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(11) | EP 3 241 458 A1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | AN APPLICATOR OF AN EYE MAKE-UP PRODUCT |
| (57) An applicator (1) of a make-up product comprising a support (2) having at a free
end thereof a spongy element (6), the spongy element having a first make-up front
surface (4) with linear footprint, and a second lateral flat surface (5) having a
thick footprint larger than that with linear footprint, so that the first surface
can be used to create lines of make-up product the spongy element is impregnated with,
while the second surface can be used to fill whole areas of large surface, such as
the eyelids, with make-up product.
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FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] In particular, it relates to an applicator of a make-up product in any form, but it is especially effective for eye make-up products in the form of powder.
PRIOR ART
[0004] Some applicators have a brush to distribute the make-up product on the skin. The brush may be very thin in order to draw lines, or large to distribute the make-up product on large areas of the skin.
[0005] Others have a support to hold, at its free end, a rounded sponge that is used to apply the make-up product on the desired area.
[0006] A drawback of the prior art is that one applicator must be used to draw a line while another type of applicator must be used to fill an area of the skin with make-up.
[0007] Known cosmetic products comprise a single applicator, and thus the make-up operation is uncomfortable and is usually carried out using two different make-up products.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] The object of the present invention is to provide an applicator that may simplify and speed up the make-up operations.
[0009] A further object is to provide an applicator that is able to make both very accurate lines and to fill whole areas to be made up quickly and effectively.
[0010] These and other objects are achieved by an applicator of a make-up product implemented according to the technical teachings of the appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0011] Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the description of a preferred but non-exclusive embodiment of the device, shown by way of a non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings, in which:
figure 1 is a simplified plan view of the applicator of the present finding;
figure 2 is a lateral view of the applicator of figure 1;
figure 3 is a simplified rear view of the applicator of figure 1;
figure 4 is a front view of the applicator of figure 1;
figure 5 is a perspective view of the applicator of figure 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0012] With reference to the mentioned figures, an applicator of a make-up product is shown, globally denoted by reference numeral 1.
[0013] As can be seen in figure 1, the applicator 1, which is specifically configured for the application of a make-up product, comprises a support 2 having a spongy element 6 at a free end thereof, that will be used to distribute the make-up on the skin.
[0014] The support may have any shape or size useful for using the applicator, and for example it may have different configuration from the one shown. It may have a greater or smaller length, may be constrained to a cap for a container, such as mascara, or it may have an ergonomic grip.
[0015] The spongy element 6 may be constrained to the support in many ways. For example, by means of a glue. Or, the support and the spongy element may be manufactured by co-moulding or in another known manner.
[0016] Advantageously, the spongy element 6 is obtained by over-moulding on a core, a spongy coating having a thickness of about 0.6 mm. The core may be made of TPE, advantageously with a shore hardness A equal to 50.
[0017] For example, the spongy element and thus the spongy coating may be a product based on flocked ethylene-polyterephthalate. Flocking may be carried out according to traditional techniques, as the anchoring thereof to the core of the applicator.
[0018] A flocked spongy element may be particularly useful for the application of a powdery eye make-up product.
[0019] Preferably, the flocking, with which the spongy element is obtained, is obtained with a filament having dtex 0.3 g/km. 1 dtex corresponds to one gram every 10 km of yarn. Therefore, in this case, 10 km of yarn with which the flocking is obtained weigh 0.3 grams.
[0020] It has been verified that a spongy element obtained by flocking starting from a yarn having the features discussed above is particularly effective in applying cosmetic powder products. The dtex of the yarn starting from which the flocking (and thus the spongy element) is obtained may be of between 0.2 and 0.4 g/km.
[0021] As can be seen in the figures, the spongy element 4 has a first make-up front surface 4 with linear footprint, and a second lateral flat surface 5 having a thick footprint larger than that of the linear footprint.
[0022] In the present text, the term 'footprint' refers to the area covered by the applicator when resting on a flat surface, with a pressure usually used during a make-up operation.
[0023] In practical terms, the "footprint" of the first surface 4 is that obtained by lightly resting such a surface bearing the cosmetic product on a sheet of paper placed on a table.
[0024] In essence, with the same applicator, one can create lines of make-up product delivered by the spongy element with the first surface 4, and one can fill whole areas of large surface, such as the eyelids, with make-up product using the second surface.
[0025] In order to obtain a linear footprint, the first 4 and the second surface are preferably planar.
[0026] Advantageously, the first surface 4 and the second surface 5 have a common edge S. The edge S may be rounded, such as with a radius of about 0.6 mm, but which may be of between 0.4 mm and 1 mm.
[0027] In particular, the applicator is provided with a single second surface 5 that is the major area flat surface of the applicator itself.
[0028] It should be noted that the linear footprint generated by the first surface, and therefore the first surface 4 itself, has a substantially rectangular shape, with a ratio of height H/width L of between 1/8 and 1/4, preferably of 1/6.
