Applicator for applying a composition to the eyelashes or the eyebrows

Abstract

The present invention relates to an applicator for applying a composition to keratinous fibers, in particular the eyelashes or the eyebrows, the applicator comprising: a stem having a longitudinal axis and including at least one elastically-deformable flexible portion that is suitable for flexing during application and/or wiping; and an applicator element that is fastened to the stem and that includes a twisted wire core and bristles that extend transversally to the longitudinal axis of the stem.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An applicator for applying a composition to keratinous fibers, in particular the eyelashes or the eyebrows, the applicator comprising:
 a stem having a longitudinal axis and including (1) at least one elastically-deformable flexible portion that is suitable for flexing during application and/or wiping and (2) a rigid portion including a housing for fastening to the flexible portion; and   an applicator element that is fastened to the stem and that includes a twisted wire core and bristles that extend transversally to the longitudinal axis of the stem,   the flexible portion of the stem being adjacent to a first end of the stem, the applicator element being fastened to the flexible portion, an end of the twisted wire core of the applicator element being inserted into a housing of the flexible portion, and   the flexible portion of the stem including a narrowing in the form of an annular groove located between the end of the twisted wire core inserted into the housing of the flexible portion and an end of the rigid portion of the stem adjacent to the flexible portion.   
     
     
         2 . The applicator according to  claim 1 , a total visible length of the flexible portion lying in the range 10 millimeters (mm) to 35 mm. 
     
     
         3 . The applicator according to  claim 1 , a greatest transverse outside dimension of the flexible portion lying in the range 2 mm to 10 mm. 
     
     
         4 . The applicator according to  claim 1 , a visible portion of the flexible portion being, thinner than a portion of the flexible portion for fastening, in a portion of the stem. 
     
     
         5 . The applicator according to  claim 1 , the stem presenting a top half that is substantially non-flexible, the flexible portion being, situated in a bottom half of the stem. 
     
     
         6 . The applicator according to  claim 1 , the flexible portion extending over less than one third of a total length of the stem, better over less than one fourth. 
     
     
         7 . The applicator according to  claim 1 , the stem including a single flexible portion, and a remainder of the stem being rigid. 
     
     
         8 . The applicator according to  claim 1 , in which the flexible portion is fastened to a remainder of the stem by snap-fastening, by screw-fastening, by adhesive, by force-fitting, or by crimping. 
     
     
         9 . The applicator according to  claim 1 , in which the rigid portion of the stem has at least one housing for receiving at least one fastener portion for fastening the flexible portion on an adjacent portion of the stem. 
     
     
         10 . The applicator according to  claim 1 , the flexible portion comprising an endpiece inserted in a housing of the stem, the groove and a base of the endpiece constituting two zones of preferred deformation for the flexible portion, when the applicator member is inclined relative to a rest position of the applicator member. 
     
     
         11 . The applicator according to  claim 1 , the flexible portion having a diameter equal to a diameter of the adjacent rigid portion, at least in a zone of the flexible portion located in the continuity of the rigid portion. 
     
     
         12 . The applicator according to  claim 1 , in which the stem includes one or more rigid portions made of at least one thermoplastic material. 
     
     
         13 . The applicator according to  claim 12 , the thermoplastic material(s) being selected from the group consisting of: HDPE, LOPE, linear PE, PP, PT, POM, PA, PET, and PBT. 
     
     
         14 . The applicator according to  claim 13 , wherein the rigid portion is made of POM, with an outside diameter of 4 mm and a length lying in the range 25 mm to 50 mm. 
     
     
         15 . The applicator according to  claim 1 , the flexible portion being made of a thermoplastic elastomer. 
     
     
         16 . The applicator according to  claim 1 , in which the core is not rotatable relative to the stem around the longitudinal axis of the stem. 
     
     
         17 . The applicator according to  claim 1 , the flexible portion being at least partially flocked. 
     
     
         18 . The applicator according to  claim 1 , the core comprising two twisted strands of a wire. 
     
     
         19 . The applicator according to  claim 1 , in which the stem is connected to a handle that is arranged in such a manner as to close, in leaktight manner, a receptacle containing the composition for application. 
     
     
         20 . The applicator according to  claim 1 , the stem including a rigid portion of thermoplastic material, of diameter that is greater than or equal to 2.5 mm. 
     
     
         21 . The applicator according to  claim 1 , the flexible portion being configured to resonate with vibration frequencies from a vibration generator that is integrated in the applicator or that is brought into contact therewith. 
     
     
         22 . An applicator for applying a composition to keratinous fibers, in particular the eyelashes or the eyebrows, the applicator comprising:
 stem having a longitudinal axis and including (1) at least one elastically-deformable flexible portion, that is suitable for flexing during application and/or wiping and (2) a rigid portion; and   an applicator element that is fastened to the stem and that includes a twisted wire core and bristles that extend transversally to the longitudinal axis of the stem,   the flexible portion of the stem being adjacent to a first end of the stem, the applicator element being fastened to the flexible portion, and   the flexible portion of the stem including a housing, and an end of the twisted wire core of the applicator element being inserted into the housing.   
     
     
         23 . The applicator according to  claim 22 , a total visible length of the flexible portion lying in the range 10 millimeters (mm) to 35 mm. 
     
     
         24 . The applicator according to  claim 22 , a greatest transverse outside dimension of the flexible portion lying in the range 2 mm to 10 mm. 
     
     
         25 . The applicator according to  claim 22 , a visible portion of the flexible portion being thinner than a portion of the flexible portion for fastening in a portion of the stem. 
     
     
         26 . The applicator according to  claim 22 , the flexible portion extending over less than one third of a total length of the stem. 
     
     
         27 . The applicator according to  claim 22 , the stem including a rigid portion of thermoplastic material, of diameter that is greater than or equal to 2.5 mm. 
     
     
         28 . A packaging and applicator device for applying a cosmetic composition to the eyelashes or the eyebrows, the device comprising an applicator according to  claim 1 , and a receptacle containing the composition for application. 
     
     
         29 . A cosmetic treatment using an applicator according to  claim 1 , in which a composition is applied on the applicator element by modifying an angle formed between the applicator element and the stem by deforming the flexible portion.