Coating implements with material supply – Supply container and independent applicator – With means for removing surplus material from tool
Reexamination Certificate
2002-03-12
2003-12-30
Huson, Gregory L. (Department: 3751)
Coating implements with material supply
Supply container and independent applicator
With means for removing surplus material from tool
C015S160000, C015S167100, C015S167300, C015S206000, C132S218000, C132S313000, C132S317000, C401S127000, C401S129000, C401S268000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06669389
ABSTRACT:
This application is a continuation-in-part of PCT international application PCT/FR01/01911, filed Jun. 19, 2001, which claims the benefit of priority based on French Application Nos. 00/09115, 01/05110, and 01/07310, filed Jul. 12, 2000, Apr. 13, 2001, and Jun. 5, 2001, respectively.
The present invention relates to a device for applying a product, for example, applying a make-up or a care product to the skin, to the hair, to the eyelashes, to the finger nails, and/or to the toe nails.
Cosmetics are increasingly incorporating one or more active agents for care of a treated surface. For example, agents such as hydrating agents or anti-wrinkle agents may be applied. It may be desirable to encourage penetration of such agents in order to boost their effectiveness. For example, German Patent No. 4 325 071 describes using magnetic particles dispersed in a cream, a lotion, a gel, or on a dressing to encourage blood circulation.
There exists a need to improve the ease with which a product may be extracted from a receptacle, to improve the application of a product on a surface to be treated, and to create novel make-up effects.
In the following description, certain aspects will become evident. It should be understood that the invention, in its broadest sense, could be practiced without having one or more of these aspects.
In one aspect, as embodied and broadly described herein, the invention includes a device for applying a make-up product. The device includes an applicator element including a plurality of fibers. The applicator element may be configured to apply a make-up product, and at least one of the fibers may include at least one particle configured to generate a magnetic field.
As used herein, the term “fiber” means any generally elongate body (e.g., a bristle of a brush (e.g., a bristle of a mascara brush, nail varnish brush, paint brush, or blusher brush), a fiber in a flocking, a bristle in a paint brush, a fiber for applying a powder, fibers included in a filler for a product for applying to eyelashes (e.g., for lengthening the eyelashes)). The fibers may be relatively flexible, for example, elastically deformable, and the fibers may comprise a synthetic material.
In yet another aspect, a device for applying a product may be provided including an applicator element including a plurality of fibers. At least one of the plurality of fibers may include a plurality of particles configured to generate a magnetic field.
In another aspect, a device for applying a product may be provided including an applicator element including a porous member and a plurality of fibers extending from the porous member. At least one of the plurality of fibers may include at least one magnetic particle configured to generate a magnetic field.
According to yet another aspect, a device for applying a product may be provided with a core configured to generate a magnetic field and a plurality of application members connected to the core. At least one of the application members may be configured to interact magnetically with the core.
In still another aspect, a device for applying a product may include an applicator element including a plurality of fibers configured to be loaded with the product and to apply the loaded product. At least one of the fibers may include at least one particle configured to generate a magnetic field. The device may further include a receptacle configured to contain the product to be applied and the receptacle may define a recess configured to receive the applicator element.
In a further aspect, a device for applying a product may include an applicator element including a flocking. The flocking may include a plurality of fibers. At least one of the fibers may include at least one particle configured to generate a magnetic field.
In an additional aspect, a device for applying a product may include an applicator element defining an axis. The applicator element may include a plurality of bristles extending in a direction at least substantially parallel to the axis of the applicator element. At least one of the bristles may include at least one particle configured to generate a magnetic field.
The magnetic properties of fibers in accordance with some exemplary embodiments of the invention may be used in multiple ways. For example, a magnetic field having a predefined or varying orientation may be generated by the fibers when a product is applied, for example, thereby encouraging microcirculation and penetration of active agents. By making use of any magnetic interactions between the fibers and/or by making use of the manner in which the fibers may react to an external magnetic field, it may be possible to orient the fibers in a particular arrangement while the fibers are loaded with product, for example, during optional wiping of the product and/or during application of the product, thereby possibly increasing the quantity of product loaded onto the applicator resulting in, for example, greater ease of application of the product.
In some exemplary embodiments of magnetic bodies used for conferring magnetic properties to fibers, it may be possible, for example, to impart a biocidal action suitable for enhancing conservation of a product (e.g., a cosmetic and/or a care product) in contact therewith.
In one aspect of the device, at least one of the fibers may include a synthetic material. In addition, at least one of the fibers may have a cross-section that is substantially constant. At least one of the fibers may be formed by one of extruding and co-extruding at least one of a thermoplastic material and an elastomeric material. For example, the plastic material used may contain a filler of magnetic particles, and the fiber may be formed by co-extrusion of two synthetic materials, with one of the two synthetic materials being filled with magnetic particles, for example. In another aspect, at least one of the fibers may include a non-magnetic inner portion and a coating comprising magnetic particles. The fibers may be formed by coating one or more magnetic bodies in at least one non-magnetic material, or by coating a nonmagnetic material (e.g., a fiber of wood, rayon, nylon, cotton, or polyethylene) in magnetic particles, which may also be encapsulated in a resin. For example, the magnetic particles may be particles coated in a resin (e.g., cyanoacrylate) or they may be formed by depositing a magnetic substance on a non-magnetic medium (e.g., a glass microbead or a wood fiber).
In another aspect, at least one of the fibers may include not only a synthetic material and magnetic particles, but the at least one fiber may also include particles capable of absorbing a liquid and/or a component in solution in the liquid, and/or the at least one fiber may also include particles capable of dissolving in a liquid. The liquid may include, for example, water, an oil, an alcohol, and/or any type of solvent. One exemplary embodiment may also provide a porous magnetic fiber. Another exemplary embodiment may provide a textured magnetic fiber.
In yet another aspect, at least one particle may at least partially include at least one material chosen from soft magnetic materials, hard magnetic materials, ferrites, ferrites based on zinc, ferrites based on nickel, ferrites based on manganese, rare earth elements, barium sulfates, silicon iron alloys, cobalt irons, and cobalt irons filled with molybdenum.
In a further aspect, at least one of the fibers may include one of magnetized particles and magnetizable particles, wherein the particles comprise an amount ranging from about 0.2% to about 30% by weight. At least one of the fibers may include at least one plastic material chosen from polyamides, polyethylene terephthalates (PETs), acetates, polyethylenes (PEs), polypropylenes (PPs), polyvinylchlorides (PVCs), amide block polyesters, plasticized RILSAN (which is believed to be a form of polyamide), elastomers, polyester elastomers, PE elastomers, silicone elastomers, and nitril elastomers. The plastic material selected may present properties whereby the selected material swells and/or softens upon coming
Finnegan Henderson Farabow Garrett & Dunner LLP
Huson Gregory L.
L'Oreal (S.A.)
Prunner Kathleen J.
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