WO2000049912A1

WO2000049912A1 - Device for applying a fluid or gel shaving product

Info

Publication number: WO2000049912A1
Application number: PCT/FR2000/000438
Authority: WO
Inventors: José Duez; Didier Lange
Original assignee: Societe Bic
Priority date: 1999-02-22
Filing date: 2000-02-22
Publication date: 2000-08-31
Also published as: CN1341001A; AU775231B2; AU2812200A; BR0008386A; GB2363062B; CN1148132C; JP2002537055A; GB2363062A; GB0119700D0; DE10084245T1

Abstract

The invention concerns a device for applying (1) a fluid or gel shaving product, comprising a body (2) including a reservoir (3) for said product, an application head (4) comprising bristles (5) fixed on a support (7) having at least an orifice, said head being adaptable to said body, means for conveying (6) the product from the reservoir to the application head. The invention is characterised in that the length of the bristles is less than 20 mm, preferably less than 15 mm, and more preferably still not more than 10 mm. The bristles are preferably made of natural materials, more preferably of mohair. The invention is useful for shaving products such as gels, foams and creams.

Description

DEVICE FOR APPLYING A FLUID OR GELIFIED PRODUCT

FOR SHAVING

The present invention relates to a device for applying a product suitable for shaving, in particular a product in the form of gel, foam or cream, and more particularly relates to an application device comprising a short-haired application head. Traditionally, to facilitate shaving, we used a badger to wet and soften the hair with a mixture of soap and water, which we did _. foam by mechanical shaking of the badger. The water / soap mixture acts on the main constituent of the hair, keratin, which changes from the α (helical) form to the β (sinusoidal) form, by breaking the hydrogen bonds. This change in structure makes the hair easier to cut, and therefore the shaving more efficient.

The capacity to form foam is designated in the present application by the term "foaming effect".

Over time, new shaving aid products have been developed, making it possible to dispense with soap / water mixtures to be lathered with a badger. These products include creams, foams and gels for shaving, sometimes in the form of aerosols, which are applied manually to the skin and which foam by simple rubbing of the hand on the skin, or even by simple contact with the air. There are also non-foaming gels, which form a film on the skin having the same function as foam, that is to say a embrittlement of the structure of the bristles for cutting.

Tank devices have also been developed allowing the application of the shaving aid product without direct contact of the product with the hand of the user. These devices are intended to be rubbed by the user on the skin in order to obtain a shaving foam from the appropriate product contained in the reservoir. Document FR 2 087 992 thus very succinctly describes a long-haired badger whose handle serves as a reservoir for shaving cream.

Other prior documents describe devices with a reservoir, but they mainly focus on the problem of feeding the head with application of the product contained in the reservoir. Reference may be made, for example, to documents EP 0 142 651, FR 2 571 230, FR 2 582 921, DE 90 15 155, WO 97/08970. These documents refer to a badger, or to hairs or silks. They are mostly confined to a simple statement of the presence of the hairs or the presence of a badger-shaped end, and the figures all show devices whose hairs are long, even very long, compared to the rest of the device, thus reproducing at the level of the application head of the device the appearance and constitution of a classic badger. This is consistent with the desired goal, namely an effective foaming effect. Indeed, conventional badgers are known to allow obtaining such a foaming effect. It therefore seemed logical that the area of application of these various devices had not been modified compared to the classic badgers, and we have therefore kept long hairs organized in a tuft in order to preserve the foaming effect of the badger. The term "silk" itself, used in some documents, also refers to the concept of the classic badger, since the bristles designate the long and coarse hairs of pigs (boars for example) used for the traditional manufacture of badgers. The prior document FR 2 588 460, which describes an improved badger comprising a reservoir, gives however details as regards the characteristics of the bristles, or more precisely as regards one of these characteristics, namely the length. Indeed, it is specified that the length of the bristles has a direct effect on the formation of the foam, and that long bristles must be used. Long hairs are defined as being greater than 2.5 cm, it being added that hairs longer than 2 cm can have a foaming effect 30% greater than that of hairs of 2 cm. The general teaching of these various documents is therefore that it is possible to combine a reservoir of shaving product with a conventional badger, but that it is imperative to use the hairs encountered in conventional badgers, that is to say -to say long hairs, to obtain the desired foaming effect. It is even recommended to increase the length of the hairs in order to increase the effectiveness of shaving.