[0029] The thick footprint, and therefore the second surface 5, has a substantially rectangular or nail shape (as shown in figure 1) with a ratio of height L/width R of between 1/1 and 1/3, preferably of 1/2. Specifically, at least one short side 7 of the footprint distal from the first surface 4 may be rounded.
[0030] From the combined comparison of figures 1 and 2, it is seen that the first surface 4 and the second surface 5 are configured so that the long side of the linear footprint (i.e. the first surface 4) corresponds to the short side of the thick footprint (i.e. the second surface).
[0031] In the present embodiment, the spongy element 6 may have a first part and a second part arranged on opposite sides of a plane A. The first part may have a substantially parallelepiped shape with chamfers at the edges.
[0032] The second part may have a half-cylinder shape superimposed on the parallelepiped, the diameter of the semi-cylinder corresponding to width L of the parallelepiped.
[0033] In particular, the second flat surface may be defined by a cutting plane B (imaginary, since this part is not actually cut away from the described shape) of the parallelepiped and of the cylinder that is inclined with respect to a plane C (front) containing the first surface, and passing in the vicinity of or at an edge S of the parallelepiped.
[0034] The width L of the spongy element may be of between 3 and 6 mm, preferably 4 mm, while the height T thereof may be of between 3 and 6 mm, preferably 4 mm.
[0037] Figure 2 shows that the second surface 5 may be inclined with respect to the first surface 4 by an angle α of between 40 and 80°, preferably between 50 and 70°, even more preferably of 60°.
[0038] This inclination is particularly advantageous for the combined use of the first and second part. The more the inclination approaches 60°, the greater is the definition of the footprint left by the first surface 4 during use.
[0039] The use of the applicators described above is particularly useful to deliver a texture of powder eyeliner - allowing a dual use for a versatile and high-impact make-up.
[0040] In use, the applicator can be brushed onto the powder and shaken lightly (just as one would do with a cigarette, to drop the ashes) to drop any excess powder.
[0041] With the thinner side of the applicator (the first surface 4), applied on the eye close to the eyelashes, for example starting from left to right, one can get a high accuracy and definition line while with the flat side (the second surface 5), in the same application manner, one gets a thicker and bigger line, for a more pronounced and theatrical make-up effect.
[0042] The product can be applied in the same manner on the eyebrows, for example using the second surface 5.
[0043] The described applicator, may be used to apply a powdery eye make-up product, in particular an eyeliner.
[0044] The use of the applicator is simplified, because, in the embodiment described, it has only two planar surfaces. The first 4 surface and the second surface 5 may be the only two planar surfaces of the applicator, and the second surface may have a greater area than the first surface. This specific shape of the applicator makes its use very easy, as the user may quickly identify at a first sight, the surfaces to be used for make-up operations.
1. Applicator (1) of an eye make-up product comprising a support (2) having at a free
end thereof a spongy element (6), the spongy element having a first make-up front
surface (4) with linear footprint, and a second lateral flat surface (5) having a
thick footprint larger than that with linear footprint, so that the first surface
can be used to create lines of make-up product delivered by the spongy element, while
the second surface can be used to fill whole areas of large surface, such as the eyelids,
with make-up product.
2. Applicator according to the preceding claim, wherein the first surface and the second
surface have an edge (S) in common, possibly rounded.
3. Applicator according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the second surface
(5) is the largest planar surface of the applicator.
4. Applicator according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the linear footprint
has substantially rectangular shape, with a height (H)/width (L) ratio of between
1/8 and 1/4, and/or wherein the thick footprint has a substantially rectangular or
nail shape with a height (L)/width (R) ratio of between 1/1 and 1/3, and/or wherein
a short side (7) of the thick footprint is rounded.
5. Applicator according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the first surface
(4) and the second surface (5) are configured so that the long side of the linear
footprint corresponds to the short side of the thick footprint.
6. Applicator according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the spongy element
(6) has a first part and a second part arranged on opposite sides of a plane (A),
the first part having a parallelepiped shape with chamfers at the edges, the second
part having a semi-cylinder shape superimposed to the parallelepiped, the diameter
of the semi-cylinder corresponding to the width (L) of the parallelepiped, the second
flat surface being defined by a cutting plane (B) of the parallelepiped and the cylinder
inclined with respect to a plane (C) containing the first surface, and passing in
the vicinity of an edge (S) of the parallelepiped.
7. Applicator according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the width (L)
of the spongy element is between 3 and 6mm, preferably 4mm and/or wherein the height
(T) of the spongy element is between 3 and 6mm, preferably 4mm, and/or wherein the
width (L) and the height (T) of the spongy element are equal, and/or wherein the depth
(P) of the spongy element is of between 4 and 10mm, preferably 8mm.
8. Applicator according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the second surface
(5) is inclined with respect to the first surface (4) by an angle (α) of between 40
and 80°, preferably between 50 and 70°, even more preferably of 60°.
9. Applicator according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the spongy element
is made by flocking on top of a core of plastic material.
10. Use of an applicator according to one or more of the preceding claims, to apply an
eye make-up product, preferably an eyeliner.