Toilet – Shaped cosmetic applier
Reexamination Certificate
2000-06-09
2002-08-20
Manahan, Todd E. (Department: 3732)
Toilet
Shaped cosmetic applier
C401S275000, C015S212000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06435195
ABSTRACT:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application is related to and claims priority under 37 C.F.R. § 119 to French patent application no. 9907272, filed on Jun. 9, 1999, entitled “APPLICATOR FOR APPLYING A PRODUCT, AND ITS USE IN TRANSFERRING PRODUCTS ONTO A SURFACE SUCH AS THE SKIN,” which is hereby incorporated by reference herein.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to an applicator for applying a product, for example a cosmetic or dermatological product, to a surface such as the skin. This applicator is of the type having an application member secured to an element for handling and capable of allowing the product to be applied by being transferred from an application surface onto a surface to be treated.
2. Discussion of Background
Among the products that can be applied to the skin, mention may be made of makeup powders, blushers, liquid foundations, eye shadows, dermatological compositions, anti-wrinkle compositions, body care compositions, etc., which are presented in the form of powders, creams, gels or lotions.
The nature of the application member is chosen according to the consistency of the product to be applied and according to the quantity of product to be transferred, which product may be taken from a product reservoir.
Its dimensions, that is to say the size and shape of the application member, are chosen according to the morphology of the surface to be treated.
Numerous applicators are currently commercially available and are intended for applying cosmetic, particularly makeup and body care, products. In general, when these are applicators of the “product-transfer” type, that is to say applicators which are not self-supplied with product, often found in commercially available makeup cases. Applicators of this type are generally used by picking up a dose of product using an application surface, then applying the application surface to an area, for example of the face, that it is desired to treat (or make up). The application of the product may, as necessary, be accompanied by a light rubbing action.
Commercially available applicators of the aforementioned kind often present a problem of comfort of application. Furthermore, they frequently present problems of ergonomics, because, as a general rule, they are often not very easy to use, particularly on account of their small size.
With a view to improving the ergonomics of an applicator for makeup products, patent applications EP-A-0 761 125 and FR-A-2 701 196 propose an applicator comprising a portion for handling and an application portion, articulated to one other. The applicators described in these documents have the drawback that they can be used for only one range of specific products of the mascara or nail varnish type.
Furthermore, in the example of the aforementioned makeup cases, the applicator is often contained in a relatively small-sized compartment. As a result of this, the size of the application member cannot exceed a certain size and cannot therefore, when applying product, cover any more than an area of relatively small size. Specifically, an application member with a relatively large application surface is too bulky to be contained in a makeup case, particularly when it has to be carried around in a handbag.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,446,880 discloses a mascara applicator which has an applicator part intended to be laden with product and the diameter of which can be increased. The applicator part comprises a body forming a hollow elastomer sleeve. A compression device passes through the sleeve and makes it possible, by a pressure exerted parallel to the application surface, to alter the exterior contours of the applicator part. This type of applicator is designed for applying a specific product to the eyelashes and cannot be used for spreading a product out on a support such as the skin. A mechanism such as this offers little latitude regarding the deformations of the application surface that can be obtained. Furthermore, it is relatively tricky to assemble and of somewhat suspect reliability.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,701,168 describes an applicator assembly comprising an application surface which can be impregnated with a liquid product. This liquid product is packaged in a frangible housing. The application surface is mounted on a flexible support which is secured to two parallel tabs emerging at right angles from the support. When these tabs are squeezed together by a user squeezing them between his or her fingers, the frangible housing is pierced and the application surface becomes impregnated with the liquid. During the action of compressing the tabs together the support deforms, leading to a temporary doming of the application surface.
A major drawback of this device stems from the fact that, after numerous bending operations in the course of use, there is a risk that the support and/or the tabs will break as a result of fatigue of the material of which they are made. Furthermore, it is necessary to maintain the compression on the tabs in order to have the domed surface. This is because when the compression on the tabs ceases, the application surface reverts to its initial configuration. Furthermore, this device is not able to allow the configuration of the application surface to be set in a reproducible way. Finally, this type of applicator is not very practical to use and its size entails bulky packaging.
The present invention sets out to overcome the drawbacks of the applicators of the prior art.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
So, one object of the present invention is to provide an applicator, the shape of the application surface of which is variable and adaptable to suit the profile of the object to be treated, for example the profile of the face.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an application member suited to treating the skin, for example facial skin, by transferring product. In addition, according to an objective of ergonomics, the invention is aimed at an applicator whose application member has an orientation which is variable with respect to the orientation of the handling element.
According to yet another object, the present invention sets out to provide an applicator whose size can be minimized in a first, storage, position and which can occupy a second, service, position in which its size is greater. In the storage position this applicator has to be able to be housed, for example, in a makeup case. In the service position it allows, in particular, the area to be treated to be made up easily and accurately.
So, the present invention provides an applicator for applying a product to a surface such as the skin, comprising a handling element secured to an application member formed of a base on which is mounted an application support defining an application surface, characterized in that it comprises a manipulation member designed to alter the profile of the application surface at right angles to a mid-plane of the base, there being at least one passage which passes through the base and through which a portion of the manipulation member can be placed in engagement with the application support so as to alter the profile of the application surface in response to a pressure exerted by the portion approximately at right angles to the application surface.
Advantageously, this portion of the manipulation member, which can be placed in engagement with the application support, is formed of an end portion of the manipulation member.
According to an advantageous aspect of the invention, the application support is secured to the base around at least part of the passage, the portion of the manipulation member being able to be placed in engagement with part of the application support situated facing the passage.
According to an advantageous feature of the present invention, the manipulation member is formed on the handling element. According to a preferred feature, the manipulation member is capable of passing from a first, so-called storage, position into a second, so-called service, position. In the storage position the bulk of the
L'Oreal
Manahan Todd #E.
Oblon & Spivak, McClelland, Maier & Neustadt P.C.
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