However, the Applicant Company has found that such long-haired devices were far from satisfactory.

First of all, their aesthetic appearance is deplorable when wet, due to the lack of resistance and rigidity of wet hairs, this lack of holding can sometimes persist even after drying. The length of the bristles as well as their lack of rigidity and resistance to wet conditions can also cause difficulties in replacing a cover or a cap on the device after use.

But also and above all, the Applicant Company has discovered that, unlike the teaching of the prior art, the use of short bristles on these devices made it possible to obtain a remarkable foaming effect while providing very clear advantages for the user. .

The invention therefore relates to a device for applying a fluid or gelled product for shaving, comprising: - a body comprising a reservoir of said product,

an application head comprising bristles fixed on a support comprising at least one orifice, said head being adaptable to said body, a means of conveying the product from the reservoir to the application head, this device being characterized by the fact that the length of the bristles is less than 20 mm, preferably less than 15 mm, and more preferably still less than or equal to 10 mm. Preferably, the length is greater than or equal to 5 mm.

The bristles used in the device according to the invention can be made of synthetic material, for example polyester, polyamide, acrylic resin, or of natural material, for example boar or pig hair, sheep wool, camel wool, mohair, material being pure or mixed. In a mode of preferred embodiment, with a view in particular to obtaining pleasant contact with the skin, the bristles are natural bristles, preferably in mohair.

The diameter of the bristles can be variable. It is possible, for example, to use bristles with a diameter of between approximately 15 and approximately 60 μm, preferably between approximately 20 and approximately 40 μm, more preferably between approximately 35 and approximately 40 μm. When the bristles used are made of mohair, their diameter may be between approximately 15 and approximately 40 μm, preferably between approximately 30 and approximately 40 μm, more preferably between approximately 35 and approximately 40 μm.

In a preferred embodiment, the support on which the bristles are fixed is a thin surface called the backrest. The term "carpet" in this application means the pile / folder.

The thickness of the backrest is preferably less than 1 mm, for example of the order of 0.5 mm. The backrest is made of a suitable material so that it is both rigid and elastically deformable. It can, for example, be made of polyester or polyester reinforced with elastomer.

In one embodiment, it may consist of a network of polyester threads resulting from the combination of weft threads and warp threads. The density of the back, and therefore its rigidity and deformation properties, then depend on the number of warp threads and the number of weft threads per centimeter, these parameters being able to be easily determined by those skilled in the art.

The number of weft threads can be between approximately 25 and approximately 50 / cm, preferably between approximately 30 and approximately 40 / cm, more preferably approximately 35 to 38 / cm. The number of warp threads can be between about 15 and about 40 / cm, preferably between about 20 and about 30 / cm, more preferably about 22 to 24 / cm. When the support is a backrest, the orifice present on said support and allowing the passage of the product towards the bristles is preferably a slot. In some embodiments, there may be several slots, arranged in different ways with respect to each other, for example forming a cross or parallel to each other. The number, size and position of the slots depend on the size and the section (circular or elliptical section for example) of the backrest, which themselves depend on the size and the section of the body used. These parameters can be easily determined by a person skilled in the art. For a backrest of 4 cm in diameter for example, three parallel slits allow to obtain an effective result. The cutting direction of the slot (s) is completely independent of the position of the bristles on the backrest, as well as in the position of the polyester threads in the case of a network.

Due to its structure, such a backrest presents particular properties of rigidity and elastic deformation. Indeed, the backrest only deforms under the pressure of the product (mechanical pressure, propellant gas, etc.), causing the opening of the slot (s), which returns to their initial position when the pressure stops. This ensures sufficient sealing of the device. This seal is particularly useful in the intended application of shaving products, since such an application generally involves contact of the device with water, and sometimes even washing with running water. The folder used according to the invention avoids the entry of water into the body and the tank, and therefore the contamination of the product contained in the tank.

