FR2874160A1 - Cosmetic product e.g. mascara, applicator, has male and female units, where portion and recess, respectively of male and female units have outer and inner sections forming regular polygons so that arms form preset and stable discrete angle - Google Patents

Abstract

The applicator has a male unit (7) comprising a portion between lateral walls, and a female unit (8) comprising a central wall with projections forming a central recess. The portion and the recess present outer and inner sections forming regular polygons, respectively, in a manner that upper and lower arms (5, 6) form an angle corresponding to predetermined and stable discrete angular values.

Description

LONGITUDINAL APPLICATOR WITH ARTICULATED ROD 5 FIELD OF THE INVENTION

  The invention relates to the field of applicators of fluid products, typically mascara, for the make-up or care of the face or eyes, these applicators generally comprising a brush as a means of applying said fluid product.

STATE OF THE ART

  Numerous applicators of fluid cosmetic products comprising a brush are already known, as described, for example, in the European applications No. 8630772, No. 87301927, No. 92303851, No. 94304753, No. 94306189, No. 99420221.0.

  These brushes typically comprise a metal reinforcement wire twisted so as to immobilize rows of bristles.

  These applicators are typically associated with a container for forming a dispenser, said dispenser typically comprising: - the container forming a body containing said fluid cosmetic product and having a typically threaded neck, - the applicator forming a threaded cap closing said neck said cap being integral with an application means, typically a brush, immersed in said fluid cosmetic product when the applicator-dispenser is typically closed, a rod securing said brush to said cap.

  Furthermore, the neck is typically provided with a spin ring in order to limit the amount of fluid cosmetic product entrained by said brush each withdrawal of said brush from said body.

  Also known are mascara applicators comprising a brush or an articulated rod as described in US Patents 4,165,755, US 5,328,282 and US 4,428,388.

PROBLEMS POSED

  On the one hand, prior art applicators which include a brush or articulated rod as described in US Pat. Nos. 5,328,282 and 4,428,388 may require a high number of parts and are generally complex and expensive to use. o manufacture considering the assembly of their different parts.

  On the other hand, when the number of parts is limited, as in certain applicator methods described in US Patent 4,165,755 where the articulated rod forms a hinge with two arms, or the arms are difficult to assemble to form said hinge or said hinge has too large a clearance and is then devoid of sufficient angular rigidity to allow normal use of the applicators.

  In addition, in these patents, the articulated arms can form a virtually any angle, whereas, these applicators being used by a person on themselves, the gestures necessary to manipulate the applicators require only a limited number of angular configurations. .

  Finally, in the field of application devices and packaging of cosmetic products, there is a permanent need to renew the products marketed and to provide these new products with new technical functions.

  The object of the invention is to provide a simple and inexpensive applicator to manufacture, comprising a rod having a hinge and two articulated arms, and solving the above problems.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

  According to the invention, the applicator of a cosmetic product, typically of mascara, with an axial direction, intended to cooperate with a container provided with a typically threaded neck and containing said cosmetic product, with a view to forming a dispenser of said cosmetic product , comprises: a) a manual gripping means typically forming a cap for closing said neck, b) a means for applying said cosmetic product, typically a brush, c) an axial rod solidarizing said manual gripping means or said cap and said applying means, said axial rod being a rod articulated in an axial plane, comprising an upper arm integral at its upper end with said manual gripping means or said cap, and a lower arm secured to its lower end of said application means , said upper arm cooperating at its lower end with the upper end of said lower arm forming a e said radial axis hinge perpendicular to said axial direction, by cooperation of a male element forming an axle at one end of one of the two arms, with a female element forming a hub at one end of the other arm, so as to allow rotation of said arms, said lower arm being manually orientable in a direction making with said upper arm an angle equal to 0 or different from 0.

