Angled tooth applicator, system, and method of product application

• US 20010047808A1
• Filed: 03/21/2001
• Published: 12/06/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 07/21/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: L'Oreal SA
• Original Assignee: L'Oreal SA
• Inventors: Gueret, Jean-Louis H.
• Granted Patent: US 6,446,637 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 132/218
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 40/267 comprising a wiper
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 9/021 arranged like in cosmetics brushes, e.g. mascara, nail polish, eye shadow
• CPC Class Codes: A46D 1/00 Bristles; Selection of materials for bristles making artificial bristles D01D, D01F
• CPC Class Codes: A46D 1/0238 Bristles with non-round cross-section
• CPC Class Codes: A46D 1/0253 Bristles having a shape which is not a straight line, e.g. curved, "S", hook, loop
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 132/901 Comb tooth shape

Abstract

An applicator includes an application element configured to apply a product to eyelashes and/or eyebrows. The application element includes a support, and at least one row of teeth extending from the support. At least one of the teeth includes a base having an oblong cross-section. The oblong cross-section may be angularly positioned in a direction forming a non-zero acute angle with the axis of the row and/or a non-zero acute angle with the longitudinal axis of the support. An applicator system includes the applicator in combination with a receptacle for containing the product. Also provided is a cosmetic application method using the applicator.

Claims

1. An applicator for applying a product to at least one of eyelashes and eyebrows, the applicator comprising:

an application element configured to apply a product at least one of eyelashes and eyebrows, the application element comprising

a support, and

at least one row of teeth extending from the support, the at least one row of teeth having a longitudinal axis,

wherein at least one of the teeth comprises a base having an oblong cross-section, the oblong cross-section being angularly positioned in a direction forming a non-zero acute angle with the axis of the row.

2. The applicator of

claim 1

, wherein each of a plurality of teeth in the row comprises a base having an oblong cross-section angularly positioned in a respective direction forming a non-zero acute angle with the axis of the row.

3. The applicator of

claim 2

, wherein each of the teeth in the row comprises a base having an oblong cross-section.

4. The applicator of

claim 1

, wherein the oblong cross-section is angularly positioned so that a longitudinal axis of the oblong cross-section is in the direction.

5. The applicator of

claim 1

, wherein bases of at least two consecutive teeth in the row contact one another.

6. The applicator of

claim 1

, wherein bases of at least two consecutive teeth in the row lack contact with one another.

7. The applicator of

claim 1

, wherein the support includes a longitudinal axis, and wherein the direction forms a non-zero acute angle with the longitudinal axis of the support.

8. The applicator of

claim 2

, wherein the support includes a longitudinal axis, and wherein each respective direction forms a non-zero acute angle with the longitudinal axis of the support.

9. The applicator of

claim 1

, wherein consecutive teeth in the row are mutually overlapping when the application element is observed from the side, in a direction perpendicular to the axis of the row.

10. The applicator of

claim 9

, wherein the overlapping teeth form a substantially V-shaped notch therebetween, and wherein the notch is configured such that a hair is capable of being engaged therein.

11. The applicator of

claim 10

, wherein a bottom of the notch is situated at a non-zero distance from the support.

12. The applicator of

claim 1

, wherein bases of the teeth are arranged along an axis having a shape chosen from a substantially straight shape and a curved shape.

13. The applicator of

claim 1

, wherein the oblong cross-section has a substantially rectangular shape.

14. The applicator of

claim 1

, wherein each of a plurality of the teeth has a tapered cross-section extending over at least a portion of the tooth height from adjacent the support toward a tooth free end.

15. The applicator of

claim 1

, wherein at least some of the teeth have a free end portion having a shape chosen from cylindrical, substantially cylindrical, and curved.

16. The applicator of

claim 1

, further comprising a tuft of bristles mounted on the support.

17. The applicator of

claim 1

, wherein the tuft of bristles is along the row of teeth.

18. The applicator of

claim 1

, wherein the support and the teeth are an integral, one-piece arrangement.

19. The applicator of

claim 18

, wherein the application is formed by one of molding and die stamping.

20. The applicator of

claim 19

, wherein at least the teeth are formed of plastic material containing a gliding agent for improving gliding of the hair on the teeth.

21. The applicator of

claim 1

, wherein at least the teeth comprise a gliding agent for improving of the hair on the teeth, and wherein the gliding agent comprises a material chosen from polytetrafluoroethylene, graphite, silicones, molybdenum disulfide, and derivatives thereof.

22. The applicator of

claim 1

, wherein the application element is formed of a material chosen from elastomer, metal, and alloy.

23. The applicator of

claim 1

, wherein the application element has a first end and a second end opposite to the first end, and wherein a number of the teeth between the first end and the second end ranges from about 20 to about 50.

