Applicator for cosmetic product, in particular mascara, and associated applicator assembly
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- US · United States
- Patent Type
- Applications(United States)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- ALBEA SERVICES SAS
- Filing Date
- 2026-01-23
- Publication Date
- 2026-08-06
AI Technical Summary
While it is easy to give the core of these twisted brushes a curved shape, the way they're made means they have a cylindrical envelope that offers few possibilities in terms of make-up effects.
[0012]The applicator therefore has two different types of face (small face and large faces). Each of the two types has specific make-up properties, enabling the user to achieve all the desired effects with a single applicator.
Smart Images
Figure US20260224018A1-D00000_ABST
Abstract
Description
RELATED APPLICATION DATA
[0001] This application is based on and claims priority to French Application No. 2500834, filed on January 27, 2025, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The invention relates to an applicator for cosmetic product, in particular mascara, and an associated applicator assembly. TECHNICAL BACKGROUND
[0003] The mascara applicators can be made from fibrous elements held between the longitudinal parts of a twisted metal pin called a core. These applicators are commonly known as "twisted brushes". The ends of the fibrous elements usually form envelopes along an axis of longitudinal extension of the brush. While it is easy to give the core of these twisted brushes a curved shape, the way they're made means they have a cylindrical envelope that offers few possibilities in terms of make-up effects.
[0004] The mascara applicators can also be obtained by injection moulding of plastic. Typically, these applicators comprise a core and a plurality of protuberances extending from a proximal end connected to the core to a free distal end. These applicators are commonly known as "plastic brushes". The plastic brushes can be given original shapes to create special make-up effects.
[0005] However, there is still a need to improve mascara applicators, in particular to obtain applicators that provide a sufficient amount of cosmetic product and good restitution of the latter, while retaining flexibility and ease of application of the cosmetic product to provide volume and length to the eyelashes.SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The invention relates to an applicator for a cosmetic product, comprising:
[0007] a core extending in a longitudinal extension direction from a first end, referred to as the proximal end, towards a second opposite free end, referred to as the distal end, the core being triangular in cross-section, and
[0008] a plurality of protuberances extending outwards from the core towards an opposite free end,
[0009] a plurality of ribs extending outwards from the core towards an opposite free end,
[0010] characterized in that the core comprises two large longitudinal faces having a surface area greater than a third longitudinal face, referred to as the small face, each face being connected to another by a ridge,
[0011] said protuberances being arranged in a plurality of longitudinal rows distributed over each of the large faces and the ribs being arranged on the small face.
[0012] The applicator therefore has two different types of face (small face and large faces). Each of the two types has specific make-up properties, enabling the user to achieve all the desired effects with a single applicator.
[0013] The two large faces with protuberances allow, for example, to load the applicator with cosmetic product and to deliver it to the surface to be made up, while separating the eyelashes thanks to the protuberances. The protuberances make the applicator particularly flexible.
[0014] While the ribs on the small face, which are more rigid, allow to comb and curl the eyelashes.
[0015] The user can easily choose which face to use depending on the desired effect. For example, the user can first use one of the two large longitudinal faces to load the eyelashes with mascara, and then use the small face to comb and / or lengthen the eyelashes.
[0016] According to various embodiments, which may be taken together or separately:
[0017] the cosmetic product is mascara,
[0018] the applicator is made of plastic,
[0019] the ribs extend along an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal extension direction of the core,
[0020] the ribs are arranged parallel to one another,
[0021] the ribs have a curvature along an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal extension direction of the core,
[0022] the free end of the ribs is tapered,
[0023] the large faces are slightly concave,
[0024] the small face is convex,
[0025] the small face has a curvature along the longitudinal extension direction of the core and a curvature along an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal extension direction of the core,
[0026] the height of the ribs is between 0.4 mm and 1.2 mm,
[0027] the height of the protuberances is between 0.8 mm and 2.2 mm,
[0028] the height of the protuberances increases from the small face to the opposite ridge,
[0029] the distal end of the core is curved and provided with ribs,
[0030] the protuberances are conical in shape,
[0031] the core has a cross-section of constant dimension along its entire length,
[0032] the applicator is a part obtained by moulding,
[0033] the applicator is a piece obtained by additive manufacturing.
[0034] The invention also relates to an applicator assembly for a cosmetic product, comprising:
[0035] a container comprising a body forming a reservoir intended to contain the cosmetic product, and
[0036] an applicator of the cosmetic product as described above, adapted to be attached to the container, so that the applicator is housed inside the reservoir.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0037] Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, for the understanding of which reference is made to the attached drawings wherein:
[0038] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an example of an applicator assembly according to the invention.
[0039] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the applicator in FIG. 1.
[0040] FIG. 3 is another perspective view of the applicator in FIG. 2.