  Said applicator is characterized in that: 1) said male element comprises two axially facing and facing lateral walls, comprising between them a recessed portion of radial width LR and a non-recessed or solid portion forming said axle, 2) said female element comprises a central wall axially oriented and of a thickness less than said radial width LR, so that said central wall can slide between said side walls, said central wall comprising two facing projections forming a central recess and a peripheral recess so as to said female element forms an open hub adapted to be assembled to said male element forming said axle by snapping, said facing projections typically having a resilient elasticity and thus being able to be temporarily spaced under stress, typically during said snapping or rotation , 3) said party e not recessed or solid forming said axle has, in whole or in part, an outer section forming a regular polygon of order N and said central recess has a homothetic inner section forming said regular polygon, so that said angle a can taking at least two discrete angular values close to ao and ai, with ao <a1, such that lai - aol is equal to 360 / N, N being an integer typically ranging from 3 to 12.

  The applicator according to the invention solves the problems posed.

  Indeed, on the one hand, its articulated axial rod comprises only two snap arms forming a hinge, so that the applicator according to the invention is economical.

  With the combination of means according to the invention, this hinge allows easy snap-fitting assembly, and ensures a stable angular position of the two arms during the use of the applicator, when the two arms form between them an angle corresponding to said values. discrete angles.

  In addition, this hinge makes it possible to form predetermined angles α, angles that can be selected or manually change, whether the application means itself is or not entered into said neck.

  Indeed, said projections facing the central wall of said female element have a resilient elasticity which makes them able to be temporarily spaced under stress, especially during said rotation, when said upper and lower arms pass from an angular position of angle ao to an angular position close to angle ai, and more generally when said upper and lower arms pass from an angular position of any angle a; at an angular position close to an angle i i, the angles ao, a1, a; and ai corresponding to said discrete angular values.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

  Figure 1a is an axial sectional view of an applicator blank (1 ') comprising an articulated axial rod (3) secured to a brush (4') as application means (4).

  FIG. 1b is a view in axial section similar to that of FIG. 1a showing an applicator blank (1 ") comprising an articulated axial rod (3) secured to a brush (4 ') as application means (4). ), said axial rod (3) comprising an upper arm (5) forming a single piece (11) with a threaded insert (21) for forming a cap (2).

  Figure 1c is an axial sectional view of an applicator (1) with a cap (2) screwed onto the neck (90) of a container (9) for containing a cosmetic product.

  Figures 2a to 2g show the articulated axial rod (3) of Figure 1a.

  FIGS. 2a and 2b are two side views of the upper (5) and lower (6) arms aligned before axial snapping, the two views being oriented at 90 relative to one another. FIG. 2c is a side view of the articulated axial rod (3) after clipping of the upper (5) and lower (6) arms arranged and oriented according to FIG. 2b, the upper (5) and lower (6) arms being aligned. (angle a = 0)

  FIGS. 2d and 2e are side views of the articulated axial rod (3) after clipping of the upper (5) and lower (6) arms arranged and oriented according to FIG. 2a, the upper (5) and lower (6) arms making an angle of 90 in Figure 2d and 45 in Figure 2e.

  Figure 2f is an enlarged view of the hinge (31) of Figure 2d surrounded by a circle.

  Figure 2g is an enlarged view of the hinge (31) of Figure 2e surrounded by a circle.

  FIGS. 3a and 3b schematically illustrate, in section in an axial plane perpendicular to the radial axis (32) of the hinge (3), different snap-in modes, said upper (5) and lower (6) arms being represented before latching, as in Figure 2a.

  FIG. 3a illustrates the case of an axial latching corresponding to that shown in FIGS. 2a to 2c, the peripheral recess (83) of the hub-shaped female element (8) being an axial peripheral recess (830).

  FIG. 3b illustrates the case of a lateral or radial latching, the peripheral recess (83) of the female hub element (8) being a lateral peripheral recess (831).

  Figure 3c is a side view of a one-piece molded part (12) consisting of the lower arm (6) and a plastic application means (4 ').

  FIG. 3d is a sectional view of the hinge (31) in a plane BB of FIG. 4b perpendicular to said axial direction (10), with a horizontal double arrow EM schematizing the elasticity between the two lateral axle portions ( 74, 74 ') of said male element (7), and with a vertical double arrow EF schematizing the elasticity between the two facing projections (81, 81') of said female element (8).

