Device for applying substance to eyelashes or eyebrows

Abstract

An applicator for applying a substance to a fringe of eyelashes or eyebrows, may include a stem, a support associated with the stem and extending along a longitudinal axis, and a plurality of applicator elements extending from the support substantially transversely relative to the longitudinal axis. The applicator elements may extend over a distance along the longitudinal axis of the support such that when the longitudinal axis extends substantially tangentially to the fringe, the applicator elements can at most come into contact simultaneously with no more than one-fourth of the eyelashes or the eyebrows of the fringe.

1 . An applicator for applying a substance to a fringe of eyelashes or eyebrows, the applicator comprising:
 a stem; and   a comb comprising:   a support associated with the stem and extending along a longitudinal axis, and   a plurality of applicator elements extending from the support substantially transversely relative to the longitudinal axis,   wherein the applicator elements extend over a distance along the longitudinal axis of the support such that when the longitudinal axis extends substantially tangentially to the fringe, the applicator elements can at most come into contact simultaneously with no more than one-fourth of the eyelashes or the eyebrows of the fringe.   
     
     
         2 . An applicator according to  claim 1 , wherein the applicator elements are disposed in at least one row. 
     
     
         3 . An applicator according to  claim 2 , wherein the applicator elements have free ends at a distance from the longitudinal axis that vary in non-monotonic manner between two opposite end applicator elements of the row. 
     
     
         4 . An applicator according to  claim 2 , wherein the number of applicator elements in the row lies in the range of 3 to 9. 
     
     
         5 . An applicator according to  claim 1 , wherein the number of applicator elements is less than 9. 
     
     
         6 . An applicator according to  claim 2 , wherein the applicator elements comprise two applicator elements. 
     
     
         7 . An applicator according to  claim 1 , wherein the applicator elements comprise teeth. 
     
     
         8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . An applicator according to  claim 1 , wherein the applicator elements extend along the support over a distance lying in a range of about 0.1 cm to about 1 cm. 
     
     
         10 . An applicator according to  claim 1 , wherein the applicator elements extend along the support over a distance less than or equal to 8 mm. 
     
     
         11 . An applicator according to  claim 1 , wherein the applicator elements extend along the support over a distance lying in the range of about 2 mm to 5 mm. 
     
     
         12 . An applicator according to  claim 1 , wherein the applicator elements extend along the support over a distance lying in the range of 2 mm to 3 mm. 
     
     
         13 . An applicator according to  claim 1 , wherein the support and the applicator elements are defined by a single piece of material. 
     
     
         14 . An applicator according to  claim 1 , wherein the applicator elements are fitted to the support. 
     
     
         15 . An applicator according to  claim 1 , wherein the support and the stem are defined by a single piece of material. 
     
     
         16 . An applicator according to  claim 1 , wherein the support is fitted to the stem. 
     
     
         17 . An applicator according to  claim 16 , wherein the support includes an endpiece configured to engage a housing of the stem. 
     
     
         18 . An applicator according to  claim 16 , wherein the stem includes an endpiece configured to engage a housing of the support. 
     
     
         19 . An applicator according to  claim 1 , wherein the stem extends along a longitudinal axis that is not the same as the longitudinal axis of the support. 
     
     
         20 . An applicator according to  claim 19 , wherein the longitudinal axis of the stem forms an angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the support,
 wherein the angle lies in a range of 5° to 45°.   
     
     
         21 . An applicator according to  claim 20 , wherein the angle is equal to about 20°. 
     
     
         22 . An applicator according to  claim 19 , wherein the longitudinal axis of the support is substantially curvilinear. 
     
     
         23 . An applicator according to  claim 1 , wherein the longitudinal axis of the support is substantially rectilinear. 
     
     
         24 . An applicator according to  claim 1 , wherein the stem extends along a longitudinal axis coinciding with the longitudinal axis of the support. 
     
     
         25 . An applicator according to  claim 1 , wherein the applicator at least partially comprises at least one of thermoplastic material, elastomer material, thermoplastic elastomer material, wood, or metal. 
     
     
         26 . An applicator according to  claim 1 , wherein the support comprises an elastically deformable material. 
     
     
         27 . An applicator according to  claim 1 , wherein a line interconnecting free ends of the applicator elements has a distance from the longitudinal axis of the support that passes through at least one extremum. 
     
     
         28 . An applicator according to  claim 27 , wherein the extremum is a maximum. 
     
     
         29 . An applicator according to  claim 28 , wherein at least part of the line defines a shape that is triangular, rounded, circular, or bullet-shaped. 
     
     
         30 . An applicator according to  claim 28 , wherein the distance between the line and the longitudinal axis of the support passes through two extremums. 
     
     
         31 . An applicator according to  claim 28 , further comprising a single longest applicator element that is longer than the other applicator elements. 
     
     
         32 . An applicator according to  claim 28 , further comprising two longer applicator elements that are longer than the other applicator elements. 
     
     
         33 . An applicator according to  claim 32 , wherein the two longer applicator elements are consecutive such that another applicator element is not disposed between the two longer applicator elements. 
     
