Application member for the application of a product to the skin and assembly thus equipped

• US 6,280,112 B1
• Filed: 12/02/1999
• Issued: 08/28/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: L'Oreal SA
• Original Assignee: L'Oreal SA
• Inventors: Vieu, Valerie
• Primary Examiner(s): Walczak, David J.
• Application Number:
  US09/453,168
• Time in Patent Office: 635 Days
• Field of Search: 401/122, 401/121, 401/130, 401/126, 401/261, 401/266, 401/6, 401/118, 401/119, 401/128, 401/123, 401/124, 401/125, 401/127
• US Class Current: 401/122
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 2200/1018 comprising a pad, i.e. a cushion-like mass of soft material, with or without gripping means
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 34/042 using a brush or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 34/046 comprising a wiper

Abstract

Application member for the application of a product to the skin, including a gripping element and an application element, integral with the gripping element, the application element being flexible, and having at least a first substantially planar face, the width of which in a direction perpendicular to an axis of the gripping element decreases in the direction of a free end located opposite the gripping element, the first face being delimited by two lateral edges, at least one of which is of concave form. Further included herein is an application assembly equipped with such an application member and a method to the use of this application member for the treatment of wrinkles.

Claims

1. An application member for the application of a product to the skin, comprising a gripping element and an application element, attached to said gripping element, said application element being flexible, and having at least a first substantially planar face, a portion of said first face having a width in a direction perpendicular to an axis of the gripping element that decreases in a direction of a free end located opposite said gripping element, said portion being delimited by two lateral edges, one of which is of concave form, and the other of which is of convex form.

2. The application member according to claim 1, characterized in that the application element comprises a second face opposite the first face, said second face being substantially planar.

3. The application member according to claim 1, characterized in that the two lateral edges have different radii of curvature.

4. The application member according to claim 1, characterized in that said concave lateral edge has a radius of curvature of between 16 mm and approximately 30 mm.

5. The application member according to claim 1, characterized in that at least the free end is of rounded form.

6. The application member according to claim 1, characterized in that the free end of the application element has a curvature having a radius of between approximately 1 mm and approximately 3 mm.

7. The application member according to claim 1, characterized in that the application element is made from natural or synthetic rubber, foam, polyurethane, or thermoplastic elastomer.

8. The application member according to claim 1, characterized in that the application element has a length of approximately 20 mm measured along the axis of the gripping element.

9. The application member according to claim 1, characterized in that the application element has a mean length of approximately 7 mm measured in a direction perpendicular to the axis of the gripping element.

10. The application member according to claim 1, characterized in that the application element has a mean thickness of between approximately 1 mm and approximately 3 mm.

11. An application assembly including a reservoir intended to contain a product and a free edge of which delimits an opening over which a closure element is removably fastened, said closure element being attached to an application element, wherein the application element comprises a gripping element and an application element, attached to said gripping element, said application element being flexible, and having at least a first substantially planar face, with a width in a direction perpendicular to an axis of the gripping element that decreases in a direction of a free end located opposite said gripping element, said first face being delimited by two lateral edges, at least one of which is of concave form.

12. The application assembly according to claim 11, characterized in that a drying member is arranged in the vicinity of the opening and is capable of metering a quantity of product taken up by said application element.

13. The application assembly according to claim 12, characterized in that the drying member consists of an elastomeric material and has at least one slit extending over a substantial part of a section of the drying member.

14. The application assembly according to claim 13, characterized in that the drying member comprises a plurality of slits intersecting in the vicinity of a center of the drying member.

15. The application assembly according to claim 14, characterized in that each slit of the plurality of slits extends along a corresponding axis, each end of each slit having at least one portion extending in a different direction from the corresponding axis of a corresponding slit.

16. The application assembly according to claim 15, characterized in that each end ends in a V-portion centered on the corresponding axis of the corresponding slit and an apex of which is adjacent to the corresponding slit.

17. The application assembly according to claim 16, characterized in that the V-portion has free ends that are oriented away from the corresponding slit.

18. The application assembly according to claim 16, characterized in that the V-portion has free ends that are oriented in the direction of the corresponding slit.

19. The application assembly according to claim 16, characterized in that the V-portion has an angle of opening that is between 30°

and 180° and

preferably between 30° and

90°

.

20. The application assembly according to claim 14, characterized in that each slit extends along an axis, each end of the slit including an opening.

21. The application assembly according to claim 20, characterized in that the opening has a diameter of approximately 1 mm.

22. A method of use of an application member comprising a gripping element and an application element, attached to said gripping element, said application element being flexible, and having at least a first substantially planar face, a portion of said first face having a width in a direction perpendicular to an axis of the gripping element that decreases in a direction of a free end located opposite said gripping element, said portion being delimited by two lateral edges, one of which is of concave form, and the other of which is of convex form, said method comprising the step of applying a product suitable for treating wrinkles with the application member.

23. An application assembly including a reservoir intended to contain a product and a free edge of which delimits an opening over which a closure element is removably fastened, said closure element being attached to an application element, wherein the application element comprises a gripping element and an application element, attached to said gripping element, said application element being flexible, and having at least a first substantially planar face, with a width in a direction perpendicular to an axis of the gripping element that decreases in a direction of a free end located opposite said gripping element, said first face being delimited by two lateral edges, both of which are of concave form.

24. A method of use of an application member comprising a gripping element and an application element, attached to said gripping element, said application element being flexible, and having at least a first substantially planar face, a portion of said first face having a width in a direction perpendicular to an axis of the gripping element that decreases in a direction of a free end located opposite said gripping element, said portion being delimited by two lateral edges, both of which are of concave form, said method comprising the step of applying a product suitable for treating wrinkles with the application member.