Toilet – Toilet kit – Including brush
Reexamination Certificate
1998-11-09
2001-04-24
Philogene, Pedro (Department: 3732)
Toilet
Toilet kit
Including brush
C132S218000, C132S317000, C401S129000, C401S126000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06220254
ABSTRACT:
The present invention relates to devices for packaging and applying a substance that is a liquid, a semiliquid, or a powder, and in particular a cosmetic product.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates more particularly to a device of the type comprising a receptacle that is open at one end, suitable for containing said substance, and an applicator having at one end an applicator element and at its other end a handle element which can also be used as a cap for closing the receptacle. The applicator element and the handle element are interconnected by a link member such as a stalk. International application WO 97/31553 discloses a device in which the applicator element, the stalk, and the handle element are in alignment and in which the applicator element is inserted into the receptacle and is withdrawn therefrom via a wiper member constituted at least in part by an elastically deformable porous material such as a foam having at least 5% open cells.
OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention seeks to provide a novel device of the above-specified type, making it possible in particular to facilitate the operation of applying makeup and to further increase the possibilities of applying novel cosmetic or care products.
In the packaging and application device of the invention the applicator element, the handle element, and the link member are not in alignment.
In other words, at least one of the link member and the applicator element is curved or bent so that the applicator element is off-axis relative to the direction in which the link member extends in its region adjacent to the handle element.
After making the invention, the Applicant company has observed in quite surprising manner that, even when inclined relative to the axis of the wiper member, the applicator element can be wiped in satisfactory manner by the wiper member, even though it could have been expected a priori that the inclination thereof would give rise to wiping that is unsatisfactory.
The invention makes it possible in particular to provide applicators that are more ergonomic, facilitating the operation of applying makeup and enabling the user to make herself up with even greater precision.
In a particular embodiment, the link member is bent.
Still in a particular embodiment, the link member is constituted by a stalk that flares at its end remote from the handle element to form a housing which serves for fixing the applicator element.
The housing can extend in a direction that is at a non-zero angle relative to the direction of the stalk in its region adjacent to said housing.
The applicator element can be implemented in a wide variety of ways.
In a particular embodiment, the applicator element is curved.
In another particular embodiment, the applicator element is substantially flat, and forms an angle with the direction of the link element in its region adjacent to the handle element.
In another particular embodiment, the applicator element presents corrugations.
In another particular embodiment, the applicator element has a core of rigid or semi-rigid material having connected thereto the link member so as to form a bend.
Still in a particular embodiment, the applicator element is made at least in part out of an injected plastics material, e.g. an elastomer.
In a particular embodiment, the applicator element has bristles.
In a particular embodiment, the applicator element is asymmetrical.
In a particular embodiment, the applicator element has at least one helical filament.
In another particular embodiment, the applicator element is generally curved in shape.
In another particular embodiment, the applicator element has one or more slots or cavities.
The packaging and application device of the invention can be used in particular for making up the eye, for applying nail varnish or the like, or indeed for applying lipstick or the like, the shape and the characteristics of the applicator element and the height and the density of the porous material of the wiper member being selected as a function of the nature of the substance, the purpose thereof, and the effect desired therefore.
The cross-section of the link member in its region that is in contact with the wiper member when the applicator is in place in the receptacle is preferably smaller than the cross-section of the applicator element.
When the link element is constituted by a stalk, the diameter of the stalk in its region extending in contact with the wiper element when the applicator is in place in the receptacle, preferably lies in the range 0.2 mm to 2 mm, and more preferably in the range 0.2 mm to 0.5 mm.
In a preferred embodiment, the wiper member is constituted by an axially slotted block of foam, with the edges of the slot or of the slots touching at rest. When the block of foam has a plurality of slots, they may be disposed in a cross or a star configuration.
Thus, wiping takes place preferentially by means of a block of foam which is not deformed substantially by the link member when the applicator is in place, having at least one slot and the ability to close up after the applicator has been removed.
The use of such a wiper member makes it possible to obtain very good results in terms of uniformity of substance distribution on the applicator element.
Preferably, the applicator element extends in line with the link element, being connected thereto via one axial end, with the other axial end of the applicator element constituting the free end of the applicator.
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L'Oreal
Oliff & Berridg,e PLC
Philogene Pedro
LandOfFree
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