Method for accurately depositing a relatively small amount of a lip product on an applicator and the applicator containing said lip product

Abstract

A method for depositing an amount of a heat meltable at room temperature non flowable semi-solid lip product ( 8 ) on an applicator having a flexible sheet-like support ( 1 ) with a lip product area ( 4 ) having an interconnected open channel structure, formed by channel forming elements ( 6 ), said area ( 4 ) having a circumferential raised edge ( 7 ), the method including depositing the amount of lip product in the lip product area ( 4 ), filling the lip product area ( 4 ) incompletely and/or non uniformly, subjecting the lip product ( 8 ) to a heat treatment to heat all of it to above the melting point thereof, such that the lip product ( 8 ) flows into the channel structure filling the lip product area ( 4 ) substantially complete and uniform, and cooling the assembly of applicator and lip product ( 8 ).

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for depositing a semi-solid lip product ( 8 ) which is meltable by heat and which is non flowable at room temperature on an applicator for containing said lip product ( 8 ), said applicator comprising a thin flexible sheet-like support ( 1 ) with a surface with a lip product area ( 4 ) which is designed to comprise the lip product ( 8 ), said lip product area comprising an interconnected open channel structure therein, which is formed by channel forming elements ( 6 ) in the surface thereof, the lip product area ( 4 ) of the applicator having a circumference comprising a raised edge ( 7 ) accurately delimiting said circumference and thereby forming a lip product reservoir, said raised edge ( 7 ) having such dimensions that the lip product reservoir can at least accommodate the lip product ( 8 ) to be deposited in the lip product area ( 4 ), the method comprising the steps of:
 depositing the lip product in the lip product area ( 4 ), such that the lip product area ( 4 ) is filled incompletely and/or non uniformly,   subjecting the lip product ( 8 ) to a heat treatment such that all of the lip product ( 8 ) is heated to above the melting point thereof, all in such a manner that the lip product ( 8 ) flows into the interconnected open channel structure and thereby filling the lip product area ( 4 ) substantially completely and uniformly, and   cooling the assembly of applicator and lip product ( 8 ).   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein depositing the lip product ( 8 ) is performed by pad printing. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising, during the heat treatment shaking or vibrating the assembly in a substantially horizontal orientation. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the applicator has lip product areas ( 4 ) on both sides and the lip product ( 8 ) is deposited on said both sides and that both sides are subjected to the heat treatment at the same time.   
     
     
         5 . Applicator obtainable with the method according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         6 . The applicator according to  claim 5 , wherein
 the channel forming elements ( 6 ) in the lip product area have rounded top edges.   
     
     
         7 . A method for depositing an amount of semi-solid lip product ( 8 ) which is meltable by heat and which is non flowable at room temperature on an applicator for containing said lip product ( 8 ), said applicator comprising a thin flexible sheet-like support ( 1 ) with a surface with a lip product area ( 4 ) which is designed to comprise the lip product ( 8 ), said lip product area comprising an interconnected open channel structure therein, which is formed by channel forming elements ( 6 ) in the surface thereof, the circumference of the lip product area ( 4 ) of the applicator comprising a raised edge ( 7 ) accurately delimiting said circumference, having such dimensions that it can at least accommodate an intended thickness of the lip product ( 8 ) to be deposited in the lip product area ( 4 ), the method
 comprising the steps of:
 depositing the amount of lip product in the lip product area ( 4 ), 
 subjecting the lip product ( 8 ) to a heat treatment, such that all of the lip product ( 8 ) is heated to above the melting point thereof, and 
 cooling the assembly of applicator and lip product ( 8 ). 
   
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein
 the amount of lip product is deposited in the lip product area ( 4 ) with limited accuracy, and   the lip product ( 8 ) is subjected to a heat treatment such that all of the lip product ( 8 ) is heated to above the melting point thereof, all in such a manner that the lip product ( 8 ) fills the channels between the channel forming elements ( 6 ) up against the raised edge ( 7 ) of the lip product area ( 4 ).