  Figures 4a to 4d schematically illustrate, in section in an axial plane comprising the radial axis (32), different modalities of solid parts (72) forming the axle of the male element (7). In these figures, the hub-forming female element (8) has been shown in dotted lines.

  In Figure 4a, the solid portion (72) forms a central axle (73).

  In FIG. 4b, similar to FIG. 4a, the solid part (72) forms two facing lateral axle portions (74, 74 ').

  In Figure 4c, similar to Figure 4a, the solid portion (72) forms a central axle (73) which is also a variable section axle (75).

  In FIG. 4d, similar to FIGS. 4b and 4c, the solid portion (72) forms two facing lateral axle portions (74, 74 '), which portions form a variable section axle (75).

  In FIG. 4e, similar to FIG. 4b, a thinned central portion (76) connects the two axle portions (74) and (74 '), so as to increase the elastic stress between the two lateral walls (70) and (70 ').

  Figure 4f shows the outer section (720) of the solid axle portion (72), section shown by a double arrow in Figures 4a to 4d.

  FIGS. 5a to 5c are diagrams bearing in abscissa the angle a and in the ordinate the torque C to be exerted on the upper (5) and lower (6) arms to move from a given stable angular position to a stable angular position close to .

  FIG. 5a corresponds to the case where N = 3, the discrete and stable angular values of the angle a being then ao = 0 and al = 120, angles for which the value of C is minimum.

  Figure 5b corresponds to the case where N = 6, the discrete angular values of the angle a being then ao = 0, ai = 60 and a2 = 120.

  Figure 5c corresponds to the case where N = 12, the discrete angular values of the angle a 10 being then ao = 0, ai = 30, a2 = 60, a3 = 90, a4 = 120.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

  As illustrated in particular in Figures 4a and 4c, said solid portion forming said axle may be constituted by a central axle (73) connecting said side walls (70) and (70 ').

  However, as illustrated in FIGS. 4b and 4d, said solid part forming said axle may consist of two lateral axle portions (74, 74 '), each of the lateral axles (74, 74') being secured to a wall said lateral walls (70, 70 '), so that said side walls (70, 70') can, if necessary, be elastically spaced during said latching of said arms (5, 6) or when said arms (5, 6) pass an angular position of angle ao to an angular position close to angle α1 and more generally when said arms (5, 6) pass from an angular position of angle α; at an angular position close to angle ai.

  Typically, and as illustrated in Figures 2a to 2c, said upper arm (5) and lower (6) may have a same cross section, typically circular, said cross section being taken perpendicular to said axial direction (10).

  Indeed, it is important, as can be seen in Figure 1c in the case where the applicator is a mascara applicator, to be able to move the applicator (1) relative to the neck (90) of its container (9) so that the articulated axial rod (3) does not offer resistance during its sliding in the wiper (91) secured to the neck (90). In particular, said lateral walls (70, 70 ') of said male element (7) and said central wall (80) of said female element (8) can cooperate in said hinge (31), so that said hinge (31) has said cross section, especially when said upper arm (5) and lower (6) are aligned, and between them an angle a then worth 0.

  According to one embodiment of the invention illustrated in particular in Figures 1a to 1c and 2a to 2c, 10. said upper arm (5) can carry at its lower end (51) said male element (7), said lower arm (6 ) carrying at its upper end (60) said female element (8). According to another embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 3a or 3b considered with the marks (5) and (6) in parentheses, said upper arm (5) can carry at its lower end (51) said female element (8), said lower arm (6) carrying at its upper end (60) said male element (7).

  As illustrated in particular in Figure 3a, said peripheral recess (83) of said female member (8) may be an axial peripheral recess (830), so that said latching of said arms (5, 6) is an axial latch.

  As illustrated in FIG. 3b, said peripheral recess (83) of said female element (8) may be a lateral or radial peripheral recess (831), so that said detent of said arms (5, 6) is a lateral snap or radial.

  According to the invention, and as illustrated in FIGS. 1a and 1b, said upper (5) and lower (6) arms may have a length, denoted respectively Ls and LI, such that Ls + LI is from 20 mm to 100 mm, and that Ls / LI, is from 0.1 to 10, and typically from 1 to 5.

