Applicator for applying a liquid cosmetic product and make-up assembly provided with such an applicator

• US 6,059,473 A
• Filed: 07/11/1995
• Issued: 05/09/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: L'Oreal SA
• Original Assignee: L'Oreal SA
• Inventors: Gueret, Jean-Louis
• Primary Examiner(s): Walczak, David J.
• Application Number:
  US08/500,781
• Time in Patent Office: 1,764 Days
• Field of Search: 401/129, 401/126, 401/130, 401/127, 401/128, 15/143.1
• US Class Current: 401/129
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 34/045 connected to the cap of the container
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 40/28 Appliances specially adapted for spreading already applied paint
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 11/0006 specially adapted to feed the bristle upper surface
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 2200/1013 Brushes for cleaning fingers or finger nails
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 2200/1046 Brush used for applying cosmetics bristles arrangements for cosmetic brushes A46B9/021
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 9/021 arranged like in cosmetics brushes, e.g. mascara, nail polish, eye shadow
• CPC Class Codes: A46D 1/0253 Bristles having a shape which is not a straight line, e.g. curved, "S", hook, loop

Abstract

The present invention relates to an applicator for applying a make-up product, including a stem (5) having a free end (5a) comprising an embedment plane for an application member having a defined flexibility, the stem having a flexibility similar to that of the application member, the stem and the application member being manufactured as a single piece. Preferably, the application member consists of a tuft (2) of bristles (3). The invention also relates to a nail-varnish application assembly provided with such an applicator.

Claims

1. An applicator for applying a cosmetic product, comprising:

a plastic flexible stem having a first end and a second end;

a plastic flexible application member on the first end of the stem, the stem and the application member being manufactured as a single piece and the stem being at least as flexible as the application member; and

a handling member on the second end of the flexible stem, wherein both the application member and the stem are configured to flex upon application of said cosmetic product to a surface.

2. An applicator according to claim 1, wherein the application member is a tuft of bristles, a first end of which is fixed to said first end of the stem.

3. An applicator according to claim 2, wherein the tuft of bristles has a length from 8 to 40 mm.

4. An applicator according to claim 2, wherein the bristles have a thickness in the range of approximately 0.2 mm to approximately 1.5 mm.

5. An applicator according to claim 1, wherein the application member is a coated with a flock coating.

6. An applicator according to claim 1, wherein the flexible stem and application member are made of a thermoplastic material.

7. An applicator according to claim 6, wherein the thermoplastic material has a hardness lying within the range from 15 Shore A to 40 Shore D.

8. An applicator according to claim 1, wherein the flexible stem and application member are made from a material chosen from polyethylenes, polyacetals, polyamides, polyether-block-amides, polyester elastomers, and polyurethane elastomers.

9. An applicator according to claim 1, wherein the stem has a diameter from 2.5 to 5 mm.

10. An applicator according to claim 1, wherein the stem has a length from 2 to 20 cm.

11. The applicator of claim 1, wherein the stem includes a first region and a second region, the second region having a cross-section less than that of the first region.

12. The applicator of claim 11, wherein a ratio of the cross-section of the first region to the cross-section of the second region is ranges from 2:

1 to 100;

1.

13. An applicator for applying nail varnish, comprising:

a plastic flexible stem having a first end and a second end;

a plastic flexible application member on the first end of the stem, the stem and the application member being manufactured as a single piece and the stem being at least as flexible as the application member; and

a handling member on the second end of the flexible stem, wherein both the application member and the stem are configured to flex upon application of said nail varnish to a nail.

14. A cosmetic product application system, comprising:

a plastic flexible stem having a first end and a second end;

a plastic flexible application member on the first end of the stem, the stem and the application member being manufactured as a single piece and the stem being at least as flexible as the application member;

a handling member on the second end of the stem; and

a reservoir configured to contain the cosmetic product and to receive the application member, wherein both the application member and the stem are configured to flex upon application of said cosmetic product to a surface.

15. The system according to claim 14, wherein the application member is a tuft of bristles, and a first end of which is fixed to the first end of the stem.

16. The system of claim 14, further comprising a cosmetic product contained in the reservoir.

17. A nail varnish application system, comprising:

a plastic flexible stem having a first end and a second end;

a plastic flexible application member on the first end of the stem, the stem and the application member being manufactured as a single piece and the stem being at least as flexible as the application member;

a handling member on the second end of the stem; and

a reservoir configured to contain the nail varnish and to receive the application member, wherein both the application member and the stem are configured to flex upon application of said nail varnish to a nail.

18. The system of claim 17, further comprising nail varnish contained in the reservoir.