Profiled system for applying a cosmetic product, method for making same, and applicator assembly and assembling method for such an assembly

• US 7,334,584 B2
• Filed: 10/18/2002
• Issued: 02/26/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: COTY Incorporated (Agnaten SE)
• Original Assignee: COTY Incorporated (Agnaten SE)
• Inventors: Mathiez, Jean-Louis
• Primary Examiner(s): Manahan; Todd E.
• Application Number:
  US10/477,316
• Publication Number:
  US 20040244808A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,957 Days
• Field of Search: 132/218, 132/313, 132/317, 401/121, 401/122, 401/126, 401/128, 401/129, 401/130, 249/141, 425/812, 425/401
• US Class Current: 132/218
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 40/267 comprising a wiper
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 2200/106 Cosmetics applicator specifically for mascara including comb like element

Abstract

In order to enable application of a calibrated dose of product deposited on the brush, the invention proposes an application system whereof the stem, the brush and the stripper have a similar type of profiled shape. A profiled system for applying a cosmetic product comprises an applicator mounted on a stem, and a stripper (32) having an opening (34) through which the applicator passes. The stem is integral with a capsule (12) and the stripper mounted on the neck of a small bottle containing the cosmetic product. The invention is characterized in that the applicator consists of a comb (10) and the stem (14) forms an extension of the comb (10). The stem, the brush and the opening of the stripper have a substantially identical cross-section, whereof the contour includes a protuberance with substantially elongated section in a median plane (P).

Claims

1. A profiled system for application of cosmetic product, onto eyelashes or eyebrows, the system comprising:

a flask defining a groove;

an elongated shaft having at least one continuous projection along its longitudinal axis (X′

X);

an applicator mounted on the elongated shaft, wherein the applicator comprises a comb (10) having a contour whose cross-section is largely identical to that of shaft (14); and

a wiper integral with the groove defined by the flask, the wiper defining an opening through which the applicator passes, wherein the wiper is sized and shaped for delivery of a calibrated dosage of cosmetic having a contour that is largely fitted to the cross-section of shaft (10) along its longitudial axis.

2. The profiled system according to claim 1, wherein comb (10) has at least one row of teeth (11) whose interstitial dimensions (20) are determined as a function of the composition and texture characteristics of the product (50) to be applied, in order to calibrate the quantity of cosmetic product that might remain during application.

3. The profiled system according to claim 1 wherein casing 12 is screwed onto flask (30).

4. The profiled system according to claim 1, wherein the wiper comprises at least one orientation ramp (37) for comb (10) an opening (34) of the wiper, to allow alignment of the comb contour (10) with opening (34).

5. The profiled system according to claim 1, further comprising a lip (36) defining the opening of wiper (32) in order to scrape excess cosmetic product deposited on the comb, and a guiding bead (38), the lip being formed inside wiper (32) to ensure centering of the comb (10) and the shaft (14) onto lip (36).

6. The profiled system according to claim 1, further comprising at least one retaining ring (33, 33a, 33b) on the external side of wiper (32) permitting rotation of wiper (32) while keeping its axial position inside vial (30).

7. The profiled system according to claim 1, in which the comb includes one or two projections that are diametrically opposed with respect to the longitudinal axis (X′

X), spread out along a median plane (P) and having one (11c) or two rows (11a, 11b) of teeth.

8. The profiled system according to claim 7, in which the two rows (11a, 11b) of teeth are diametrically opposed with respect to longitudinal axis (X′

X).

9. The profiled system according to claim 8, wherein the profiles of the shaft, comb and opening (34) of the wiper are quadriconcave, quadrilinear or biconcave-bilinear in shape.

10. The profiled system according to claim 9, in which means of visual or mechanical foolproofing are formed on the comb and/or wiper, in order to position the means so that it faces the comb and the wiper that must fit together during the insertion of the shaft into the wiper.

11. The profiled system according to claim 7, in which the teeth in each row (11a, 11b) are adapted to functions determined by the various spacings (20a, 20b) between the teeth in the first row relative to the second, on the one hand, and by the flat (F_a) or biconcave (F_b) shape of the external sides of the respective rows (11a, 11b) on the other, for applying cosmetic product (50) on upper or lower eyelashes, respectively, as well as to produce a “

voluminizing”

or separating effect.

12. The profiled system according to claim 11, wherein the functions intended to produce a separating effect or to apply cosmetic product on lower eyelashes are carried out by a comb (10) that has flat size which fits into a convex lip (36) of wiper (32) in order to exert pressure on the row with flat sides (11a) greater than that exerted on the concave row (11b).

13. The profiled system according to claim 1, in which the shaft, comb and opening in the wiper each have a cross-section that is substantially identical with three to eight projections, forming a star-shaped section profile.

14. The profiled system according to claim 1 in which the comb has, at one end, at least one beveled portion (14a) which facilitates insertion of the comb into the wiper.

15. The profiled system according to claim 1, in which the shaft and the comb are made from a single molded piece.

16. The profiled system according to claim 1, in which wiper material selected from one or more of a low-density polyethylene and an elastomeric thermoplastic material.

17. The profiled system according to claim 1 in which the comb and shaft material selected from one or more of polypropylene, polyamide and polyoxymethylene.

18. The profiled application system according to claim 1, further including a casing (12) affixed to the shaft opposite the applicator and adapted to be secured to said flask.

19. A method for assembling an applicator assembly according to claim 18, characterized in that wiper (32) is initially pre-positioned on shaft (14), and that once the flask has been filled with the product, shaft (14) is inserted into the groove (31) of the flask, and characterized in that, during the initial closure, while casing 12 abuts the flask, and wiper (32) is drawn in by casing 12 and becomes permanently set into the groove (31) of the flask.

20. A method according to claim 19, in which, when casing (12) abuts vial (30), the wiper is located in an intermediate position in which ring (33) is in contact with a portion of groove (34) such that the latter exerts an axial-component force (F) on the ring, which is then introduced into the groove in a permanently retained position, creating play between the wiper (32) and the gap (12a) in the casing.

21. A method for producing a profiled application system comprising:

molding a shaft and comb assembly in a mold having lands(s) that are arranged outside a toothed portion (11a, 11b, 11c) of comb (10) wherein the lands are sized and shaped for delivery of a calibrated dosage of cosmetic and wherein a mold used for molding defines holes proximal to teeth of a toothed portion for air to escape during injection molding.

22. The method according to claim 21 wherein the comb is molded around an axial pin to hold the comb.