Toilet – Hair device – Eyelash or eyebrow
Reexamination Certificate
2000-07-21
2003-06-24
Wilson, John J. (Department: 3732)
Toilet
Hair device
Eyelash or eyebrow
C132S317000, C132S320000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06581610
ABSTRACT:
The present invention pertains to an applicator device and methods of using of such devices, for applying a product. In particular, the present invention is directed toward an applicator device for the application of a product, such as a cosmetic product for example, to the eyelashes or eyebrows.
The applicator could be combined with a container for containing the product to be applied. In one embodiment, the container includes a wiper, such as a wringing-out member.
The applicator of the present invention preferably includes a stem (i.e., a wand), with at least one row of a succession of consecutive teeth disposed on one end of the stem. The teeth can be produced by molding plastic. Each tooth in the succession of consecutive teeth comprises a root and a portion extending from the root. The roots of the succession of consecutive teeth are substantially aligned and the portions extending from the roots of the succession of teeth are offset alternately on each side of a geometric separation surface. That is, the extending portion of one tooth is on one side of the geometric separation surface and the extending portion of the next consecutive tooth is on a second side of the geometric separation surface opposite the first side. The applicator can become laden with product between the teeth when the applicator is extracted from the container, and, if present, through the wiper.
The expression “substantially aligned” as used throughout the specification and claims should be understood to mean that one portion of each of the roots of consecutive teeth is disposed on a first side of a line passing through the roots of the consecutive teeth, and another portion of each of the roots of consecutive teeth is disposed on a second side of the line opposite to the first side, wherein the line is substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the base portion on which the teeth are disposed. An example of an embodiment with such “substantially aligned” roots includes consecutive teeth disposed such that a straight line passes through the centers of each of the roots of the consecutive teeth. However, other embodiments also are contemplated by the present invention, some of which are shown in the appended figures and will be discussed further in the following description of the invention.
The applicator according to the invention is one wherein the row of teeth includes a succession of consecutive teeth with substantially aligned roots and portions extending from the roots of consecutive teeth alternately disposed on opposite sides of a geometric separation surface.
Substantially aligning the roots of the teeth and alternately disposing portions extending from the roots of consecutive teeth achieves advantages.
For example by modifying the geometry of the teeth and the tooth spacing it is possible to form cavities between the teeth, the size of which can be selected according to the tooth geometry and spacing. These cavities can be filled with product so that greater amounts of product can be loaded onto the application element and thereafter applied.
Moreover, it may be possible to produce an application element capable of becoming laden with a significant amount of product, without thereby reducing the ability of the application element to grip the eyelashes during application of the product.
The teeth may be closely spaced at their roots so that the eyelashes can be gripped effectively between two consecutive teeth. At the same time, widening the spacing between the free ends of consecutive teeth may permit the formation of reservoirs of product on the application element.
The geometric configuration of the teeth also allows small fibers that may be included in the product to become aligned so as to be substantially parallel with each other as the product is applied, or as the teeth are passed through a wiper, or both. This alignment occurs as a result of a bottleneck type of effect that is produced between two consecutive teeth.
The spacing between the roots of two consecutive teeth preferably may be less than or equal to approximately 0.4 mm.
In a preferred embodiment, the geometric separation surface passes through the centers of the roots of the consecutive teeth.
The application element preferably also includes a base portion. The teeth and base portion may be produced by plastic molding, preferably as a single piece construction.
The base portion may be fixed to a stem, for example a wand, of the applicator and the axis of the base portion may be either parallel or at an angle to the axis of the applicator wand or stem.
The geometric separation surface may be a plane, preferably a plane of symmetry of the base portion.
Preferably, the geometric separation surface is a parting line for molding the teeth, or the application element. The geometric separation surface also may be non-planar, for example, twisted, such as a helical surface, or curved.
The height of the roots of the teeth may be greater than or equal to approximately 0.2 mm.
The applicator stem may be flat, substantially cylindrical, or have a number of other configurations depending on the desired application effects and ergonomics. Moreover, at a distal end portion, the stem may include a connector with which the base portion may be removably engageable. In a preferred embodiment, the connector includes a housing or enclosure defining a slot configured to receive the base portion. The housing may also have a longitudinal axis that is either parallel or at an angle to the axis of the stem, for example the longitudinal axis of the housing may be substantially perpendicular to longitudinal axis of the stem. The slot is configured to receive the base portion, and in one embodiment may engage with the roots of the teeth.
The base portion also may be produced by molding plastic as a single piece with the applicator wand or stem.
The application element may be produced by molding plastic as a single piece with the applicator stem and with a sealing member configured to seal the container closed when it is not in use. The sealing member may have a surface shaped to fit in a sealed manner into the neck of the container. Preferably, a cap is disposed at an end of the applicator opposite to an end on which the teeth are disposed, the cap being configured to close the container. The cap also can be provided with the sealing member to sealably close the container.
When the application element is observed along its axis, at least two consecutive teeth may have free ends which diverge away from, converge toward, cross or are substantially parallel to each other. Also, when the application element is observed along its axis, one tooth of at least two consecutive teeth may have a free end diverging away from the free end of the other tooth of the at least two consecutive teeth, while the other tooth may have a free end that is substantially straight.
When the application element is observed along its axis, at least two consecutive teeth may have free ends which are substantially aligned, and preferably three consecutive teeth have substantially aligned free ends.
The application element may include teeth which have free ends directed toward a distal end of the applicator alternating with teeth which have free ends directed toward a proximal end of the applicator.
The teeth may form between them a housing or enclosure having a longitudinal axis substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the applicator. The housing or enclosure can be configured to accommodate an internal application element, such as a brush of the twisted wire type, for example.
The applicator may have just one row of teeth, essentially forming a comb. Alternatively, the applicator may have more than one row of teeth disposed at differing angular positions around the applicator, essentially forming a brush. For example, the applicator may include one row of teeth disposed on a substantially opposite side of the applicator as another row of teeth.
The applicator may also include, for example, a base having either a polygonal or non-polygonal cross section. At leas
Doan Robyn Kieu
Finnegan Henderson Farabow Garrett & Dunner LLP
L'Oreal (S.A.)
Wilson John J.
LandOfFree
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