GB2094235A

GB2094235A - Makeup unit for liquid makeup

Info

Publication number: GB2094235A
Application number: GB8201624A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: LOreal SA
Current assignee: LOreal SA
Priority date: 1981-02-27
Filing date: 1982-01-20
Publication date: 1982-09-15
Also published as: GB2094235B; IT8252857V0; IT1155251B; CH645791A5; IT8267101A0; DE3206801A1; CA1175390A

Abstract

An applicator (10) for liquid makeup is carried by a cap (5) of a container (3) so as to be immersed in liquid in the container and is in the form of a flexible spatula (11) having two cavities (14) which extend right through the spatula from a front face to a back face thereof. Thus two separate reservoirs, each formed by a respective one of the two cavities (14), are provided. Preferably the two cavities are interconnected by a slot which also passes through the spatula from face to face. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Makeup unit for liquid makeup The present invention concerns a makeup unit comprising a container of liquid makeup, in particular, eye shadow, cheek makeup, or an eye ring camouflager, and an applicator having at its end a makeup element allowing liquid makeup contained in the container to be drawn off, transported and to be spread on the skin surface, in particular on the eyelids and around the eyes.

A makeup unit of this kind has been described in French Patent 2,412,287. The container of this known unit, which contains a coloured liquid called "eye-liner", has a threaded neck which receives a screw-on cap of the associated applicator. The makeup element of the applicator consists of a coneshaped rubber pen ending in a tapered nib; a transverse cavity cut into the above mentioned cone serves as a resevoir for the coloured liquid and supplies at least one capillary groove opening in the nib of the pen.

Each time the makeup pen is immersed within the coloured liquid container, the above mentioned cavity fills with coloured liquid in sufficient quantity to allow the eyes of the user to be completely made up.

The object of the present invention is to provide an improvement in the above mentioned makeup applicator.

Accordingly the present invention provides a makeup unit comprising: a liquid makeup container, and an applicator terminating in a makeup element made of a flexible, elastically deformable material and comprising at least two cavities each constituting a reservoir able to retain the liquid makeup by capillarity, allowing the liquid makeup to be drawn off from the said container, to be transported and to be spread on the surface to be made up.

Since the two capillary reservoirs may be emptied successively, two successive applications of the makeup liquid may be performed without meanwhile having to immerse the makeup element within the container of liquid makeup The two capillary reservoirs may have either identical or different capacities. In this latter case, the capillary reservoir with the smaller capacity is reserved for tracing a narrow outline whilst that with the larger capacity is used for tracing a wider outline. The application of the coloured liquid makeup is effected by directly contacting the surface to be made up with one of the two capillary reservoir forming cavities, this contact being facilitated by the flexible, elastically deformable structure of the makeup element.Moreover, such a makeup element allows the outline of the applied product to be softened because the capillary holes regulate the quantity of the product applied and in this way it is possible to apply the makeup as a film.

It is preferable for the two reservoir forming cavities to pass through the surface of the makeup element from one face to another opposite face.

When the makeup element has an elongate shape, the axes of the two cavities forming the reservoir are substantially parallel and placed longitudinally side by side on the make-up element.

Advantageously in a first embodiment of the invention, the two reservoir-forming cavities are independent of each other, that is to say, they do not communicate with each other via any groove, slot or hollow whatsoever in the material of the makeup element.

In a second advantageous embodiment of the invention, the two reservoir-forming cavities are interconnected by at least one slot, which may or may not be rectilinear, arranged between the cavities. The slot and the two cavities forming the reservoir advantageously pass through the surface of the makeup element from one face to another face. Preferably, the slot is substantially rectilinear and is arranged along a plane passing through the axes of the two reservoir-forming cavities; the two lips of the above mentioned slot are substantially contiguous to one another when the part of the makeup element wherein the said slot is arranged is in its undeformed state.

The part of the makeup element including the reservoir-forming cavities conveniently has the configuration of a flat elongate spatula whose tranverse cross sectional area slightly decreases towards its free rounded end, the cavities being arranged transversely near the said rounded end; the spatula may comprise a dome-shaped back face and a flat front face joined to the said dome-shaped back face.

According to another avantageous characteristic, the spatula continues into a tail fixed within the hollow applicator stem, for instance by a local crushing of the wall of the stem around the above mentioned tail. The above mentioned tail is joined to the spatula via an annular shoulder.