[0041] FIG. 4 is a side view of the applicator in FIG. 2.
[0042] FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of the applicator in FIG. 4.
[0043] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view along VI-VI of the applicator in FIG. 4.
[0044] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view along VII-VII of the applicator in FIG. 4.DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0045] FIGS. 1 to 7 show an example of an applicator 1 for a cosmetic product, in particular a cosmetic product to be applied to the eyelashes and eyebrows, such as mascara.
[0046] In the example shown in FIGS. 1 to 7, the applicator 1 comprises:
[0047] a core 3 extending along a longitudinal extension direction, hereinafter referred to as the longitudinal axis X or axis X, from a first end, referred to as the proximal end 3a, towards a second, opposite free end, referred to as the distal end 3b, and
[0048] a plurality of protuberances 5 extending outwards from the core 3 towards an opposite free end 5a, and
[0049] a plurality of ribs 7 extending outwards from the core towards an opposite free end 7a.
[0050] The proximal end 3a of the core 3 can be fixed to an applicator stem 91 by a sleeve 11 extending the core 3 and devoid of protuberances 5.
[0051] This is a plastic applicator 1 obtained, for example, by moulding, such as injection moulding, or by additive synthesis.
[0052] According to the invention, the core 3 is triangular in cross-section and comprises two large longitudinal faces 13.1, 13.2 having a surface area greater than a third longitudinal face, referred to as the small face 15, each face 13.1, 13.2, 15 being connected to another by a ridge 17.1, 17.2, 19.
[0053] Said protuberances 5 are arranged in a plurality of longitudinal rows 21 distributed over each of the large faces 13.1, 13.2 and the ribs 7 are arranged on the small face 15.
[0054] In the following description, an orthonormal reference frame "X,Y,Z" is defined in a non-limiting manner. The axis X corresponds to the longitudinal extension direction of the core 3. The axis Z corresponds to an axis orthogonal to the axis X and connecting the two large faces 13.1, 13.2. The axis Y is orthogonal to the axes X and Z.
[0055] The applicator 1 therefore has two different types of face (small face 15 and large faces 13.1, 13.2). Each of the two types of face has specific make-up properties, enabling the user to achieve all the desired effects with a single applicator.
[0056] The two large faces 13.1, 13.2, which are provided with protuberances 5, allow, for example, to load the applicator 1 with cosmetic product, for example, and to deliver it to the surface to be made up, while separating the eyelashes thanks to the protuberances 5. In particular, the protuberances 5 make the applicator 1 particularly flexible.
[0057] While the more rigid ribs 7 on the small face 15 allow to comb and curl the eyelashes.
[0058] The user can easily choose which face to use depending on the desired effect. For example, first, the user can use one of the two large longitudinal faces 13.1, 13.2 to load the eyelashes with mascara, then later use the small face 15 to comb and / or lengthen the eyelashes.
[0059] Advantageously, the two large faces 13.1, 13.2 are slightly concave and the small face 15 is convex. The concavity and convexity of the two large faces 13.1,13.2 and the small face 15 respectively are directed outwards.
[0060] The two large faces 13.1, 13.2 have not only a concavity along the axis (visible in FIGS. 2 and 3) but also a concavity along the axis Y orthogonal to the axis X (visible in FIGS. 6 and 7).
[0061] The small face 15 also has a double convexity: a convexity along the axis X as seen in FIG. 4 and a convexity along the axis Z orthogonal to the axis X as seen in FIGS. 6 and 7.
[0062] Thus, when the applicator 1 passes through an opening orifice of the container or a neck 33, which may or may not be fitted with a wiper 31, and which are typically circular in cross-section, the large concave faces 13.1, 13.2 are not wrung out very much. In fact, the concavity of these two large faces 13.1, 13.2 forms a trough or reservoir when the applicator 1 passes through the neck 33 or the wiper 31. The large concave faces 13.1, 13.2 are thus charged with cosmetic product and can use the protuberances 5 to deposit cosmetic product on the eyelashes. The small convex face 15, on the other hand, is wrung out more by the wiper 31 or the neck 33, which means that it is less loaded with cosmetic product. The small face 15 allows the eyelashes to be combed.
[0063] With reference to FIGS. 6 and 7, the triangle formed by the cross section of the core 3 comprises two slightly concave long sides from which the protuberances 5 extend, and a small convex side from which the ribs 7 extend. In other words, the small side has an external shape in the form of a portion of a circle, due in particular to the rib 7 which follows the convexity of the general shape and gives a rounded shape, or appearance, to this surface.
[0064] The cross-section of the core 3 is triangular in shape and has a constant dimension along the entire length of the core 3.
[0065] The core 3 is shown here as full.
[0066] In the example shown here and as can be seen in FIGS. 4 and 5, the core 3 has a curvature whose convexity is directed towards the small face 15 and whose concavity is directed towards the opposite ridge 19.
