Applicator for applying a substance

• US 20060056903A1
• Filed: 09/02/2005
• Published: 03/16/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/03/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: L'Oreal SA
• Original Assignee: L'Oreal SA
• Inventors: Gueret, Jean-Louis H.
• Granted Patent: US 8,127,777 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 401/129
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 40/267 comprising a wiper
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 2200/106 Cosmetics applicator specifically for mascara including comb like element
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 9/021 arranged like in cosmetics brushes, e.g. mascara, nail polish, eye shadow

Abstract

Various embodiments of a device for applying a substance to eyelashes and/or eyebrows are disclosed. The device may include a receptacle containing the substance and an applicator including an applicator member. In some examples, the applicator member may include a twisted support extending along a longitudinal axis and bristles held by the support. The applicator member may define at least one first longitudinally-extending region having a succession of notches configured to be loaded with the substance and at least one second longitudinally-extending region configured to separate eyelashes and/or eyebrows. In some exemplary embodiments, the first region may include at least five notches.

Claims

1. A device for applying a substance to eyelashes and/or the eyebrows, comprising:

a receptacle containing the substance; and

an applicator comprising an applicator member, the applicator member comprising;

a twisted support extending along a longitudinal axis, and bristles held by the support,

wherein the applicator member defines

at least one first longitudinally-extending region comprising a succession of notches configured to be loaded with the substance, and

at least one second longitudinally-extending region configured to separate eyelashes and/or eyebrows,

wherein the first region comprises at least five notches.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the second region does not comprise any notch.

3. A device according to claim 1, wherein the bristles are arranged in a non-helicoidal configuration along the longitudinal axis of the support.

4. A device according to claim 1, wherein the notches of the succession of notches are spaced regularly apart.

5. A device according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the notches comprises a substantially flat bottom.

6. A device according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the notches extends over a length along the longitudinal axis of the support, the length being less than 3 mm.

7. A device according to claim 1, wherein the bristles comprises at least two rows of bristles, one of the at least two rows of bristles comprising notches.

8. A device according to claim 7, wherein the at least two rows define a groove therebetween, the groove extending along the longitudinal axis of the support and presenting an angular width of less than 135°

.

9. A device according to claim 7, wherein the support comprises a bristle-carrying portion, wherein at least one of the two rows extends over more than about half the length of the bristle-carrying portion of the support.

10. A device according to claim 7, wherein the maximum lengths of the bristles in the two rows are substantially equal.

11. A device according to claim 7, wherein at least one of the notches comprises a substantially V-shaped profile when the row containing the notches is observed in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the support.

12. A device according to claim 7, wherein at least one of the notches comprises a substantially U-shaped profile when the row containing the notches is observed in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the support.

13. A device according to claim 7, wherein the depths of the notches are substantially equal to the lengths of the bristles disposed on either side of the notches within the corresponding row.

14. A device according to claim 7, wherein two adjacent rows of bristles have different numbers of notches.

15. A device according to claim 7, wherein the at least two rows of bristles comprises a first row of bristles comprising notches and a second row of bristles being positioned adjacent the first row of bristles and lacking any notch.

16. A device according to claim 15, wherein the at least two rows of bristles comprises a plurality of first rows and a plurality of second rows arranged so that one of the first rows alternates with one of the second rows.

17. A device according to claim 7, wherein at least one of the at least two rows of bristles comprises a width that is substantially constant over at least a fraction of its length when the applicator is observed along the longitudinal axis of the support.

18. A device according to claim 7, wherein at least one of the at least two rows of bristles comprises a width that decreases in a radially outward direction when the applicator is observed along the longitudinal axis of the support.

19. A device according to claim 7, wherein the at least two rows of bristles are disjoint from one another.

20. A device according to claim 7, comprising at least one longitudinal groove between two adjacent rows of the bristles.

21. A device according to claim 1, wherein the applicator member defines an envelope surface comprising a shape that generally tapers towards a distal end of the applicator member.

22. A device according to claim 1, wherein the applicator member defines an envelope surface having a minimum cross-sectional area between ends of the support.

23. A device according to claim 1, wherein the applicator member defines an envelope surface having a circular cross-section along at least a fraction of a length of the applicator member.

24. A device according to claim 1, wherein the applicator member defines an envelope surface having a polygonal cross-section along at least a fraction of a length of the applicator member.

25. A device according to claim 1, wherein the applicator member has an envelope surface having a substantially square cross-section along at least a fraction of a length of the applicator member.

26. A device according to claim 1, wherein the applicator member has a substantially star-shaped cross-section having at least three branches.

27. A device according to claim 1, further comprising a stem extending along a longitudinal axis and having a first end connected to the applicator member.

28. A device according to claim 27, wherein the longitudinal axis of the stem coincides with the longitudinal axis of the support.

29. A device according to claim 27, wherein the longitudinal axis of the stem and the longitudinal axis of the support form a non-zero angle therebetween.

30. A device according to claim 29, wherein the non-zero angle is less than or equal to about 30°

.

31. A device according to claim 29, wherein the non-zero angle ranges from about 10°

to about 20°

.

32. A device according to claim 29, wherein the non-zero angle ranges from about 2°

to about 10°

.

33. A device according to claim 27, wherein the stem has a second end connected to a handle member.

34. A device according to claim 33, wherein the handle member constitutes a closure cap for the receptacle.

35. A device according to claim 34, wherein the closure cap is configured to cooperate with the receptacle by screw fastening.