     
         34 . An applicator according to  claim 28 , wherein a first line interconnects the free ends of a longest applicator element associated with the maximum and a shortest applicator element closest to the longest applicator element,
 wherein a second line is normal to the longitudinal axis of the support and passes through the free end of the longest applicator element, and   wherein the first line and the second line form an angle that lies in a range of about 25° to about 60°.   
     
     
         35 . An applicator according to  claim 34 , wherein the angle is equal to about 43°. 
     
     
         36 . An applicator according to  claim 2 , wherein the applicator elements are disposed in at least two rows. 
     
     
         37 . An applicator according to  claim 36 , wherein the applicator elements of a first row and the applicator elements of a second row extend in different directions. 
     
     
         38 . An applicator according to  claim 36 , wherein the applicator elements of a first row and the applicator elements of a second row are substantially parallel. 
     
     
         39 . An applicator according to  claim 36 , wherein the at least two rows are disposed substantially opposite to each other relative to the support. 
     
     
         40 . An applicator according to  claim 1 , wherein the heights of the applicator elements lie in a range of about 0.5 mm to about 10 mm. 
     
     
         41 . An applicator according to  claim 1 , wherein the heights of the applicator elements lie in a range of about 1 mm to about 3 mm. 
     
     
         42 . An applicator according to  claim 1 , wherein the applicator elements are disposed in at least one row,
 wherein the at least one row comprises a succession of applicator elements at least some of which extend in alternation on opposite sides of a separation plane.   
     
     
         43 . An applicator according to  claim 1 , wherein the applicator elements have bases that are substantially in alignment. 
     
     
         44 . An applicator according to  claim 1 , wherein the applicator elements have bases that are not in alignment. 
     
     
         45 . An applicator according to  claim 1 , wherein the applicator elements are disposed in at least one row,
 wherein the at least one row extends along an axis that is not rectilinear.   
     
     
         46 . An applicator according to  claim 1 , wherein the applicator elements are disposed in at least one row,
 wherein the applicator elements are disposed in alternation on opposite sides of a middle core of the support.   
     
     
         47 . An applicator according to  claim 1 , wherein the applicator elements are disposed in at least one row,
 wherein the at least one row comprises a succession of applicator elements at least some of which are disposed in alternation on either side of a separation plane,   wherein two consecutive applicator elements have adjacent portions that substantially appear to touch or overlap when the applicator element is observed from the side,   wherein the two consecutive applicator elements form between them a notch configured to take hold of an eyelash.   
     
     
         48 .- 56 . (canceled) 
     
     
         57 . A packaging and applicator device for applying a substance to a fringe of eyelashes or eyebrows, the device comprising:
 a receptacle for containing the substance; and   an applicator according to  claim 1 .   
     
     
         58 . A device according to  claim 57 , further comprising a wiper member. 
     
     
         59 . A device according to  claim 58 , wherein the wiper member includes an annular lip configured to wipe the stem. 
     
     
         60 . A device according to  claim 57 , wherein the stem is associated with a closure cap of the receptacle,
 wherein the applicator is configured to be housed inside the receptacle when the device is in a closed position.   
     
     
         61 . A device according to  claim 57 , further comprising the substance, wherein the substance is mascara. 
     
     
         62 . A device according to  claim 61 , wherein the mascara has a color other than black. 
     
     
         63 . A device according to  claim 57 , further comprising an additional receptacle and an additional applicator. 
     
     
         64 . A device according to  claim 63 , wherein the additional receptacle contains a substance different from a substance contained in the receptacle. 
     
     
         65 .- 70 . (canceled) 
     
     
         71 . A comb for applying a substance to eyelashes and/or eyebrows, the comb comprising:
 a support; and   teeth extending substantially transversely relative to a longitudinal axis of the support, wherein each tooth is spaced from each of the other teeth by a distance of less than or equal to 8 mm along the longitudinal axis.   
     
     
         72 . A comb according to  claim 71 , wherein the distance is less than or equal to 7 mm. 
     
     
         73 . A comb for applying a substance to eyelashes and/or eyebrows, the comb comprising:
 a support; and   teeth extending transversely to a longitudinal axis of the support,   wherein the comb has a longest tooth having a first length and a shortest tooth having a second length,   wherein the ratio of the first length to the second length is greater than or equal to 1.3.   
     
     
         74 . A comb for applying a substance to eyelashes and/or eyebrows, the comb comprising:
 a support; and   teeth extending transversely to a longitudinal axis of the support,   wherein an angle defined by a first line that intersects a free end of a shortest tooth and a free end of a longest tooth and a second line disposed perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the support and passing through the free end of the longest tooth lies in a range of 20° to 60°.   
     
     
         75 . A method of making up eyelashes or eyebrows with a substance, the method comprising:
 applying the substance to at least one patch of eyelashes or eyebrows using an applicator as defined in  claim 1 .   
     
     
         76 . A method according to  claim 75 , further comprising making up the eyelashes or the eyebrows using a cosmetic substance different from the substance of the applying. 
     
     
         77 . A method according to  claim 75 , wherein the applicator elements at most come in contact simultaneously with no more than one-fourth of the eyelashes or the eyebrows of a fringe of the eyelashes or eyebrows.