[0067] Indeed, the curvature of the core 3 accentuates the convexity along the axis X of the small face, advantageously improving the wringing out of the small face 15 mentioned above when the applicator 1 passes through the neck 33, which may or may not be fitted with a wiper 31. The small face 15 is lightly coated with cosmetic products, making it easy to comb the eyelashes.
[0068] The curvature of the core 3 also creates a concave zone along the axis X at the ridge 19 opposite the small face 15. Thus, when the applicator 1 passes through the neck 33, which may or may not be fitted with a wiper 31, this area is not wrung out to the same extent as the two large faces 13.1, 13.2 and forms an additional reservoir of cosmetic product. This area, which is connected to the two large faces 13.1, 13.2, allows them to be supplied with additional cosmetic products.
[0069] Referring to FIGS. 2 to 4, each of the two large faces 13.1, 13.2 comprises five longitudinal rows 21 of protuberances 5.
[0070] Each of the longitudinal rows 21 comprises fifteen or sixteen protuberances 5.
[0071] The protuberances 5 of a longitudinal row 21 are offset by half a pitch in relation to the protuberances 5 of the adjacent row. In this way, rows 23 inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis X and the transverse plane are formed. Each of these inclined rows 23 comprises up to five protuberances 5.
[0072] In addition, one longitudinal row 21 is equidistant from the adjacent longitudinal row 21.
[0073] Each protuberance 5 has a base connected to the core 3 and an opposite free end 5a.
[0074] The protuberances 5 have a conical shape, the broad base of which is connected to the core 3 and the tip of the cone is the free end 5a of the protuberance 5.
[0075] The free ends 5a of the protuberances 5 define an envelope E of the applicator 1. The envelope E is shown in FIGS. 6 and 7.
[0076] Preferably, the protuberances 5 have an increasing height h1-h5 along a displacement (trajectory) starting from the small face 15 towards the opposite ridge 19, as can be seen in FIGS. 6 and 7. In other words, the protuberances 5 of the longitudinal rows 21 closest to the small face 15 have a height less than the height of the protuberances 5 of the longitudinal rows 21 close to the ridge 19. The protuberances 5 in the longitudinal rows 21 furthest from the small face 15 have the greatest height h5.
[0077] The "height of the protuberances 5" is taken to mean the distance h1-h5 of the normal to the surface of the core 3 measured between the surface of the large faces 13.1, 13.2 of the core 3 3 and the free distal end 5a of the protuberance 5.
[0078] Preferably, the height of the protuberances 5 is between 0.8 mm and 2.2 mm.
[0079] The ribs 7 extend over the small face 15 between each of the two large faces 13.1, 13.2. In other words, each rib 7 extends from a first edge 7b adjacent to one of the two large faces 13.1, 13.2 to a second edge 7c adjacent to the second of the two large faces 13.1, 13.2.
[0080] The first and second edges 7b, 7c of the ribs 7 form the ridges 17.1, 17.2 between the small face 15 and the two large faces 13.1, 13.2.
[0081] The ribs 7 extend along the axis Z and are perpendicular to the longitudinal axis X of the core 3. The ribs 7 are thus arranged parallel to each other and follow the curve of the small surface 15.
[0082] Preferably, each of the ribs 7 extends between these two edges 7b, 7c, forming a convex curve along the axis Z.
[0083] Thus, as mentioned previously, the small face 15 follows the curvature of the core 3, so it has a curvature along the axis X and a curvature along the axis Z, as can be seen in FIGS. 6 and 7.
[0084] The free end 7a of the ribs 7 is preferably tapered.
[0085] Preferably, a flat-bottomed recess 25 is formed between each of the ribs 7. The recesses 25 are parallel to each other and to the ribs 7.
[0086] Preferably, the height of the ribs 7 is between 0.4 mm and 1.2 mm.
[0087] Advantageously, the curvature along the axis X makes the ribs 7 more accessible for eyelash make-up, with the ribs 7 projecting outwards from the applicator 1.
[0088] The curvature along the axis Z of the ribs 7 is close to the curvature of the eyelashes, making it possible to add curvature, volume and length to the eyelashes.
[0089] The eyelashes are housed in the recesses 25 loaded with cosmetic product and are guided by the ribs 7, allowing the user to stretch them while applying the desired curvature.
[0090] The rectilinear growth of the protuberances 5 and the presence of the ribs 7 extending over the small face 15 mean that the envelope E of the applicator 1 has a substantially quadrilateral cross-section (shown as a dotted line in FIGS. 6 and 7). The quadrilateral is formed by a convex face formed by the ribs 7 of the small face 15, a slightly convex opposite side formed by the larger protuberances 5 and two slightly concave opposite sides formed by the free ends of the protuberances 5.
