applicator including a reservoir containing a substance to be applied, a cap intended to close the reservoir and supporting a stopper including an applicator holder supporting a deformable element for applying the substance. The deformable element has a shape memory, i.e., can return to its original shape after being deformed, and a roughened surface. The reservoir holding the substance includes an end-piece having a base equipped with a seat including at least one capillary orifice against which the deformable element deforms when the reservoir is closed by the cap.
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1. applicator comprising:
a reservoir for containing a substance to be applied; a cap engageable with the reservoir for closing the reservoir; and an applicator holder supporting a deformable element for applying the substance, said deformable element being movable between a first configuration when the cap is disengaged from the reservoir, and a second configuration deformed relative to the first configuration, when the cap is engaged with and closes the reservoir, wherein the deformable element has a roughened surface, and wherein the reservoir includes an end-piece having a base equipped with a seat including a capillary orifice against which the deformable element is applied, wherein the deformable element assumes the second deformed configuration when the reservoir is closed by the cap, and collects through capillary action the substance.
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The present invention relates to an applicator intended for local treatment of the skin; such a treatment is, for example, treatment for spots or for blotches. The aim of the invention is to provide an applicator which is capable of delivering an infinitesimal dose directly to the skin in a very precise manner and of additionally permitting the massage of the skin.
According to the present invention, such an applicator includes a reservoir which contains a substance to be applied, a cap which is intended to close the reservoir, and an applicator holder supporting a deformable element for applying the substance, the element being made of foam or of low-hardness elastomer, and is characterized by the fact that the deformable element has a roughened surface and is provided with a substantial shape memory, and in that the reservoir holding the substance is limited by a finger-shaped capillary end-piece having a base equipped with a seat which is pierced with at least one capillary orifice against which the deformable element is applied and deformed in the position in which the reservoir is closed by the cap.
The application element advantageously includes a foam with open cells which communicate with one another when the deformable element is not deformed.
By virtue of this arrangement, when the deformable element is compressed on the seat of the base of the capillary end-piece, its surface in contact with the seat is increased; when the applicator is opened, that is to say when the cap is separated from the reservoir, the deformable element recovers its initial shape which it has in the free state and creates a suction effect which draws up the drop of substance, held hitherto by capillary on that face of the base of the capillary end-piece which is opposite the one bearing the seat, on account of the presence of the capillary orifice.
The design of the applicator according to the invention permits, in a simple manner, the provision of several functions. The deformable element compressed on the seat ensures the sealing of the reservoir. The considerable shape memory of the deformable element permits the function of pumping and suctioning of the substance. The flexibility of the deformable element permits a local massage of the skin.
The capillary orifice, of which there is at least one, is advantageously circular and its diameter is between 0.5 and 3 mm; alternatively, the capillary orifice, of which there is at least one, is a slit having a cross-section of between 0.2 and 7 mm2.
The end of the deformable element which cooperates with the seat and the orifice is flat, or in the shape of a conical tip, or round.
The applicator holder supporting the deformable element preferably includes a hollow rod; alternatively, it includes a rigid support sleeve in the shape of an ogive.
According to another alternative, the applicator holder includes, a rigid solid rod; the solid rod is advantageously equipped, at its end, with a stiffening element of elongate shape for guiding the deformable element during its deformation.
The capillary end-piece is supported by a spacer element which is integral with the reservoir and through which the applicator holder passes.
According to a preferred embodiment, the capillary orifice opens into the reservoir along a flared, frustoconical portion which serves as a capillary reservoir. The dimensions of the capillary orifice will be adjusted depending on the viscosity of the substance to be applied.
The capillary end-piece is advantageously made of semi-rigid material; alternatively, the end-piece is made of a rigid material.
In order to permit a better understanding of the subject-matter of the invention, a description will now be given, by way of a purely illustrative and non-limiting example, of an embodiment thereof which is shown in the attached drawings:
In the drawings:
FIGS. 16/I to 16/V show different cross-sectional shapes of the capillary orifice;
According to
The spacer element 10 supports a finger-shaped end-piece 11; to do this, the spacer element 10 includes an axial cylindrical recess 13 extended via a coaxial passage 14 of smaller diameter, which is itself extended via a flared area 15 opening to the outside; in line with this flared area 15, the spacer element 10 has an external thread 16 on the surface of a cylindrical end portion which is of a smaller diameter than that of the part of the spacer element 10 fitted in the reservoir 2.
At the end of the spacer element 10 distinct from the end which has the thread 16, the spacer element 10 is equipped with an annular bulge 17 for snap-in fitting; the end piece 11 is housed in the cylindrical 13; the end-piece 11 is in the shape of a finger and defines a cylindrical chamber 25 and a base 20: the base 20 has a seat 24 pierced with a capillary orifice 23; the base 20 is bordered by a flange 21 for snap-fitting which is of a shape complementary to that of the annular bulge 17 of the spacer element 10, allowing the end-piece 11 to be joined to the spacer element 10 by snap- fitting. The base 20 of the end-piece 11 is at a distance from the base 3 of the reservoir 2 for a substance 5 to be applied.
The applicator 1 also includes a cap 4 represented partially in the figures; the cap 4 is also in the shape of a cylinder which has a base (not represented) and is open at one end; a stopper 40 having the same cross-section as the cap 4 is force-fitted through this end, the cap 4 itself having a cross-section similar to that of the reservoir 2; the stopper 40 is fitted into the cap 4 until a flange 45 of the stopper 40 abuts the outer edge of the opening of the cap 4. The stopper 40 has a top 41 in which there is formed a cavity 42 extended via a bore 43 of greater diameter which has on the inside a thread 44 complementary to the thread 16 of the spacer element 10.
The stopper 40 is integral with an applicator holder 30 supporting a deformable application element 35 made in this example, of a foam; the applicator holder 30 includes a hollow rod 31; pierced with a bore 32, one end of which has longitudinal 33 for holding the rod 31 in the cavity 42 of the top 41 by forcefitting. The other end of the rod 31 is equipped with a rigid supporting sleeve 34 in the shape of an ogive holding the deformable element 35 via its end of smaller diameter defining of constriction 36. In an alternative which is not represented, the deformable element 35 is held directly by the hollow rod 31. The deformable element 35 is made of a material having a considerable shape memory.
In the position represented in
The manner in which the deformable element 35 is charged with substance is illustrated in
The deformable element 35 can have different shapes at rest: thus, according to
The deformable element has a roughened surface which can be of any type: it can include a large number of protrusions separated by small cavities, or of fine circular and parallel grooves, as illustrated in FIG. 7.
According to the alternatives in
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