(19)
(11) EP 0 315 937 A2

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(43) Date of publication:
17.05.1989 Bulletin 1989/20

(21) Application number: 88118540.9

(22) Date of filing: 08.11.1988
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)4A45D 40/26, A45D 40/00, A45D 40/16
(84) Designated Contracting States:
AT BE CH DE ES FR GB GR IT LI LU NL SE

(30) Priority: 10.11.1987 IT 8367087

(71) Applicant: CANDIANI DESIGN S.R.L.
I-21100 Varese (IT)

(72) Inventors:
  • Candiani, Carlo
    I-21040 Abbiate Guazzone (Varese) (IT)
  • Panzetti, Franco
    I-20123 Milano (IT)

(74) Representative: Sassi, Romano 
UFFICIO BREVETTI VARESINO Viale Belforte 89
I-21100 Varese
I-21100 Varese (IT)


(56) References cited: : 
   
       


    (54) Process for making applicators of substances, particularly pasty ones, particularly on the lips, wherein the substance comprises a layer covering a rod, projecting from a handable knob and is visible beyond a hood and applicators obtained with such process


    (57) In an applicator of cosmetic substances, particularly, but not necessarily, of pasty kind, on the lips or other parts of the body, the cosmetic sub­stance comprises a layer (4) or the like covering a rod (1) projecting from a handleable knob (2); such rod (1) and the knob (2), projecting therefrom, are connected together and comprise a single piece. The ap­plicator (1,2,4) is provided with a removable hood (3), particularly transparent, at least for protecting the pasty layer (4). It comprises a very cheap tool to be used as a tester and/or to be disposed of there­after.
    A process, for making the applicator, comprises plastic material injection molding of applicator supports (1,2), in a number of them, in a mold with a multiple cavity; the molding result being immersed in a bath (4′) of melted cream (4), at a temperature generally higher than 65°.




    Description


    [0001] It is an object of the present invention a process for making appli­cators of substances, particularly pasty substances, such as lip-stick, cosmetics, lip glosses, medicaments and the like, particularly to be made up on the lips, wherein the substance comprises a layer, particularly a small layer, covering a rod, projecting from a handleable knob and is visible beyond a transparent hood. Also object of the present invention are the applicators obtained with such process.