36. A device according to claim 1, further comprising a wiper member.

37. A device according to claim 1, wherein the substance comprises a mascara.

38. An applicator for applying a substance to eyelashes and/or eyebrows, the applicator comprising:

an applicator member comprising

a support having a longitudinal axis;

a first row of projecting elements extending along the support; and

a second row of projecting element extending along the support,

wherein at least one of the projecting elements extends in a direction different from a direction in which at least another of the projecting elements extends;

wherein a radial angular spacing about the longitudinal axis of the support between the first row of projecting elements and the second row of projecting elements is greater than zero and less than or equal to about 135°

,

wherein the projecting elements of the first row or groups of the projecting elements of the first row are distributed in a uniform manner along said first row, and

wherein, when said elements are part of an integral, single piece defining at least a portion of the support, the projecting elements or groups of the projecting elements of the first and second rows are distributed differently such that at least three consecutive projecting elements or groups of projecting elements of the first row have a first spacing from each other, and at least three consecutive projecting elements or groups of projecting elements of the second row have a second spacing from each other, the second spacing being different from the first spacing.

39. An applicator according to claim 38, wherein a spacing between two consecutive projecting elements of the first row differs from a spacing between two consecutive projecting elements of the second row.

40. An applicator for applying a substance to eyelashes and/or eyebrows, the applicator comprising:

an applicator member comprising;

a support; and

at least two rows of projecting elements extending along the support, the projecting elements being configured to be placed into contact with eyelashes and/or eyebrows,

wherein at least one of the projecting elements extends in a direction different from a direction in which another of the projecting elements extends,

wherein the at least two rows of projecting elements are separated radially from one another about a longitudinal axis of the support by less than 135°

, and

wherein the number of projecting elements in one of the rows ranges from about one-fourth to about three-fourths the number of projecting elements in another of the rows.

41. An applicator for applying a substance to eyelashes and/or eyebrows, the applicator comprising:

an applicator member comprising

a twisted support extending along a longitudinal axis; and

bristles supported by the twisted support, the bristles comprising

a first longitudinally extending row of bristles; and

a second longitudinally extending row of bristles,

wherein each of the first and second rows comprises a plurality of notches distributed therealong,

wherein the notches of the first row are positioned at different axial positions along the support, and the axial positions of the notches of the first row coincide at least partially with axial positions of the notches of the second row, and

wherein the applicator member comprises at least one region located between the first and second rows and lacking any notch.

42. An applicator according to claim 41, wherein the at least one region comprises

at least one longitudinally extending row of bristles.

43. An applicator for applying a substance to eyelashes and/or eyebrows, the applicator comprising:

an applicator member comprising

a twisted support extending along a longitudinal axis; and

bristles supported by the twisted support,

wherein the bristles comprises bristles having a cross-section other than a solid circular cross-section and/or bristles that have been deformed,

wherein the applicator member comprises at least one longitudinal region having a succession of notches.

44. An applicator according to claim 43, wherein the succession of notches comprises more than five notches.

45. An applicator according to claim 43, wherein the notches are spaced regularly.

46. An applicator for applying a substance to eyelashes and/or eyebrows, the applicator comprising:

an applicator member comprising

a support having a longitudinal axis; and

at least first, second, and third rows of projecting elements integral with at least a portion of the support, at least the first and second rows each having at least three consecutive projecting elements or groups of projecting elements,

wherein the three consecutive projecting elements or groups of projecting elements of the first row are regularly spaced apart from each other by a first spacing, and

wherein the three consecutive projecting elements or groups of projecting elements of the second row are regularly spaced apart from each other by a second spacing different from the first spacing.

47. An applicator for applying a substance to eyelashes and/or eyebrows, the applicator comprising:

an applicator member comprising;

a support having a longitudinal axis; and

at least first, second, and third rows of projecting elements extending from the support and being part of an integral, single piece defining at least a portion of the support,

wherein the number of projecting elements of the second row ranges from about one-fourth to about three-fourths the number of projecting elements of the first row.

48. An applicator according to claim 47, wherein the number of projecting elements in the second row ranges from about one-third to about two-thirds the number of projecting elements in the first row.

49. An applicator for applying a substance to eyelashes and/or eyebrows, the applicator comprising:

an applicator member comprising;

a support having a longitudinal axis; and

at least first and second rows of projecting elements extending from the support and being part of an integral, single piece defining at least a portion of the support,

wherein the number of projecting elements of the second row ranges from about one-fourth to about three-fourths the number of projecting elements of the first row, and

wherein the first and second rows are separated radially from one another about the longitudinal axis of the support by an angular spacing of less than 180°

.

50. An applicator for applying a substance to eyelashes and/or eyebrows, the applicator comprising:

an applicator member comprising

a support having a longitudinal axis; and

at least first, second, and third rows of projecting elements extending from the support and being part of an integral, single piece defining at least a portion of the support, at least the first and second rows each having at least three consecutive projecting elements or groups of projecting elements,

wherein the consecutive projecting elements or groups of projecting elements of the first row and those of the second row are spaced apart regularly from each other, the arrangement of the projecting elements of the first row being different from the arrangement of the projecting elements of the second row.

51. An applicator for applying a substance to eyelashes and/or eyebrows, the applicator comprising:

an applicator member comprising

a support having a longitudinal axis; and

at least first, second, and third rows of projecting elements extending from the support and being part of an integral, single piece defining at least a portion of the support,

wherein the first and second rows of projecting elements are substantially identical to each other and different from the third row.