  For both practical and aesthetic reasons, said lower end (61) of said lower arm (6) may be a tapered end (62) as shown in Figs. 30a and 2a-2e.

  Said lower end (61) of said lower arm (6) may comprise a fixing means (63) of said application means (4).

  Said fixing means (63) may be an axial recess forming a blind hole (630) adapted to cooperate with a support portion (41) of said application means (4).

  But it is possible to overmold said lower arm (6) on the upper portion (41) of the support (40) of the application means (4).

  According to the invention, said angle ao can be 0 to 15, and can be typically 0, this value ao is a value close to 0 so that said applicator (1) can be secured to said container (9).

  According to the invention, N being an integer ranging from 3 to 12, and ao being equal to 0, the discrete angular values are as follows for each of N values: for N = 3, ai = 120, for N = 4, ai = 90, - for N = 5, ai = 72 and a2 = 144, for N = 6, ai = 60 eta2 = 120, - for N = 7, ai = 51, a2 = 102, a3 = 153, - for N = 8, ai = 45, a2 = 90, a3 = 135, - for N = 9, ai = 40, a2 = 80, a3 = 120, a4 = 160, - for N = 10, ai = 36, a2 = 72, a3 = 108, a4 = 144, - for N = 11, a1 = 33, a2 = 66, a3 = 99, a4 = 132, a5 165, and for N = 12, a1 = 30, a2 = 60, a3 = 90, a4 = 120, a5 150.

  In a typical example of applicator (1), N is 8 and in this case, the lower arm (6) can take four possible angular orientations relative to the upper arm (5): ao, ai, a2 and a3, with typically ao = 0, ai = 45, a2 = 90 and a3 = 135.

  The higher the value of N, the higher the number of angular orientations ai, and the lower the manual effort to go from a value ai to a value close to ai or a; + i. In this regard, the preferred N values are from 5 to 10, and a typical value of N is 8.

  As illustrated in FIGS. 4c and 4d, said solid part forming said axle (72) of said male element may have a variable section that decreases homothetically from said lateral wall over all or part of the radial half-width LR, so as to form a variable section axle (75).

  As illustrated in FIG. 3d, said hinge (31) can be formed by cooperation of two lateral axle portions (74, 74 ') forming said male element (7), with said two facing projections (81, 81') said central wall (80) forming said central recess (82) of said female member, and wherein said two lateral axle portions (74, 74 ') and said two facing projections (81, 81') form two pairs of elements with a radial elasticity denoted respectively EM and EF, said radial elasticities EM and EF being oriented relative to each other.

  Typically, and as illustrated in FIG. 1c, said manual gripping means may be constituted by said cap (2), said cap typically comprising an outer shell (20) and a threaded inner insert (21) integral with said upper arm (5). ) and adapted to cooperate with said neck (90) of said container (9).

  According to one embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figure 1b, said inner insert (21) and said upper arm (5) can form a one-piece molded part (11). However, said cap (2) may optionally be devoid of outer shell (20), so that said threaded insert (21) forms said cap (2).

  According to another embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3c, said application means (4) and said lower arm (6) can form a one-piece molded part (12).

  Typically, said application means (4) can be formed by any mascara application means, typically by a brush (4 ').

  But the applicator (1) according to the invention can also be constituted by a brush for 3o apply for example a nail polish.

EXAMPLES OF REALIZATION

  Figures 4f are exemplary embodiments of the invention.

  ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION On the one hand, the applicators (1) according to the invention are economical to manufacture, because 1 o including a limited number of easy to assemble parts.

  On the other hand, the two arms (5) and (6) of the applicator (1) can take a limited number of angular values, so that the person using the applicator is assured, given the design of hinge (31) of the articulated axial rod (3), both to have several predetermined angular orientations (for example four angular orientations ao, al, a2 and a4), depending on the intended use, and to be able to quickly and simply access each of the positions or angular orientations.

  In addition, these angular positions are positions that are stable because, during use of the applicator (1), is exerted on the arms (5) and (6) a torque less than the limit torque CN needed to pass an angular position at a neighboring angular position in the case of a hinge (31) whose sections (720, 820) form a regular polygon of order N. See Figures 5a to 5c.

