Applicator unit for a product of a pasty or powdery consistency such as lip rouge

• US 5,716,150 A
• Filed: 07/03/1996
• Issued: 02/10/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 07/05/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: L'Oreal SA
• Original Assignee: L'Oreal SA
• Inventors: Gueret, Jean-Louis H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bratlie, Steven A.
• Application Number:
  US08/675,150
• Time in Patent Office: 587 Days
• Field of Search: 401/128, 401/129, 401/130
• US Class Current: 401/129
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 40/267 comprising a wiper

Abstract

A applicator unit (1) for a product (P) of a pasty or powdery consistency. The applicator includes a stem (12) having a first free end (14) joined to an applicator end fitting (16) in contact with the product and being intended for the application of this product to a surface to be treated, a second end (18) of the stem (12) being joined to a gripping element (6), wherein the applicator end fitting (16) has a flexible central core (20) having in at least one portion close to its end part (17) a diameter of 0.2 mm to 2 mm, and wherein the core (20) is covered over its whole circumference by a covering (22) capable of picking up the product (P).

Claims

1. An applicator element (1) for a product (P) of a pasty or powdery consistency, comprising:

a gripping element (6); and

a stem (12) having a first free end (14) joined to an applicator end fitting (16) intended for the taking up of the product and the application of this product to a surface to be treated, and a second end (18) of the stem being joined to the gripping element (6), the applicator end fitting (16) joining the stem at a neck narrower than the stem, and having a bulbous portion wider than the neck connected to the neck, and having a flexible central core (20) connected to the bulbous portion which has a diameter of 0.2 mm to 2 mm, this core (20) being covered over the whole of its circumference by fibers (22) capable of picking up the product (P) wherein the diameter of the applicator end fitting (16), at least in the central core measured out to ends of the fibers, is at least three times greater than the diameter of the core (20).

2. An element according to claim 1, wherein the diameter of the applicator end fitting (16) charged with the product (P), at least in the central core, is at least four times greater than the diameter of the central core.

3. An element according to claim 1, wherein the central core (20) of the applicator end fitting (16) has a diameter of 0.2 mm to 1.5 mm.

4. An element according to claim 1, wherein the flexible central core (20) of the applicator end fitting (16) has a diameter of 0.4 mm to 0.6 mm.

5. An element according to claim 1, wherein the applicator end fitting (16) is made of a supple elastomeric material.

6. An element according to claim 1, wherein the applicator end fitting (16) is made of a honeycombed foam.

7. An element according to claim 1, wherein said fibers have a length of approximately 0.3 to 2 mm.

8. An element according to claim 1, wherein the end fitting has a curved shape.

9. The element according to claim 1, further comprising a reservoir (2) for the product (P) which is provided with a neck (4) wherein the gripping element (6) of the said applicator element is mounted on the neck (4).

10. The element according to claim 1, wherein the product is one of an eye shadow and lip rouge.

11. The element according to claim 9, further comprising an annular wiper element (8) fixed to the neck of the reservoir (2), traversed by the stem (12) for wiping this stem (12) and the applicator end fitting (16).

12. The element according to claim 11, wherein the wiper element (8) has the shape of a glove finger provided with a central passage opening (24), this opening having a flock coating (26).

13. The element according to claim 1, wherein the product (P) has a viscosity ranging from 5.10^-3 Pa.s to 80.10^-3 Pa.s.

14. The applicator element of claim 1, wherein the diameter of said central core is substantially constant and wherein said central core has an axial length which is between one quarter and one half of an axial length of said end fitting.

15. An applicator unit for dispensing a viscous or powdery product, the applicator comprising:

a reservoir for storing the product; and

an applicator for immersion in the product stored in said reservoir, said applicator comprising an elongated cylindrical stem having a first end which extends from said reservoir and a second end immersed in the product stored in said reservoir when said applicator is inserted therein, and an end fitting affixed to said second end,

said end fitting comprising,

a first portion connected to said second end of said stem and which has a concavity with a minimum first diameter less than a diameter of said stem for imparting flexibility to said end fitting,

a middle portion connected to said first portion which has a convexity with a maximum second diameter larger than said first diameter and less than the diameter of said stem, said middle portion tapering from said second diameter to a third diameter of 0.2 to 2 mm in a direction away from said stem, said third diameter being smaller than said first and second diameters and substantially smaller than the diameter of said stem,

a flexible tip portion which has said third diameter adjacent said middle portion and which has a distal end with a diameter no greater than said third diameter, and

said middle and tip portions being substantially covered about their entire circumferences with a flock coating of fibers extending generally orthogonally therefrom for accumulating the product stored in said reservoir when said applicator is immersed in the product in said reservoir.

16. The applicator unit of claim 15, wherein said fibers extend from said convexity to a diameter larger than the diameter of said stem and extend from said tip portion to a diameter no larger than the diameter of the stem.

17. The applicator unit of claim 16, wherein said reservoir comprises a neck with an annular wiper element through which said stem is inserted, said wiper element having an internal diameter at least as large as the diameter of said stem for leaving an accumulation of the product on said fibers at said tip portion out to a diameter which is substantially the same as said internal diameter of said wiper element.

18. The applicator unit of claim 17, wherein said internal diameter of said wiper element is at least four times larger than said third diameter.

19. The applicator unit of claim 15, wherein the diameter of said tip portion is substantially constant and wherein said tip portion has an axial length which is between one quarter and one half of an axial length of said end fitting.

20. The applicator unit of claim 19, wherein said fibers extend from said flexible tip portion to a diameter at least three times larger than said third diameter.