    [0002] At the present state of the art, applicators of cosmetic substances, particularly the pasty ones, particularly on the lips, i.e. those devices so said, with Anglo-Saxon terminology, "lip-stick", have the stick, substan­tially cylindrical, sharp, comprised by a sold body, of cosmetic or medicament cream, mounted on a device, substantially including a pis­ton, alternatively shiftable and an handleable carrier; this is provided with a control member, to retract and eject, the stick of cosmetic.paste As regards as the process for making the applicator member or stick, it comprises melting, in a mold of complementary form and upon cooling, its mountage, with the bottom end, in a suitable shiftable piston.
    The use of these applicators, to be consumed, had solely the drawback that the bottom end of the paste stick, received by the piston, could not be used. On the contrary the same device, used as tester, for the color choice, had various drawbacks, of particular seriousness, even at sani­tary level. In fact, conventionally, to comply with the tester function, manufacturers use supply to detailers with normal applicators; however such applicators are different than sold and consumable applicators, since are provided with one section generally additional, Such applicator section in the intention of the manufacturer should be colored as the paste contained therein, as well as, in all applicators, of the same kind, on sale all over the market. A first drawback is that, improbably, the color of additional section, which is made of plastic material, corresponds to the color of the paste contained; since in practice it is very difficult to obtain, in different times, either plastic materials of constant color, or stick pastes with the same color. These applicators, to be used as tester, since provided with additional colored section, were kept in an exposer, to be available to possible consumers, with said colored section in beau­tiful sight, in order that, a first approximate.choice could be made How­ever, since the wish, of possible consumers, would be that of seeing the color effect, by wearing the tester lip-stick on their lips, it is disat­tended, first of all for sanitary reasons and secondly for the reasonable reluctance to use and wear a lip stick, however used, at least one, by another possible consumer. To minimize this reluctance, the lip stick detailer to allow the use only on another part of the body or on alien supports. Of course, the results of such test leaves unsatisfied both the detailer and the possible consumer.
    The invention, as claimed, is intended to remedy these drawbacks. The inventors, with ingenious perception have conceived an applicator of cosmetic sub­stances, particularly, but not necessarily pasty ones, on the lips or other parts of the body, wherein the cosmetic substance comprises a layer or the like, covering a rod, projecting from an handleable knob; it is visible beyond a hood, at least for protecting the applicator and comprises a de­vice costing little money, either for the support nature, or for the quan­tity of cosmetic available. These features propose it as ideal for use as a tester to be disposed of thereafter and for particular use for which it is better than conventional sticks, e.g. for precision make up use, even for professional make up. At any rate, such a kind of applicator, comprises an ideal solution, whenever perfectly aseptic conditions are wanted or for mathematically excluding any risk of contagion, resulting from re­peated use, even by the same person.
    As regards as the process, forming integral and essential part of the pre­sent invention, it comprises plastic material injection molding, of appli­cator supports, in a number of them, in a mold with a multiple cavity. The molding result, in the form of comblike feed head, with still applied, in line, the supports, being immersed to completely sink the rod in a bath of melted cream, at a temperature generally higher than 65°. The rod is immersed at room temperature, in order to provide a coagulation, thereabout, of a quantity of paste, which is substantially, proportional to the immersion time. Upon drawing out the applicators loaded with cream of the bath, a transparent capsule is provided on each of them to protect the cream, and finally finished and capsuled applicators are re­moved from the feed-head.

    [0003] In order to explain in a better manner the features of the present in­vention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which show one possible embodiment thereof in schematic manner and merely by way of explanation.

    Figure 1 is a perspective view of an open mold, whose use com­prises the first step of the process, in accordance with the present in­vention.

    Figure 2 is a cross-section of an immersion bath, wherein is im­mersed the molded piece, obtained with the mold of figure 1. It com­prises the second step of the process, according to the present invention.

    Figure 3 is a perspective view, showing the manner in which the piece made, substantially finished, are removed from the molding feed head, at the end of its use as handling tool. This comprises the forth step of the process according to the present invention.

    Figure 4 is a perspective view, in an enlarged scale, of an applica­tor, according to the present invention, with a transparent cap partially slipped.

    Figure 5 is a perspective view, of use of an applicator in the atti­tude wherein a portion of pasty substance (lip stick, gloss, medicament or the like) is being applied. It will be appreciated that the dose of paste is substantially limited to one or a few applications; in this case the paste, which remained on the applicator, is hardly sufficient to complete the make up in course on the lips.

    Figure 6 is a perspective view, of another use of the applicator, in the attitude wherein make up is being retouched and defined, with pre­cision, a previous application of paste substance (lip stick, gloss, medicament or the like) from which it may be noted that the particular stiffness and sharpness, of the making up section of the applicator is particularly adapted, much more than conventional sticks, for a perfect make up.



    [0004] With reference to the figures of the drawings, an applicator of sub­stances, particularly pasty ones, particularly on the lips, comprises a rod 1, emerging from a handleable knob 2, which is visible beyond a hood 3.