  However, a simple manual effort makes it possible to go from an angular position to a neighboring angular position.

  LIST OF REFERENCES 1 Applicator roughing applicator 1 ', 1.

  Axial direction 10 Monobloc piece 21 + 5 11 Monobloc piece 4 + 6 12 Cap 1 2 Outer shell 20 Threaded insert 21 Swivel axial shaft 1 3 Cross section 30 Hinge 3 31 Radial axis 32 Application 1 4 Brush 4 'Support 4 40 Bracket 40 41 Upper arm 3 5 Upper end 5 50 Lower end 5 51 Lower arm 3 6 Upper end 6 6 60 Lower end 6 61 Lower end tapered 62 Fixing 4 63 Blind hole 630 Male axle element 31 7 Lateral walls 70, 70 'Recessed sections of width LR 71, 71' Solid axle part 72 Outer section of 72 720 Central axle 73 Lateral axle sections 74, 74 'Sectional axle variable 75 Thin central part 76 Hub female element 31 8 Center wall 80 Thread facing 81, 81 'Center hub recess 82 82 820 inner section Perimeter recess 83 Evi axial peripheral element 830 Lateral peripheral recess 831 Container 9 Threaded neck 90 Wringer 91

Claims (21)

  Applicator for a cosmetic product (1), typically of mascara, with an axial direction (10), intended to cooperate with a container (9) having a typically threaded neck (90) and containing said cosmetic product, with a view forming a dispenser of said cosmetic product, comprising: a) manual gripping means typically forming a cap (2) for sealing said neck (90), b) application means (4) of said cosmetic product, typically a brush c) an axial rod integral with said manual gripping means or said cap (2) and said applying means (4), said axial rod being a rod (3) articulated in an axial plane, comprising an upper arm (5) secured at its upper end (50) of said manual gripping means or said cap (2), and a lower arm (6) secured to its lower end (61) of said application means (4), said upper arm (5) cooperating by its lower end (51) with the upper end (60) of said lower arm (6) forming a hinge (31) of said radial axis (32) perpendicular to said axial direction (10), by cooperation of a male element (7) forming an axle at one end of one of the two arms (6, 7), with a female element (8) forming a hub at one end of the other arm (7, 6), so as to allow said arms (5, 6), said lower arm (6) being manually orientable in a direction making with said upper arm (5) an angle α equal to 0 or different from 0, said applicator (1) being characterized in that: 1) said element male (7) comprises two axially oriented and opposite lateral walls (70, 70 '), comprising between them a recessed portion (71, 71') of radial width LR and a non-recessed or solid portion (72, 73, 74 , 74 ', 75) forming said axle, 2) said female element (8) comprises a central wall (80) axially oriented and thick less than said radial width LR, so that said central wall (80) can slide between said side walls (70, 70 '), said central wall (80) comprising two facing projections (81, 81') forming a central recess (82) and a peripheral recess (83) so that said female element (8) forms an open hub adapted to be assembled to said male element (7) forming said axle by snapping, said projections facing each other (81). , 81 ') typically having a resilient resilience and thus being able to be temporarily spaced under stress, typically during said detent or rotation, 3) said non-recessed or solid portion (72, 73, 74, 74', 75) forming said axle having, in whole or in part, an outer section (720) forming a regular N-order polygon and said central recess (82) having a homothetic inner section (820) forming said regular polygon, so that said angle α can take at least two discrete angular values close to ao et al, with ao <al, such that lai - aol is equal to 360 / N, N being an integer typically ranging from 3 to 12.   2. The applicator of claim 1 wherein said solid part forming said axle is constituted by a central axle (73) connecting said side walls (70) and (70 ').   3. The applicator of claim 1 wherein said solid part forming said axle is constituted by two lateral axle portions (74, 74 '), each of the axles (74, 74') side being secured to a side wall (70 , 70 '), so that said sidewalls (70, 70') can, if necessary, be elastically spaced during said latching of said arms (5, 6) or when said arms (5, 6) pass from one angular position of angle ao at an angular position close to angle ai and more generally when said arms (5, 6) pass from an angular position of angle a; at an angular position close to the angle of ac.   4. Applicator according to any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein said upper arm (5) and lower (6) have the same cross section, typically circular, said cross section being taken perpendicular to said axial direction (10).   