed. In [Fig.3], the tip 14 is applied to the skin with limited force which causes a reduced curvature of the rod 12, curvature however present from the fixing tip 18 to the application tip 14. In [Fig.4], the effort is more pronounced and the curvature of the rod 14 is greater.

[0032] In these figures it is observed that the fixing end piece 18 does not deform given its connection with the cover 20. It is also observed that the curvature of the rod is freely established between said fixing end piece 18 and said application end piece 14, this without depending on a harder or softer point or zone along said rod 12 since said rod 12 is precisely devoid of them.

[0033] Preferably, the curvature of the rod is entirely contained in a plane. In other words, it is not a left curvature. Still preferably, it comprises a single concave curvature towards a first side. In other words, the curvature and / or flexion of the rod is unique for each application force.

[0034] Advantageously, the fixing end piece 18 is also in continuity of material with said rod 12.

[0035] Said rod 12 is, for example, made of an elastomeric material. It has, in particular, a rounded cross-section, for example round and / or oval. Said cross-section here has a shape that evolves along the rod 12 to connect the fixing zone 18 to the end piece 14. This change in shape is gentle so that, as indicated above, it does not generate points or zones of favored bending. In the illustrated embodiment, the rod 12 has a slight hourglass shape without this forming a point of favored bending at its zone of smallest section as is clearly shown in Figures 3 and 4 where the curvature of the rod, as already stated, extends from the fixing end piece 18 to the application end piece 18 without this point influencing the continuity of the curvature. Alternatively, said rod 12 has a constant cross-section.

[0036] Referring again to Figures 1 and 2, it can be seen that said application tip 14 has, for example, a flattened configuration. Said application surface 16 is formed, for example, of two large opposite surfaces 16a, 16b of said application tip 14. Said large surfaces 16a, 16b are substantially concave. Here, they are symmetrical to each other with respect to a median plane. They are connected by a lateral face 16c of said application tip 14.

[0037] In the illustrated embodiment, said application tip 14 comprises a cavity 22 connecting said opposite faces 16a, 16b. Said device further comprises a ball 24, for example metallic, located in said cavity 22 so as to produce a massaging effect on the user's skin. According to a first variant, said ball 24 is free to rotate in said cavity 22. According to another variant, said ball 24 is fixed in said cavity 22. It should be noted that, according to another aspect of the invention, such an application tip 14 is used with rods which are not necessarily flexible.

[0038] To return to the aspect of the invention with flexible rod 12, said fixing end piece 18 is secured to said cover 20 by cooperation of corresponding shapes. For this, here, said cover 20 has a fixing zone 26 of said rod 2 cooperating with said fixing end piece 18.

[0039] According to the embodiment of [Fig. 1], said cover 20 and said rod 12 are overmolded on top of each other. Said fixing zone 26 is formed in a finger 28 overmolded by said rod 12 at its fixing end piece 18. Said rod 12 here has opening orifices 30 crossed by a material of said finger 28 to promote the attachment of said rod 12 and said finger 28 during overmolding.

[0040] According to the embodiment of [Fig.2], said rod 12 is crimped onto said cover 20. Said cover 20 comprises a housing 32 forming said fixing zone 26 and receiving a distal end of said rod 12, more precisely its fixing end piece 18. Said distal end is crimped into said housing 32. Said fixing zone 26 here comprises a lug 34 provided with said housing 32 receiving the rod 12. Said fixing end piece 18 is formed from a reduced diameter portion of said rod 12.

[0041] Said finger 28 and / or said lug 34 extend here along said longitudinal axis X, for example from an internal partition 40 of said cover 20. The tapping 23 extends from said partition 40 to an external distal edge of said cover 20.

[0042] As a variant, not illustrated, said rod 12, in particular its fixing end piece 18, is glued to said cover 20, in particular in said housing.

[0043] According to another variant, not illustrated, said fixing end piece is stiffened. For this, it is for example formed from a part of enlarged diameter of said rod 12, possibly reinforced with a coaxial collar.

[0044] According to yet another variant, not illustrated, said cap 20 comprises two parts mounted removably, in particular by snap-fastening, one relative to the other. The first one of the parts is intended to be fixed on said bottle 2 and said rod 12 is attached to the other second one of the parts. This makes it possible to change the rod 12 without having to change the entire application device, in particular when the latter comprises a cap 21 which is valuable and / or particularly adapted to the bottle 2.

Claims

Claims

1. Device for applying a product, in particular a cosmetic product, said device comprising a rod (12), extending in a rest position along a longitudinal axis (X), the rod (12) comprising a tip (18) for attachment to a cover (20) of said device and a tip (14) for applying the product, said application tip (14) being provided with an application surface (16) intended to come into contact with the skin of a user, said rod (12) being flexible so as to have a flexibility allowing it, during use, to have a curvature from the attachment tip (18) to the application tip (14) depending on an application force of the user, the flexibility of the rod (12) allowing it to be oriented in all directions of space under the effect of the force of the user, said attachment and application tips (18, 14) being in continuity of material with said rod (12).

2. Device according to the preceding claim in which the curvature of the rod (12) is entirely contained in a plane and comprises a single concave curvature towards a first side.

3. Device according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said application tip (14) has a flattened configuration, said application surface (14) being formed of two large opposite surfaces (16a, 16b) of said application tip (14).

4. Device according to the preceding claim in which said large surfaces (16a, 16b) are substantially concave.

5. Device according to any one of claims 3 or 4 wherein said application tip (14) comprises a cavity (22) connecting said opposite faces (16a, 16b).

6. Device according to the preceding claim comprising a ball (24) located in said cavity (22) so as to produce a massaging effect on the user's skin.

7. Device according to any one of the preceding claims in which said cap (20) is intended to be fixed on a bottle (2), said device being configured so that the application tip (14) drips into said product, provided contained in said bottle, when said cap (20) is fixed on said bottle (2).

8. Device according to the preceding claim in which said cover (20) comprises two parts mounted removably relative to each other. the other, the first of the parts being intended to be fixed on said bottle (2), said rod being attached to the second of the parts.

9. Device according to any one of the preceding claims in which said fixing end piece (18) is integral with said cover (20) by cooperation of corresponding shapes.

10. Device according to any one of the preceding claims in which said cover (20) and said rod (12) are overmolded on each other.

11. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 9 wherein said rod (12) is crimped onto said cover (20).

12. Device according to any one of the preceding claims in which said fixing tip (18) is formed from a reduced diameter portion of said rod (12).

13. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 11 in which said fixing end piece (18) is stiffened.

14. Device according to the preceding claim in which said fixing tip (18) is formed from an enlarged diameter portion of said rod (12).

15. Applicator assembly for a cosmetic product, comprising: - a bottle (2) intended to contain the cosmetic product, and - an application device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, adapted to be fixed on the bottle (2), so that the application tip (14) is housed inside the bottle (2).

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