    [0005] According to the present invention, the cosmetic substances, par­ticularly but not necessarily the pasty ones, to be worn on the lips 7 or other parts of the body, comprise a layer or the like covering the rod 1. The applicator comprises a device costing little money, either for the support, 1, 2, 3, or for the quantity of cosmetic 4 available. These fea­tures propose it as ideal for use as a tester to be disposed of thereafter and for particular use for which is better than conventional sticks, e.g. for precision make up use (figure 6), even for professional make up. At any rate, such applicator comprises ideal solution, whenever perfectly aseptic conditions are wanted or for mathematically excluding any risk of contagion, resulting from repeated use, even by the same person.
    As regards as the process, forming integral and essential part of the pre­sent invention, it comprises plastic material injection molding of appli­cator supports 1, 2, in a number of them, in a mold 5, 5′ with a multiple cavity (figure 1); the molding result, in the form of comblike feed-head, still with the supports applied, in line, being immersed with its rods 1, in a bath 4 of melted cream 4′, kept in such condition, at a temperature generally higher than 65°. Since rods 1 are at room temperature coagu­lates, therearound, a quantity of paste 4, substantially, proportional to immersion time. Upon drawing out the applicators 1, 2, loaded with cream 4, a transparent capsule is provided on each of them, to protect the cream, and finally the finished and capsuled applicators 1, 2, 3, 4, are removed from the feed head 6.

    [0006] Thus applicators, according to the present invention, include, on their rod 1, a quantity of paste, substantially sufficient for one or a few applications, E.g., as shown at figure 5, here is being worn a portion of paste substance 4 (lip stick, gloss, medicament or the like); in this case the cream 4, remaining on applicator 1, 2, is hardly sufficient to com­plete this application on the lips 7. Whereas, figure 6 shows as with an applicator 1, 2, 3, a previous application of paste substance 4 (lip stick, gloss, medicament or the like) may be corrected and precisely defined; the attitude, particularly stiff and sharpened of the making up section of the applicator is particularly adapted, much more than the conventional stick, for a perfect professional make up.


    Claims

    1. Applicator of cosmetic substances, particularly, but not necessarily, pasty ones, on the lips or other parts of the body, characterized in that in it the cosmetic substance comprises a layer or the like covering a rod (1) projecting from a handleable knob (2).
     
    2. Applicator of cosmetic substances, particularly, but not necessarily, pasty ones, on the lips or other parts of the body, as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the knob (2) and the rod (1), projecting therefrom are solid.
     
    3. Applicator of cosmetic substances, particularly, but not necessarily, pasty ones, on the lips or other parts of the body, as claimed in claim 2 characterized in that the projecting rod (1) and the knob (2) provide a single piece.
     
    4. Applicator cosmetic substances, as claimed in claims from 1 to 3, characterized in that it is provided by a removable hood (3), at least to protect the pasty layer (4).
     
    5. Applicator of cosmetic substances, as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that the hood (3) provided thereto is made of transparent material.
     
    6. Applicator of cosmetic substances, as claimed in preceding claims, characterized in that due to its size, the material of its making and the quantity of cream (4) included, comprises a device costing little money to be used as tester and and/or to be disposed of thereafter (fig.5).
     
    7. Process for making applicators of substances, particularly pasty ones, particularly on the lips, as claimed in claims 1 t0 6, characterized in that it comprises plastic material injection molding of applicator support (1, 2), in a number of it, in a mold (5,5′) with a multiple cavity; the molding result, in the form of comb feed-head (6), still with the supports (1,2), applied in line, being immersed with its rods, in a bath (4′) of melted cream (4).
     
    8. Process for making applicators of substances, particularly pasty ones, particularly on the lips, as claimed in claim 7, characterized in that the cream (4′) is maintained in the substantially liquid state, at a tempera­ture generally higher than 65° and the applicator rods (1) are immersed at room temperature, in order to provide a coagulation, thereabout, of a quantity of paste (4), which is substantially, proportional to the immer­sion time.
     
    9. Process for making applicators of substances, particularly pasty ones, particularly on the lips, as claimed in claims 7 and 8, characterized in that, upon drawing out the applicators with their rods (1) loaded with cream (4) of the bath (4′), a capsule (3) is provided on each of them to protect the cream (4).
     
    10. Process for making applicators of substances, particularly pasty ones, particularly on the lips, as claimed in claims from 7 to 9, characterized in that finished and capsuled applicators (1,2,3) are removed from the feed-head).
     




    Drawing