24. The applicator of

claim 1

, wherein a height of each of the teeth in the row ranges from about 0.5 mm to about 10 mm.

25. The applicator of

claim 1

, wherein the row of teeth comprises teeth having bases offset in alternation, at least in part, on either side of a geometrical separation plane containing the axis of the row.

26. The applicator of

claim 1

, wherein the angle is less than or equal to about 45°

.

27. The applicator of

claim 1

, wherein the support has a polygonal cross-section in a plane perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the support, and wherein the application element further comprises a plurality of rows of teeth each on a different main face of the support.

28. The applicator of

claim 1

, further comprising a stem, the application element being on an end of the stem.

29. The applicator of

claim 28

, wherein the stem extends from a handle element configured in the form of a closure cap for closing a receptacle.

30. The applicator of

claim 28

, wherein the application element is integrally molded with the stem.

31. The applicator of

claim 28

, wherein the application element is formed of a plastic material more flexible than a plastic material used to form the stem.

32. The applicator of

claim 28

, wherein a longitudinal axis of the support forms a non-zero angle with a longitudinal axis of the stem.

33. An applicator system comprising:

the applicator of

claim 1

; and

a receptacle configured to contain the product.

34. The system of

claim 33

, further comprising:

a wiper configured to remove excess product from the teeth when the applicator is removed from the receptacle.

35. The system of

claim 34

, wherein the wiper is deformable.

36. The system of

claim 35

, wherein the wiper is chosen from an elastomeric lip and a block of foam.

37. The system of

claim 33

, wherein the product is contained in the receptacle and the product is a cosmetic product for the eyelashes.

38. The system of

claim 37

, wherein the product is mascara.

39. The system of

claim 33

, wherein the receptacle includes an opening configured to permit passage of at least a part of the application element into the receptacle, and wherein the system further comprises a cap at another end of the stem, the cap being configured to sealable close the opening.

40. A method of applying a product to eyelashes, comprising:

providing the system of

claim 33

;

loading a product on at least some of the teeth; and

placing at least some of the teeth in contact with the eyelashes such that the product coats the eyelashes.

41. The method of

claim 40

, wherein the receptacle contains the product, and wherein the loading includes inserting the applicator into the receptacle containing the product.

42. The method of

claim 41

, further comprising removing the applicator from the receptacle and wiping excess product from the teeth.

43. The method of

claim 40

, wherein the loading the teeth includes dispensing the product from the receptacle onto the teeth.

44. The method

claim 40

, wherein the loading includes contacting the teeth with a solid cake of product.

45. The method of

claim 44

, further comprising moistening the solid cake of product.

46. The method of

claim 40

, further comprising gripping the eyelashes between adjacent teeth.

47. The method of

claim 40

, wherein the product is mascara including fibers, and wherein the method further comprises orienting the fibers with the teeth such that the fibers are substantially parallel to the eyelashes as the product is applied.

48. The method of

claim 40

, further comprising connecting the application element to the stem.

49. The method of

claim 48

, further comprising selecting the application element from a group of differing application elements.

81. An applicator system comprising:

the applicator of

claim 1

; and

a receptacle configured to contain the product.

82. The system of

claim 81

, further comprising:

a wiper configured to remove excess product from the teeth when the applicator is removed from the receptacle.

83. The system of

claim 82

, wherein the wiper is deformable.

84. The system of

claim 83

, wherein the wiper is chosen from an elastomeric lip and a block of foam.

85. The system of

claim 81

, wherein the product is contained in the receptacle and the product is a cosmetic product for the eyelashes.

86. The system of

claim 85

, wherein the product is mascara.

87. The system of

claim 81

, wherein the receptacle includes an opening configured to permit passage of at least a part of the application element into the receptacle, and wherein the system further comprises a cap at another end of the stem, the cap being configured to sealably close the opening.

88. A method of applying a product to eyelashes, comprising:

providing the system of

claim 81

;

loading a product on at least some of the teeth; and

placing at least some of the teeth in contact with the eyelashes such that the product coats the eyelashes.

89. The method of

claim 88

, wherein the receptacle contains the product, and wherein the loading includes inserting the applicator into the receptacle containing the product.

90. The method of

claim 89

, further comprising removing the applicator from the receptacle and wiping excess product from the teeth.

91. The method of

claim 88

, wherein the loading the teeth includes dispensing the product from the receptacle onto the teeth.

92. The method of

claim 88

, wherein the loading includes contacting the teeth with a solid cake of product.

93. The method of

claim 92

, further comprising moistening the solid cake of product.

94. The method of

claim 88

, further comprising gripping the eyelashes between adjacent teeth.

