Patterned Applicator for Discontinuous Skin-Tightening Film

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Solution Overview

Problem

Skin-tightening products often cause discomfort and an unnatural look when facial movements are made, as they do not allow for sufficient skin flexibility.

Innovation Solution

The use of applicators with discontinuous surfaces, such as stencils and stamps, that apply skin-tightening compositions in a patterned manner, allowing for more comfort and natural movement while maintaining skin tightening effects, using materials like anionic copolymers, organopolysiloxanes, and elastomers.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If skin-tightening products are applied continuously to achieve effective tightening, then the tightening effect is improved, but skin flexibility and comfort during facial movements deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveskin tightening effectVSAvoidskin flexibility during facial movements

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The applicator divides the continuous film application into discrete segmented zones using protrusions that create isolated patterned areas on the skin. This segmentation allows the skin to move naturally between the treated zones while still achieving tightening effects within each zone, resolving the contradiction between tightening effectiveness and skin flexibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Shape

If a continuous film is applied to cover the entire skin area, then the aesthetic appearance is improved, but comfort and natural movement are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaesthetic appearanceVSAvoidcomfort during facial movements

Core Design Contradiction:

ShapeVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The invention applies skin-tightening composition locally only in the patterned areas defined by the protrusions rather than continuously across the entire skin surface. This local quality approach maintains aesthetic improvement in treated zones while leaving surrounding skin areas flexible and comfortable for natural movement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Manufacturing precision

If the applicator surface is continuous to ensure even distribution, then application uniformity is improved, but skin flexibility is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveapplication uniformityVSAvoidskin flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The applicator uses a segmented surface with multiple protrusions arranged in a pattern rather than a continuous surface. Each protrusion deposits composition uniformly in its localized area, achieving application uniformity within zones while the segmented nature allows skin flexibility between zones.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS11399618B2Methods and applicators for applying skin-tightening film products

Publication Date: 2022.08.02 LOREAL SA

AI summary

A stencil or stamp applicator is used for applying a skin-tightening composition onto skin surfaces. The composition applied with a stencil or stamp results in a discontinuous film made up of sections of about 20 to 150 microns. The discontinuity of the film results in more comfort and a more natural look of facial movement while still retaining a good skin-tightening effect.