[0091] In the example shown here, the distal end 3b of the core 3 is curved and provided with ribs 7.
[0092] The ribs 7 on the distal end 3b of the core 3 are an extension of the ribs 7 on the small face 15 and are similar to those on the small face 15.
[0093] The ribs 7 on the distal end 3b of the core 3 are parallel to each other, separated by recesses 25 and have a curvature along the axis Z. Their free end 7a is tapered.
[0094] Preferably, the length of the ribs 7 of the distal end 3b of the core 3 decreases from the small face 15 towards the opposite ridge 19 forming a substantially triangular distal end 3b of the core 3.
[0095] The distal end 3b, which is provided with ribs 7, is advantageously thinner than the small face 15 and makes it easier to apply make-up to eyelashes that are difficult to access, particularly eyelashes located in the region close to the nose. All the eyelashes can be made up in a similar way.
[0096] Advantageously, the applicator 1 is symmetrical about a longitudinal plane P passing through the centre of the small face 15 and through the ridge 19 opposite it.
[0097] Advantageously, the curvature along the axis X of the core 3 is inscribed in the longitudinal plane P.
[0098] The invention also relates to an applicator assembly 26 for a cosmetic product, comprising the container 27 comprising a body 29 forming a reservoir intended to contain the cosmetic product (not shown), and an applicator 1, as previously described, adapted to be fixed to the container 27, so that the applicator 1 is housed inside the container 27, i.e. the reservoir. The applicator 1 is fixed, for example, to a proximal end of the stem 9 by means of the sleeve 11, the stem 9 itself being fixed to a cap 30 advantageously screwed to the container 27.
[0099] Advantageously, the container comprises a wiper 31 fixed inside the container 27, in particular in an opening orifice of the container or a neck 33.
[0100] Advantageously, the internal diameter of the wiper 31 is substantially identical to the maximum diameter of a circle in which the envelope surface E of the applicator 1 is inscribed.
[0101] Thus, passing the applicator 1 through the wiper 31 not only allows excess cosmetic product to be removed, but also homogenizes the distribution of the cosmetic product along the core 3.
[0102] In particular, as mentioned previously, when the applicator 1 passes through the neck 33, with or without the wiper 31, the large concave faces 13.1, 13.2 are not wrung out very much. In fact, the concavity of these two large faces 13.1, 13.2 forms a trough or reservoir when the applicator 1 passes through the neck 33 or the wiper 31, which remains loaded with cosmetic product. The two large faces 13.1, 13.2 can therefore use the protuberances 5 to apply cosmetic products to the eyelashes. The small convex face 15, meanwhile, is wrung out more by the wiper 31 or the neck 33, which means that it is less loaded with cosmetic product and can therefore be used to comb the eyelashes.
Claims
1. An applicator for a cosmetic product, comprising:a core extending in a longitudinal extension direction from a first end, referred to as the proximal end, towards a second opposite free end, referred to as the distal end, the core being triangular in cross-section, a plurality of protuberances extending outwards from the core towards an opposite free end, anda plurality of ribs extending outwards from the core towards an opposite free end,wherein the core comprises two large longitudinal faces having a surface area greater than a third longitudinal face, referred to as the small face, each face being connected to another by a ridge,wherein said protuberances being arranged in a plurality of longitudinal rows distributed over each of the large faces and the ribs being arranged on the small face.
2. The applicator according to claim 1, wherein the applicator is made of plastic.
3. The applicator according claim 1, wherein the ribs extend along an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal extension direction of the core.
4. The applicator according to claim 1, wherein the ribs are arranged parallel to one another.
5. The applicator according to claim 1, wherein the ribs have a curvature along an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the core.
6. The applicator according to claim 1, wherein the free ends of the ribs is tapered.
7. The applicator according to claim 1, wherein the large faces are slightly concave.
8. The applicator according to claim 1, wherein the small face is convex.
9. The applicator according to claim 1, wherein the small face has a curvature along the longitudinal extension direction of the core and a curvature along an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal extension direction of the core.
10. The applicator according to claim 1, wherein the height of the ribs is between 0.4 mm and 1.2 mm.
11. The applicator according to claim 1, wherein the height of the protuberances is between 0.8 mm and 2.2 mm.
12. The applicator according to claim 1, wherein the height of the protuberances increases from the small face towards the opposite ridge.
13. The applicator according to claim 1, wherein the distal end of the core is curved and provided with ribs.
14. The applicator according to claim 1, wherein the core has a cross-section of constant dimension along its entire length.
15. An applicator assembly for a cosmetic product, comprising: a container comprising a body forming a reservoir intended to contain the cosmetic product, andan applicator of the cosmetic product according to claim 1 adapted to be attached to the container, so that the applicator is housed inside the reservoir.