95. The method of

claim 88

, wherein the product is mascara including fibers, and wherein the method further comprises orienting the fibers with the teeth such that the fibers are substantially parallel to the eyelashes as the product is applied.

96. The method of

claim 88

, further comprising connecting the application element to the stem.

97. The method of

claim 88

, further comprising

selecting the application element from a group of differing application elements.

50. An applicator for applying a product to at least one of eyelashes and eyebrows, the applicator comprising:

an application element configured to apply a product to at least one of eyelashes and eyebrows, the application element comprising

a support having a longitudinal axis, and

at least one row of teeth extending from the support,

wherein at least one of the teeth comprises a base having an oblong cross-section, the oblong cross-section being angularly positioned in a direction forming a non-zero acute angle with the longitudinal axis of the support.

51. The applicator of

claim 50

, wherein each of a plurality of teeth in the row comprises a base having an oblong cross-section angularly positioned in a respective direction forming a non-zero acute angle with the longitudinal axis of the support.

52. The applicator of

claim 51

, wherein each of the teeth in the row comprises a base having an oblong cross-section.

53. The applicator of

claim 50

, wherein the oblong cross-section is angularly positioned so that a longitudinal axis of the oblong cross-section is in the direction.

54. The applicator of

claim 50

, wherein bases of at least two consecutive teeth in the row contact one another.

55. The applicator of

claim 50

, wherein bases of at least two consecutive teeth in the row lack contact with one another.

56. The applicator of

claim 51

, wherein each angularly positioned base of said plurality of teeth forms substantially the same non-zero acute angle with the longitudinal axis of the support.

57. The applicator of

claim 50

, wherein consecutive teeth in the row are mutually overlapping when the application element is observed from the side, in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the support.

58. The applicator of

claim 57

, wherein the overlapping teeth form a substantially V-shaped notch therebetween, and wherein the notch is configured such that a hair is capable of being engaged therein.

59. The applicator of

claim 58

, wherein a bottom of the notch is situated at a non-zero distance from the support.

60. The applicator of

claim 50

, wherein bases of the teeth are arranged along an axis having a shape chosen from a substantially straight shape and curved shape.

61. The applicator of

claim 50

, wherein the oblong cross-section has a substantially rectangular shape.

62. The applicator of

claim 50

, wherein each of a plurality of the teeth has a tapered cross-section extending over at least of the tooth height from adjacent the support toward a tooth free end.

63. The applicator of

claim 50

, wherein at least some of the teeth have a free end portion having a shape chosen from cylindrical, substantially cylindrical, and curved.

64. The applicator of

claim 50

, further comprising a tuft of bristles mounted on the support.

65. The applicator of

claim 50

, wherein the tuft of bristles is along the row of teeth.

66. The applicator of

claim 50

, wherein the support and the teeth are an integral, one-piece arrangement.

67. The applicator of

claim 66

, wherein the application element is formed by one of molding and die stamping.

68. The applicator of

claim 67

, wherein at least the teeth are formed of plastic material containing a filler for improving sliding of the hair on the teeth.

69. The applicator of

claim 50

, wherein at least the teeth comprise a gliding agent for improving gliding of the hair on the teeth, and wherein the gliding comprises a material chosen from polytetrafluoroethylene, graphite, silicones, molybdenum disulfide, and derivatives thereof.

70. The applicator of

claim 50

, wherein the application element is formed of a material chosen from elastomer, metal, and alloy.

71. The applicator of

claim 50

, wherein the application element has a first end and a second end opposite to the first end, and wherein a number of the teeth between the first end and the second end ranges from about 20 to about 50.

72. The applicator of

claim 50

, wherein the height of each of the teeth in the row ranges from about 0.5 mm to about 10 mm.

73. The applicator of

claim 50

, wherein the row of teeth comprises teeth having bases offset in alternation, at least in part, on either side of a geometrical separation plane containing the axis of the row.

74. The applicator of

claim 50

, wherein the angle is less than or equal to about 45°

.

75. The applicator of

claim 50

, wherein the support has a polygonal cross-section in a plane perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the support, and wherein the application element further comprises a plurality of rows of teeth each on a different main face of the support.

76. The applicator of

claim 50

, further comprising a stem, the application element being on an end of the stem.

77. The applicator of

claim 76

, wherein the stem extends from a handle element configured in the form of a closure cap for closing a receptacle.

78. The applicator of

claim 76

, wherein the application element is integrally molded with the stem.

79. The applicator of

claim 76

, wherein the application element is formed of a plastic material more flexible than a plastic material used to form the stem.

80. The applicator of

claim 76

, wherein the longitudinal axis of the support forms a non-zero angle with a longitudinal axis of the stem.