Toilet – Hair device – Eyelash or eyebrow
Reexamination Certificate
2002-03-01
2003-12-16
Robert, Eduardo C. (Department: 3732)
Toilet
Hair device
Eyelash or eyebrow
C132S200000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06662810
ABSTRACT:
The present invention relates to an applicator for applying a cosmetic and/or a care product to keratinous fibers, for example, applying mascara to eyelashes. The present invention also relates to a system for applying a product to keratinous fibers, a method of applying a product to eyelashes, and a method of manufacturing an applicator.
Numerous applicators are known that comprise a rectilinear core formed by two twisted-together strands of metal wire holding tufts of bristles between them. Applicators are also known in which the core is curved about an axis. In such known curved-core applicators, however, the core as a whole lies in a single plane of curvature.
There exists a need for an applicator that provides improved quality of makeup, ease-of-use, improved product loading, as well as improved elongation, curving, separation, and penetration of the application members amongst the eyelashes.
In accordance with the purpose of the invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, the invention includes an applicator for applying a product to keratinous fibers. The applicator may comprise a core curved about at least two axes that are not parallel to one another. The applicator may also comprise a plurality of application members extending from the core. The plurality of application members may be configured to apply the product (e.g., mascara) to keratinous fibers (e.g., eyelashes). The plurality of application members may be, for example, bristles or teeth.
In an aspect, the core of the applicator may be curved about at least two axes that extend in directions perpendicular to one another.
In another aspect, the applicator may be made by curving the core of a blank having an envelope surface substantially circularly symmetrical about the axis of the core over at least a portion of a length of the blank.
The term “envelope surface” as used herein refers to an imaginary surface defined by ends of at least some of the application members extending from the core of the applicator or blank. For example, the envelope surface could be considered to be the three dimensional image seemingly formed by the application member ends when the applicator/blank is viewed by an observer. When there are a mixture of shorter application members and longer application members extending in substantially the same direction at substantially the same axial position on the core, the ends of the longer application members may define the envelope surface, while the ends of the shorter application members may be beneath that surface.
As used herein, the term “blank” refers to a partially-manufactured applicator or a part of an applicator that may be subjected to one or more additional manufacturing steps before becoming a completed applicator. For example, the term “blank” may be used herein to refer to an applicator that has a core that has not yet been curved.
The term “providing” is used in a broad sense, and refers to, but is not limited to, making available for use, enabling usage, giving, supplying, making, obtaining, getting a hold of, acquiring, purchasing, selling, distributing, possessing, making ready for use, and/or placing in a position ready for use.
In a further aspect, the applicator may be made from a blank comprising at least one notch and/or facet. For example, the blank may comprise at least one substantially planar facet. Additionally, the applicator could comprise at least one notch having a cross-section that is outwardly concave in shape. The notches and/or facets may have other shapes as well.
As used herein, the term “cross-section” relates to a cross-section taken in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the core.
In still another aspect, the blank used to make the applicator may comprise an odd number of facets and/or notches. For example, the blank may comprise three facets and/or three notches. Optionally, the blank may be substantially prismatic-shaped over at least a portion of a length of the blank. The blank could also have a cross-section substantially triangular over at least a portion of a length of the blank. The number of facets and/or notches could also be different.
As used herein, cross-sections that are “not geometrically similar” satisfy at least one of the following two conditions: 1) the cross-sections have shapes differing from one another in other than scale magnitude (e.g., one cross-section is not a scale magnification or scale demagnification of another cross-section; the cross-sections may be shaped analogous to non-homothetic figures); and 2) the cross-sections have differing ratios of a to b, wherein a is the longest distance from the axis of the core to the outer boundary of the cross-section and b is the shortest distance from the axis of the core to the outer boundary of the cross-section. When the axis of the core is located at the center of a circular shaped cross-section, the ratio of a to b is one.
As used herein, the term “circularly symmetrical” relates to a configuration having a circular shaped cross-section, wherein the axis of the core passes through the center of the circular shaped cross-section.
In yet another aspect, the applicator may be made from a blank having a cross-section that varies over at least a portion of a length of the blank. For example, the variance of the cross-section of the blank may be “not geometrically similar.” The cross-section of the blank may also be non-symmetrical relative to a plane perpendicular to the plane of curvature of the core at one or more points after the core has been curved about a first axis. In an embodiment, the cross-section of the applicator may be non-symmetrical relative to a plane perpendicular to the plane of curvature over at least a portion of the applicator along which the cross-section varies in a manner that is not geometrically similar.
In an aspect, the core of the blank used to make the applicator may be curved about a first axis and a second axis. After the core of the blank is curved about the first axis, a cross-section of the blank may be non-symmetrical about a plane perpendicular to the plane of curvature of the core at the point of cross-section.
As used herein, the term “plane of curvature” means a plane that is perpendicular to an axis about which the core of a blank/applicator is curved and that contains at least the curved portion of the axis of the core. When a core is curved about two or more axes not parallel to one another, the core will have multiple planes of curvature.
In another aspect, the applicator may comprise a portion including one of a notch and a facet. When the core of the applicator is straightened such that it is substantially rectilinear, a width of the notch or facet may pass through a maximum point (i.e., maximum width) between ends (e.g., longitudinal ends) of the notch or facet.
In still another aspect, the applicator may be made from a blank having an envelope surface of any shape. For example, the blank used to make the applicator may have an envelope surface that is substantially peanut-shaped, substantially bullet-shaped, substantially buoy-shaped, substantially fish-shaped, substantially hourglass-shaped, and/or substantially football-shaped. Alternately, the blank may have an envelope surface that has other shapes.
In yet another aspect, the applicator may be made from a blank having a cross-section that passes through at least one extreme value (e.g., maximum width/length/diameter) between axial ends of the applicator.
Optionally, the core may be located off-center with respect to the envelope surface of the applicator over at least a portion of a length of the core.
In another aspect, the applicator may further comprise a stem and the core may be at an end of the stem.
The applicator may further comprise a handle at the end of the stem opposite from the core.
When the application members include bristles, the ends of the bristles may define helical sheets. The core may be curved so as to reduce an angle of inclination of the helical sheets relative to an axis of the stem as the distances from the helical sheets to the stem incre
Comstock David C.
Finnegan Henderson Farabow Garrett & Dunner LLP
L 'Oreal S.A.
Robert Eduardo C.
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