An applicator according to claim 4 wherein said sidewalls (70, 70 ') of said male member (7) and said central wall (80) of said female member (8) cooperate in said hinge (31) so that said hinge (31) has said cross section, in particular when said upper (5) and lower (6) arms are aligned, and make an angle α between them equal to 0.   6. An applicator according to any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein said upper arm (5) carries at its lower end (51) said male element (7), said lower arm (6) carrying at its upper end (60) said female element (8).   7. An applicator according to any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein said upper arm (5) carries at its lower end (51) said female element (8), said lower arm (6) carrying at its upper end (60) said male element (7).   An applicator according to any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein said peripheral recess (83) of said female member (8) is an axial peripheral recess (830), so that said detent of said arms (5, 6) is a axial latching.   An applicator according to any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein said peripheral recess (83) of said female member (8) is a lateral or radial peripheral recess (831), so that said detent of said arms (5, 6) either a lateral or radial latching.   An applicator according to any one of claims 1 to 9 wherein said upper (5) and lower (6) arms have a length, denoted respectively Ls and LI, such that Ls + LI is from 20 mm to 100 mm, and that Ls / LI, ranges from 1 to 10.   An applicator according to any one of claims 1 to 10 wherein said lower end (61) of said lower arm (6) is a tapered end (62).   An applicator according to any one of claims 1 to 11 wherein said lower end (61) of said lower arm (6) comprises means (63) for securing said application means (4).   13. The applicator of claim 12 wherein said fixing means (63) is an axial recess forming a blind hole (630) adapted to cooperate with a support portion (41) of said application means (4).   An applicator according to any of claims 1 to 13 wherein said angle a 0 is from 0 to 15, and is typically 0.   An applicator according to any one of claims 1 to 14 wherein, N being an integer from 3 to 12, and a 0 being 0, said discrete angular values are as follows for each of N values: - for N = 3, a1 = 120, - for N = 4, a1 = 90, - for N = 5, al = 72 and a2 = 144, - for N = 6, a1 = 60 and a2 = 120, - for N = 7 , ai = 51, a2 = 102, a3 = 153, - for N = 8, a1 = 45, a2 = 90, a3 = 135, - for N = 9, a1 = 40, a2 = 80, a3 = 120, a4 = 160, - for N = 10, a1 = 36, a2 = 72, a3 = 108, a4 = 144, - for N = 11, a1 = 33, a2 = 66, a3 = 99, a4 = 132, a5 165, and for N = 12, a 1 = 30, a 2 = 60, a 3 = 90, a 4 = 120, a 150.   An applicator according to any one of claims 1 to 15 wherein said solid portion forming said axle (72) of said male member has a variable section homotetically decreasing from said side wall over all or part of the radial half-width LR, so forming a variable section axle (75).   An applicator according to any one of claims 3 to 16 wherein said hinge (31) is formed by cooperation of two lateral axle portions (74, 74 ') forming said male element (7), with said two projections facing each other ( 81, 81 ') of said central wall (80) forming said central recess (82) of said female element, and wherein said two lateral axle portions (74, 74') and said two facing projections (81, 81 ' ) form two pairs of elements provided with a radial elasticity denoted respectively EM and EF, said radial elasticities EM and EF being oriented relative to each other.   Applicator according to any one of claims 1 to 17 wherein said manual gripping means is constituted by said cap (2), said cap typically comprising an outer shell (20) and a threaded inner insert (21) integral with said 1 o upper arm (5) and adapted to cooperate with said neck (90) of said container (9).   The applicator of claim 18 wherein said inner insert (21) and said upper arm (5) form a one-piece molded piece (11).   An applicator according to any one of claims 1 to 11 and 14 to 19 wherein said application means (4) and said lower arm (6) form a one-piece molded part (12).   An applicator according to any one of claims 1 to 20 wherein said application means (4) is formed by any means for applying the mascara, typically by a brush (4 ').