Applicator for applying a cosmetic, makeup, or care product composition, and a method of manufacture

Abstract

The present invention relates to an applicator ( 3 ) comprising a stem ( 5 ) and an applicator member ( 8 ) at an end of the stem, the applicator member comprising: a core; and projecting elements that extend from the core, the applicator member including a corkscrewed portion having an envelope surface of cross-section that is flat, and having a greatest transverse dimension that lies in the range 8 mm to 16 mm.

1 . An applicator comprising a stem and an applicator member at an end of the stem, the applicator member comprising:
 a core; and   projecting elements that extend from the core, the applicator member including a corkscrewed portion having an envelope surface of cross-section that is flat, and having a greatest transverse dimension that lies in the range 8 mm to 16 mm.   
     
     
         2 . An applicator according to  claim 1 , wherein long axes of proximal and distal cross-sections of the corkscrewed portion are angularly offset around a longitudinal axis of the core by less than 90°. 
     
     
         3 . An applicator according to  claim 1 , wherein the thickness of the corkscrewed portion lies in the range 2 mm to 6.5 mm. 
     
     
         4 . An applicator according to  claim 1 , wherein the corkscrewed portion extends over at least half the length of the applicator member. 
     
     
         5 . An applicator according to  claim 4 , wherein the corkscrewed portion extends over at least three fourths of the length of the applicator member. 
     
     
         6 . An applicator according to  claim 4 , wherein the corkscrewed portion extends over the entire length of the applicator member. 
     
     
         7 . An applicator according to  claim 1 , wherein the long axes of proximal and distal cross-sections of the corkscrewed portion are angularly offset by an angle β that lies in the range 20° to 80°. 
     
     
         8 . An applicator according to  claim 7 , wherein the angle β lies in the range 25° to 35°. 
     
     
         9 . An applicator according to  claim 1 , wherein the cross-section of the corkscrewed portion is at least 30% wider than it is thick. 
     
     
         10 . An applicator according to  claim 1 , wherein the longitudinal axis of the core is rectilinear. 
     
     
         11 . An applicator according to  claim 1 , wherein the width of the corkscrewed portion is at least 3 mm greater than a thickness of the corkscrewed portion. 
     
     
         12 . An applicator according to  claim 1 , wherein the corkscrewed portion presents two opposite main faces that are parallel to each other. 
     
     
         13 . An applicator according to  claim 1 , wherein the corkscrewed portion is at constant pitch. 
     
     
         14 . An applicator according to  claim 1 , wherein the core is twisted. 
     
     
         15 . An applicator according to  claim 1 , wherein the applicator member and the projecting elements are molded. 
     
     
         16 . A method of manufacturing a brush according to  claim 1 , comprising :
 a) making a blank of a twisted-core brush of envelope surface that is circularly cylindrical, and of diameter lying in the range 8 mm to 16 mm;   b) machining the brush over at least a portion of its length, so as to obtain a blank of cross-section that is flat; and   c 1 ) corkscrewing the core, preferably through an angle β that is strictly less than 90°; or   c 2 ) machining the blank, while turning the brush relative to the machining tool, so as to obtain a brush that presents a portion of cross-section that is flat over at least a fraction of its length, the long axes of the proximal and distal cross-sections of the machined portion defining an angle β that is preferably strictly less than 90°.   
     
     
         17 . A method according to  claim 16 , wherein the angle β is strictly less than 90°.