Product Applicator, in Particular for Cosmetics

• US 20070277844A1
• Filed: 10/14/2004
• Published: 12/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: L'Oreal SA
• Original Assignee: L'Oreal SA
• Inventors: Gueret, Jean-Louis
• Granted Patent: US 7,811,021 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 132/320
• 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 33/02 with dispensing means, e.g. sprinkling means
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 33/34 Powder-puffs, e.g. with installed container
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 34/04 Appliances specially adapted for applying liquid, e.g. using roller or ball
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 40/26 Appliances specially adapted for applying pasty paint, e.g. using roller, using a ball

Abstract

The present invention relates to an applicator (10; . . . ; 810) including an application face (21; . . . ; 821) formed by a material incorporating a plurality of cells opening onto the application face via at least one emergent edge (25), the application face being at least partially covered by a flock coating (30; . . . ; 830) formed from fibres, the average size of the cells being such that the surface on which the flocking fibres are placed is of a different profile from that of an envelope surface of the application face containing the emergent edges (25) of the cells.

Claims

1. :

An applicator comprising an application face comprising a material comprising cells,

wherein the material opens onto the application face via at least one emergent edge,

wherein the application face is at least partially covered by a flock coating,

wherein the flock coating comprises fibers,

wherein the majority of cells on the application face comprises partial cells,

wherein the partial cells comprise multiple surfaces that are not all parallel to each other,

and wherein the flock fibers are adhered to several of the multiple surfaces of at least some of the partial cells such that the flock fibers are not all parallel to each other.

2. :

The applicator of claim 1, wherein the material is porous.

3. :

The applicator of claim 1, wherein the material is elastically deformable.

4. :

The applicator of claim 1, wherein the cellular material is compressible.

5. :

The applicator of claim 1, wherein the material is a foam.

6. :

The applicator of claim 5, wherein the foam is an open-cell foam.

7. :

The applicator of claim 5, wherein the foam comprises a material selected from the group consisting of polyurethane, polyether, polyester, polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene, EVA, latex, silicone, SIS, SEBS, elastomers of silicone, latex, nitrile, butyl, neoprene, NBR and SBR.

8. :

The applicator of claim 1, wherein the applicator is recessed.

9. :

The applicator of claim 1, further comprising two assembled cellular elements.

10. :

The applicator of claim 9, wherein the two elements define an inner cavity.

11. :

The applicator of claim 1, further comprising a slot or a hole emerging at the applicator surface.

12. :

The applicator of claim 1, wherein the material has hydrophilic or lipophilic properties.

13. :

The applicator of claim 1, wherein the material further comprises at least one hydro-absorbent compound.

14. :

The applicator of claim 1, wherein the material further comprises at least one biocidal agent.

15. :

The applicator of claim 1,

wherein the length of the fibres ranges from 0.01 to 3 mm;

wherein the diameter of the fibers ranges from 0.01 to 0.6 mm;

wherein the shape of the fibers is selected from the group consisting of circular, oval, polygonal, cruciform, trilobate, tetralobate “

C”

, “

E”

, “

F”

, “

H”

, “

I”

, “

L”

, “

N”

, “

S”

, “

T”

, “

V”

, “

W”

, “

X”

, “

Y”

, “

Z”

, star, crescent, straight curved, and mixtures thereof, and wherein the fibers comprise a material selected from the group consisting of polyamide, polyacrylic, polyester, cotton, cellulose, or a mixture thereof.

16. :

A device comprising the applicator of claim 1 and a grasping element for the applicator.

17. :

The device of claim 16, further comprising a container comprising a product to be applied.

18. :

The device of claim 17, wherein the container constitutes the grasping element.

19. :

The device of claim 18, wherein the applicator is glued or welded around an opening in the container.

20. :

The device of claim 17, further comprising a closure element capable of closing the container (440).

21. :

The device of claim 20, wherein the applicator is integral with the closure element, and wherein the closure element comprises the grasping element.

22. :

The applicator of claim 1, wherein each cell has a cell size greater than or equal to 0.6 mm.