Applicator, in particular mascara applicator, pigment compound stick therefor, and cosmetic product

Abstract

The invention relates to a mascara applicator ( 1 ) for applying a pigment compound to eyelashes, having a grip ( 2 ) and a housing section ( 3 ) extending from the grip ( 2 ) for accommodating a stock of pigment compound, with the stock of pigment compound embodied in the form of a pigment compound stick ( 4 ) that is able to move in relation to the housing section ( 3 ) and is composed of a pigment compound that is solid at least in the stored state; the applicator ( 1 ) is embodied so that it is possible to bring the eyelashes to which the pigment compound is to be applied intentionally into direct contact with the pigment compound stick ( 4 ) so that pigment compound is loaded onto them.

1 . A mascara applicator ( 1 ) for applying a pigment compound to eyelashes, having a grip ( 2 ) and a housing section ( 3 ) extending from the grip ( 2 ) for accommodating a stock of pigment compound, with the stock of pigment compound embodied in the form of a pigment compound stick ( 4 ) that is able to move in relation to the housing section ( 3 ) and is composed of a pigment compound that is solid at least in the stored state, characterized in that the applicator ( 1 ) is embodied so that it is possible to bring the eyelashes to which the pigment compound is to be applied intentionally into direct contact with the pigment compound stick ( 4 ) so that pigment compound is loaded onto them. 
     
     
         2 . The applicator as recited in  claim 1 , characterized in that it is possible to move the pigment compound stick ( 4 ) at least partway out of the housing section ( 3 ), preferably in such a way that it is possible to bring the eyelashes into direct contact with a circumference surface ( 23 ) of a free end ( 16 ) of the pigment compound stick ( 4 ) in order to apply the pigment compound; in addition, the surface with which it is possible to bring the eyelashes into direct contact is preferably—at least locally—contoured so that it has raised regions and/or recesses. 
     
     
         3 . The applicator as recited in  claim 2 , characterized in that the circumference surface ( 23 ) of the pigment compound stick has integrated devices for combing and/or separating the eyelashes, preferably embodied either in the form of helical, at least partially circumferential grooves ( 17 ) similar to a thread or ideally in the form of parallel-extending, at least partially circumferential grooves ( 17 ). 
     
     
         4 . The applicator as recited in  claim 3 , characterized in that the grooves ( 17 ) have recesses that taper toward the groove bottoms and/or the raised areas of the pigment compound stick ( 4 ) taper conically in cross-section as they extend radially outward. 
     
     
         5 . The applicator as recited in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pigment compound stick is associated with a support structure ( 25 ) that moves together with the pigment compound stick relative to the housing ( 3 ) when the pigment compound stick ( 4 ) is advanced toward the application zone or when the pigment compound stick ( 4 ) is slid out from the housing ( 3 ). 
     
     
         6 . The applicator as recited in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the applicator has a heating device ( 10 ,  12 ,  13 ), which, before use of the applicator ( 1 ), causes at least some regions of the pigment compound stick ( 4 ) surface to melt, preferably with the melting occurring exclusively at the surface level. 
     
     
         7 . The applicator as recited in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the heating device ( 10 ,  12 ,  13 ) is situated so that it externally encompasses the pigment compound stick ( 4 ) in a starting position. 
     
     
         8 . The applicator as recited in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a supporting core ( 19 ) of the pigment compound stick ( 4 ) is embodied as a heating element ( 10 ). 
     
     
         9 . The applicator as recited in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the support structure ( 25 ) is part of the heating device ( 10 ,  12 ,  13 ). 
     
     
         10 . The applicator as recited in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pigment compound stick ( 4 ) is embodied as replaceable. 
     
     
         11 . The applicator as recited in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the applicator has a built-in shaping device ( 40 ), which is preferably a component of the housing ( 3 ) and by means of which it is possible to initially shape the outer contour of the pigment compound stick or to reshape an existing outer contour. 
     
     
         12 . The applicator as recited in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the heating device ( 10 ,  12 ,  13 ) is situated in the region of the distal end ( 5 ) of the housing ( 3 ) and the effective heating length ( 1 ) of the heating device is shorter than the length of the pigment compound stick ( 4 ). 
     
     
         13 . The applicator as recited in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the heating device ( 10 ,  12 ,  13 ) is electrically operated and an activation sensor is provided, which activates the heating element ( 10 ) when a protective cap ( 14 ) of the applicator ( 1 ) is removed. 
     
     
         14 . A pigment compound stick composed of a pigment compound that is solid at least at room temperature (describe) for use in an applicator as recited in one of  claims 1  through  12 , characterized in that the pigment compound stick ( 4 ) has a region that it is possible, after installation of the pigment compound stick into the applicator, to intentionally move directly into contact with the eyelashes to which the pigment compound is to be applied so that the eyelashes are loaded by means of this direct contact with the pigment compound. 
     
     
         15 . The pigment compound stick as recited in  claim 14 , characterized in that the pigment compound stick ( 4 ) has one or more of the defining characteristics disclosed for the pigment compound stick as such in one or more of  claims 1  through  13 . 
     
     
         16 . A mascara product having an applicator ( 1 ) as recited in one of  claims 1  through  13  and/or having at least one pigment compound stick ( 4 ) as recited in one of  claims 14  through  15 .