The hollow stem which carries the makeup element at one of its ends is advantageously fixed at its other end to a screw cap to fit the threaded neck of the liquid makeup container.

The threaded neck is extended into the container as an elongate sleeve, shaped as a glove finger, and having at its bottom end an opening through which the makeup element passes; an annular shoulder of the makeup element serves to close said opening when the applicator cap is screwed on to the container.

The liquid makeup contained in the container is advantageously an eye-shadow.

In order that the present invention may more readily be understood, there will be described below two embodiments, repre sented in the attached drawing, by way of purely illustrative and non-restrictive examples. In the drawing: Figure 1 is a longitudinal axial cross section of a makeup unit according to the invention, Figure 2 is a view in perspective of the makeup element of the applicator of the unit shown in Fig. 1, Figure 3 is a partial axial cross section taken along line Ill-Ill of Fig. 1, and Figure 4 is a view, corresponding to that of Fig. 2, of a second embodiment of the makeup element wherein the two cavities forming the reservoir are interconnected by a slot.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 3 of the drawing, there will be seen a unit 1 which may be used for the making up of eyelids. The makeup unit 1 derives from the association of an applicator 2 with a cylindrical container 3 of an elongated shape containing liquid eye shadow.

The threaded neck 4 of container 3 receives a screw on cap 5 which forms part of applicator 2.

The threaded neck 4 of container 3 is extended within the said container by an elongate sleeve 6, shaped as a glove finger, whose bottom end is provided with a passage opening 7.

Within the cap 5 of the applicator, there is inserted a collar 27 fixed to the said cap by any appropiate means, for instance by bonding. A hollow stem 8, integral with collar 27, projects axially from the open end of cap 2 and engages in the sleeve 6 when the cap 5 is screwed onto the container 3.

The end of the hollow stem 8 carries a makeup element 10 serving to draw off the liquid makeup from container 3, to transport it, and then to spread it on the eyelids. The makeup element 10 is obtained by moulding, and it may be made of natural or synthetic rubber. The part of the makeup element 10 projecting from the hollow stem 8 consists of a flat elongate spatula 11.The cross sectional area of spatula 11 decreases slightly towards its rounded free end 11 a. Spatula 11 has a dome-shaped back face 1 2 and a flat front face 13.

Two substantially circular cavities 14 traverse spatula 11 from front face to back face near its rounded free end 11 a. The two circular cavities 14 are longitudinally superimposed in that their axes are substantially parallel and are arranged along the longitudinal centre plane perpendicular to the flat face of the spatula.

Each cavity 1 4 is dimensioned in such a way that, once it is charged with liquid make up, the liquid drawn off is maintained within the cavity by capillary action during move ment of the spatula from container 3 to the eyelids which are to be made up, the liquid is then applied to the eyelids by a slight pres sure exerted on spatula 11.

Spatula 11 of the makeup element 10 has a tail 1 5 extending into the hollow stem 8.

The makeup element 10 is fixed on the end of the hollow stem 8 by crimping, that is to say, by a local crushing of the wall of hollow stem 8 around the tail 1 5 of the makeup element.

Between tail 1 5 and spatula 11, there is an annular shoulder 1 6 whose outer diameter is slightly greater than the outer diameter of the hollow stem 8. The annular shoulder 1 6 is intended to cooperate with the edge of the opening 7 at the bottom of sleeve 6 when the applicator is screwed on the container, so as to ensure a leakproof closure of the container 3. Provision is made for a projecting reinforcement 1 7 of the spatula in the connecting zone between the flat face 1 3 and the annular shoulder 16.

Figure 1 shows the makeup unit 1 in its closed configuration, the cap 5 of the applicator being screwed on the collar of container 3.

In this position, spatula 11 is immersed in the liquid makeup and the two cavities 14 are therefore charged with liquid. When making up, the user unscrews cap 5 of the applicator and extracts, from the container 3, the spatula 11 whose two cavities 14 are charged with the liquid makeup. The user can carry the spatula 11 to the eyelids to be made up, without the liquid eyeshadow being able to escape from the two cavities 14, since it is retained therein by capillary action.

