Toilet – Hair device – Eyelash or eyebrow
Reexamination Certificate
2001-03-21
2003-04-15
Manahan, Todd E. (Department: 3732)
Toilet
Hair device
Eyelash or eyebrow
Reexamination Certificate
active
06546937
ABSTRACT:
The present invention pertains to applicators, and methods of using such applicators, for applying a product. In particular, the present invention is directed to an applicator for the application of a product, such as a cosmetic product or a care product, for example, to the eyelashes, eyebrows, or other types of hair. The invention also relates to an applicator system including the applicator and a receptacle for containing the product to be applied.
European Patent Application EP-A-0 474 934 discloses a brush for applying mascara to eyelashes. The brush includes a circularly-symmetrical cylindrical body and brush members aligned parallel to the longitudinal axis of the brush. The brush members have circular cross-sections and are offset relative to one another in the longitudinal direction.
German Patent Application DE-A-2 559 273 also discloses a brush for applying mascara. The brush includes a hollow, circularly-symmetrical cylindrical body and brush members aligned parallel to the longitudinal axis of the brush. The brush members have triangular cross-sections. Long sides of the triangular cross-sections are parallel to the longitudinal axis of the support.
European Patent Application EP-A-0 204 466 also discloses a brush for applying mascara. The brush has brush members aligned parallel to the longitudinal axis of the support.
French Patent Application FR-A-2 564 712 discloses an applicator having two arrangements of teeth aligned parallel to one another. The teeth have bases with triangular shaped cross-sections. A short side of each triangle shape is parallel to axes of alignment of the teeth. A height of the triangle shape, extending from the opposite vertex, is perpendicular to the axes of alignment.
French Patent Application FR-A-2 748 636 discloses a mascara applicator including thin teeth arranged parallel to the longitudinal axis of the applicator.
It would be desirable if such known devices could be further improved to be capable of taking up a relatively large quantity of substance and thereby provide satisfactory endurance between refills. It would also be desirable if such devices could be improved to engage hairs, in particular the eyelashes, so as to smooth the substance over their surfaces and to lengthen them.
One aspect of the present invention relates to an applicator for applying a product to at least eyelashes and/or eyebrows. The applicator comprises an application element configured to apply a product to at least the eyelashes and/or eyebrows. The application element comprises a support and at least two rows of teeth. The rows of teeth may be disposed transversely with respect to the longitudinal axis of the support. Each of the rows of teeth comprises at least two teeth extending from the support. The rows of teeth comprise a first row of teeth adjacent to a second row of teeth. The first row of teeth and the second row of teeth may be spaced apart by a first distance. A pair of consecutive teeth of the first row of teeth may be spaced apart by a second distance less than the first distance.
The applicator may have rows of teeth on one side portion of the applicator essentially forming a comb. Alternatively, the applicator may have rows of teeth disposed in various portions around the applicator, essentially forming a brush. For example, the applicator may include one set of rows of teeth disposed on one side of the applicator and another set of teeth rows on an opposite side of the applicator.
In one optional configuration, the distance between any pair of consecutive teeth of any of the at least two rows is less than the distance between the row including the pair and a row adjacent thereto.
In another optional arrangement, each of the teeth extending from the support is arranged in a row disposed (e.g., axis of the row) transversely to the longitudinal axis of the support. The row of teeth may cross the longitudinal axis of the support or may be located on one side thereof.
In one other optional arrangement, an axis of at least one row forms a non-zero acute angle with the longitudinal axis of the support. For example, the axis of each of the at least two rows may form a non-zero acute angle with the longitudinal axis of the support. This angle formed by each row could be substantially the same.
As used herein, the term “axis of the row” refers to the axis along which the teeth in a row are arranged. For example, the axis of the row could be substantially straight or curved. The teeth in the row may be a succession of consecutive teeth.
Optionally, the arrangement of the teeth enables the applicator to take up a quantity of substance that is sufficiently large. The tooth arrangement optionally also enables the teeth to engage hairs, in particular the eyelashes, while the application element is being moved relative thereto, in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the support. For example, an applicator according to the invention may make it possible to have a relatively large quantity of substance between the teeth while spreading the substance onto the eyelash surface, without the teeth losing their capacity to engage with and curve an eyelash.
In one aspect, base portions of at least one pair of consecutive teeth in at least one row may either contact one another or lack contact with one another. As used herein, the term “base portion” refers to the portion of a tooth adjacent to the support (i.e., opposite to the free end portion of the tooth).
One or more of the teeth in the row optionally have an oblong cross-section. There are many different possible shapes for the oblong cross-section of the base. In one possible embodiment, the oblong cross-section may have a substantially rectangular shape. In other examples, the oblong cross-section may be substantially in the shape of an oval, an ellipse, or a triangle.
The oblong cross-section may be angularly positioned in a direction forming a nonzero acute angle with the longitudinal axis of the support. As used herein, the “direction” of the angular positioned oblong cross-section refers to the direction in which a longitudinal axis of the oblong cross-section is arranged. For example, when the oblong cross-section is substantially rectangular shaped, the direction of such a cross-section may correspond to the longitudinal axis parallel to the two longer sides of the rectangular shape. As another example, when the cross-section is substantially in the shape of an ellipse, the direction would correspond to a major axis of the ellipse.
In one embodiment, each of the at least two rows includes a first end and a second end, wherein the first end may be aligned along a first axis and the second end may be aligned along a second axis, and wherein the first and second axes may be parallel to the longitudinal axis of the support. These first and second axes may be on opposites sides of the support.
In another aspect, at least a pair of consecutive teeth in the same row and/or a pair of adjacent teeth from a pair of adjacent rows (e.g., a first tooth from a first row and a second tooth from a second row adjacent to the first) may be mutually overlapping when the application element is observed from the side, in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the support. Optionally, the overlapping teeth may form a substantially V-shaped notch therebetween, and the notch may be configured such that a hair is capable of being engaged therein. For example, the bottom of the notch may be situated at a non-zero distance from the support.
The profile of the above-mentioned V-shaped notch may converge towards the support. The notch may be configured so that substance present between the teeth may be spread in a satisfactory manner over the surface of the hair engaged in the notch, all the way to the end of the hair.
In another aspect, the rows of teeth may be disposed on the support such that a projection along an axis of the first row does not substantially overlap a projection along an axis of the second row.
In another aspect, the at least two rows of teeth may comprise a first group o
Finnegan Henderson Farabow Garrett & Dunner L.L.P.
L'Oreal
Manahan Todd #E.
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