Toilet – Hair device – Eyelash or eyebrow
Reexamination Certificate
2001-05-29
2004-01-13
Robert, Eduardo C. (Department: 3732)
Toilet
Hair device
Eyelash or eyebrow
C132S317000, C132S320000, C132S200000, C401S126000, C015S160000, C015S207200
Reexamination Certificate
active
06675814
ABSTRACT:
The present invention relates to a device for applying a product, in particular a cosmetic or a care product, to hair, such as eyelashes, eyebrows, or any other type of keratinous fibers, for example. The device may include a wand, (e.g., stem) provided with an application member comprising a base portion carrying one or more elements for applying the product.
Conventional devices of this general type exist. However, there is a desire to have an application member that is capable of holding a relatively large quantity of the product so as to substantially limit the need to refill the application member with product too frequently during application of the product.
In conventional application members that may include a row of teeth, the amount of product retained between the teeth may depend on their spacing. The amount of product that may be taken up by the application member may then be limited by the fact that the teeth desirably remain relatively close together in order to allow the teeth to grip and take hold of the eyelashes during application of the product thereto. Such gripping may improve the combing function of the applicator.
One optional aspect of the present invention includes an applicator which may be capable of combing the eyelashes, or other hair, and of smoothing the product on the surface thereof in a satisfactory manner, while also optionally being comfortable to use and substantially limiting the need for refilling the application member with product too often.
Certain optional embodiments of the invention may achieve this by providing a device for applying a product to hair comprising a wand and an application member disposed on an end of the wand. The application member may have a base portion and at least one wall connected over at least a portion of its length to the base portion. The wall may have at least one free edge defining a plurality of notches having bottoms disposed at a distance, such as a non-zero distance, from the base portion.
In an optional aspect, the sides of the wall extending between the base portion and the at least one free edge are substantially smooth.
In another optional aspect, the length of the at least one free edge of the wall extends in a direction non-perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the wand.
In yet another optional aspect, a longitudinal axis of the application member and a longitudinal axis of the wand are substantially parallel to each other.
In yet another optional aspect, a dimension of at least a portion of the wand in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the wand is less than a length of the at least one free edge.
According to another optional aspect, a device for applying a product to hair includes a wand, a handling member disposed on a first end of the wand, and an application member disposed on a second end of the wand opposite to the handling member, the application member having a base portion and at least one wall connected over at least a portion of its length to the base portion. The wall may have at least one free edge defining a plurality of notches having bottoms disposed at a distance from the base portion.
In an optional aspect of the invention, the product may become deposited on the portion of the wall which extends between the base portion and the bottoms of the notches, thereby essentially forming supplies of product. This may make it possible to increase the time during which the application member can be used without the need for refilling it, while still allowing the application member to grip the eyelashes or other hair, to spread the product on the surface thereof, and to curve the hair, if desired.
In an optional embodiment, the device has a reservoir (e.g., receptacle) for containing the product to be applied. A wiper member for wiping product from the application member may be associated with the reservoir. The application member may be configured to be removably positioned within the reservoir. Optionally, the application member may be configured to be removed through an opening defined by the reservoir. Optionally, the wiper may wipe the application member as it is removed from the reservoir. In an optional embodiment, the reservoir may contain a mascara product. The application member may optionally be configured to apply a product to eyelashes. The wand optionally may be configured to be disposed in a reservoir without engaging with the reservoir to close the reservoir.
When a handling member is provided on an end of the wand opposite the application member, the handling member may form a closure cap for the reservoir. The handling member may be removably engagable with the reservoir so as to allow the reservoir to be opened and closed. The handling member optionally may include screw threading configured to cooperate with screw threading on the reservoir. In an optional aspect, the length of the wand may be at least approximately 3 centimeters and the length of the handling member may be at least approximately 3 centimeters. Also optionally, the handling member may include a skirt portion into which the wand extends. Screw threading optionally may be provided on an internal portion of the skirt portion.
The application member optionally may be formed integrally with the wand by molding, for example, an elastomer material. Alternatively, the application member may optionally be formed separate from the wand and may be attached to the wand.
By way of optional example, the application member may be made out of a plastic material that is more flexible than the plastic material used for making the applicator wand. This may provide an applicator that is comfortable to use.
In another optional embodiment, the application member may be integrally formed by molding as a single piece. The application member may be formed of an elastomeric material.
The wall of the application member optionally may be substantially planar. Also optionally, the wall may have folds. For example, the sides of the wall extending between the base portion and free edge may include folds. These folds optionally may extend substantially perpendicular to the free edge. The presence of folds may enhance a combing action on the eyelashes or other hairs. Such folds also may increase the surface area of the wall suitable for receiving the product, and also may increase the time during which the applicator may be used between refills. The folds optionally may be substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the base portion.
In an optional embodiment, the application member includes end portions, for example a front and rear end portion or lateral end portions, which may extend substantially perpendicular to the base portion at substantially opposite ends of the base portion. The base portion may interconnect the end portions. Optionally, the wall for applying the product may be connected, over all or part of its height to the end portions. Also optionally, the wall may have axial free ends. The base portion may optionally be disposed either centrally relative to the end portions or off-center relative to the end portions.
The thickness of the wall optionally may be less than a width of the base portion as measured in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the base portion. A cavity may be defined by a surface of the base portion on which the wall is disposed and a side of the wall, the cavity being configured to hold a product to be applied.
The wall for applying the product may optionally be made of an elastomeric material, which may provide the application member with relatively more flexibility.
In an optional embodiment, the wall may have branch portions (e.g., ramifications) which may extend outwardly from another portion of the wall. Such a branch portion may optionally include a free edge defining notches. Each of these branches may have an edge provided with notches for applying the product to hairs.
The application member also optionally may have a plurality of edges defining notches for applying the product, which edges may optionally be arranged so that hair (e.g., an
Comstock David
Finnegan Henderson Farabow Garrett & Dunner LLP
L'Oreal (S.A.)
Robert Eduardo C.
LandOfFree
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