Making up is performed by lightly applying the end of spatula 11 on the eyelid so as to apply the liquid contained in the first cavity 14 adjacent to the rounded end 11 a of the spatula. If necessary it is possible to lift up again a part of the liquid placed on the eyelid, for example in order to apply it to a second chosen point, by applying the cavity 14 of the spatula which has just been discharged to the droplet of liquid deposited. After the liquid makeup of the first cavity 14 adjacent to the rounded end of spatula 11 a has been spread, the user may in the same way apply the liquid contents of the second cavity 14. The application of the liquid makeup may thus be ef fected twice, thanks to the cavities 14 each constituting a capillary reservoir, without hav ing to immerse spatula 11 in the liquid mak eup of container 3 between these two applications.

Referring to Fig. 4, there will be seen a second embodiment of the makeup element 30 according to the invention.

The makeup element 30 is, in all respects, identical with makeup element 10 of Fig. 2 except that the two cavities 14, instead of being independent as in Fig. 2, are intercon nected by a slot 20. Like the two cavities 14, the slot 20 passes through the surface of spatula 11 from front face to back face; it extends along a plane passing through the two cavities 14. When spatula 11 is not deformed, the two lips of the slot 20 are substantially contiguous to one another.

The main function of slot 20 is to enhance the capacity for deformation of spactula 11 at the level of the two capillary reservoirs formed by cavities 14, and thus to render the makeup action more agreeable.

The light pressure exerted on spatula 11 of the makeup element 30 when making up does not have the effect of opening the two lips of slot 20, so much so that no passage of liquid makeup from one capillary reservoir to the other via the said slot occurs.

It is important to point out that, because of its position between the two cavities 14, the length of slot 20 is not liable to increase following repeated deformations by use of the spatula 11 (for example by tearing at the ends of slot 20). In other words, the two ends of slot 20 are completely defined in the material of spatula 11 because of the existence of the two cavities 14; there cannot therefore be any increase in the length of slot 20 after repeated use.

It should be noted that the makeup element 10 of Figs. 1 to 3, and the makeup element 30 of Fig. 4, are made of flexible natural or synthetic rubber, thus facilitating an agreeable makeup action without the risk of skin irritation or abrasion.

It shall be duly understood that the embodiments described above are in no way restrictive, and are capable of any desirable modifications without thereby departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.

Claims

1. A makeup unit comprising: a liquid makeup container; and an applicator terminating in a makeup element made of a flexible, elastically deformable material and comprising at least two cavities each constituting a reservoir able to retain the liquid makeup by capillarity, allowing the liquid makeup to be drawn off from the said container, to be transported, and to be spread on the surface to be made up.

2. A makeup unit according to Claim 1, wherein the two reservoir-forming cavities pass through the surface of the makeup element from one face to another opposite face.

3. A makeup unit according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the axes of the two reservoirforming cavities are substantially parallel and placed longitudinally side by side along the makeup element.

4. A makeup unit according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, wherein the two reservoirforming cavities do not communicate with each other.

5. A makeup unit according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, wherein the two reservoirforming cavities are interconnected by a slot between the said cavities.

6. A makeup applicator according to Claim 5, wherein said slot is rectilinear.

7. A makeup unit according to Claim 6, wherein the slot passes through the makeup element from one face to another opposite face.

8. A makeup unit according to any one of Claims 5 to 7, wherein the two lips of the slot are substantially contiguous when the part of the makeup element which includes said slot is in its undeformed state.

9. A makeup unit according to any one of Claims 1 to 8, wherein the part of the makeup element including the two reservoir-forming cavities is in the shape of a flat, elongate spatula whose transverse cross sectional area decreases slightly in a direction towards its rounded free end, and the two cavities are arranged transversely near the said end.

10. A makeup unit according to Claim 9, wherein the spatula is joined to a tail fixed within a hollow stem of the said applicator, said tail being connected to the spatula via an annular shoulder.

11. A makeup unit according to Claim 10, wherein said hollow stem which carries the makeup element, at one of its ends, is fixed at its other end to a closure cap for said container, said cap being able to be screwed onto a threaded neck of the liquid makeup container.

1 2. A makeup unit according to Claim 11, wherein the threaded neck of the liquid makeup container is extended inwardly of said container by a sleeve having at its free end within the container an opening through which the makeup element passes, and wherein said annular shoulder of the said element closes said opening when the cap is screwed on to the container.

1 3. A makeup unit according to any one of Claims 1 to 12, including liquid eyeshadow contained in the container.

14. A makeup unit substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated in, the accompanying drawing.