The bristles are fixed by any suitable means, for example by weaving, gluing, flocking, or ultrasound, on at least part of the surface of the backrest, preferably the entire surface, so that they are substantially parallel to each other. compared to others. This forms a structure reminiscent of the structure of a carpet.

The appropriate density of the bristles on the support, in particular the backrest, depends in particular on the bristles used and in particular on their nature and their diameter. It has been found that this density should be between approximately 30 and approximately 500 hairs / cm ² , preferably between approximately 50 and approximately 200 hairs / cm ² , more preferably still between approximately 90 and approximately 110 hairs / cm ² .

In a preferred embodiment, the bristles, preferably fixed on a back to form a carpet, are fixed on a base adaptable to the body of the application device. The shape of the base is chosen to facilitate the adaptation of the carpet to the body. More specifically, this base has a central surface accommodating the bristles or the backrest, and a portion allowing adaptation to the body by screwing or snap-fastening for example. The cross section and the size of the base depend on those of the body of the application device on which it is adapted. The bristles or the backrest are fixed to at least part of the central surface of the base, preferably the entire central surface, by any suitable means, for example by gluing or heat-sealing, the bristles protruding of the base in height of at least a few millimeters. The length of the bristles defined in the present application, less than 20 mm and preferably greater than or equal to 5 mm, corresponds in such an embodiment to the length of bristles exceeding the base.

The base must of course include at least one orifice suitable for the passage of the product from the reservoir to the slot (s) of the backrest. In one embodiment, it is pierced in its center with a single large orifice. It can also be pierced with one or more orifices forming a cross.

The shape and the material of the base are chosen both to facilitate the adaptation of the head to the body and to make more pleasant the contact between the application device and the skin of the user. The cross section and the size of the base depend on those of the body of the application device on which it is adapted. Its thickness is preferably a few millimeters. The base can be of any rigid material whose contact with the skin is pleasant, for example plastic or polyethylene or sintered polyethylene. In a preferred embodiment, the outer edge of the base is rounded in order to make contact with the skin even more pleasant. Such a base therefore makes it possible to improve the general appearance of the device, to improve contact with the skin, to protect the hairs lying at the level of the external edge of the backrest, in particular when fitting a cover or plug, and to facilitate the adaptation of the head on the body to form the application device. The application head as described above is therefore adaptable to a body for the formation of a device for applying a fluid or gelled product. for shaving. The various elements constituting the device (reservoir, body, backrest, support, etc.) are each provided with at least one orifice allowing the passage of the product from the reservoir to the application head. This head may itself be covered with a cover or plug.

By “fluid or gelled product” is meant, within the meaning of the present application, any product suitable for shaving, for example a foaming aerosol gel, a non-aerosol foaming gel, a non-foaming gel, a foaming cream. The foaming products form a foam once they are applied, due to the dissolved gas

(aerosol), or the presence of surfactants (non-aerosol), and / or the mechanical action of the user (directly or via an application device). There are in particular non-aerosol gels called “post-foammg”, that is to say gels which come out of their reservoir in the form of gel and which, thanks to their isopentane content, foam under the mechanical action of the and due to the temperature of the skin. The non-foaming products are spread mechanically (manually by the user or via an application device) and form a film whose action on the hairs is similar to the action of the foam, i.e. the modification of the structure of the hairs which facilitates their cutting. The foaming effect referred to in the present invention also includes the ability to form a film from a non-foaming shaving product, said film having the same function as foam.

The shaving product application devices, and therefore the bodies of these devices, can be variable depending on the type of product to be applied. he can be any type of known device, for example an aerosol can, a tube or a stick, of appropriate size for the desired use (device for travel or for family use for example). The adaptation of the head to the body can be done by any known means, for example screwing or snapping, by means of the support or the backrest or the base. Several different heads can be adapted successively on the same body. In certain embodiments, the body is merged with the shaving reservoir, and the walls of the body are also those of the reservoir. This can be the case of a stick for example, or an aerosol can, that is to say a bomb comprising a product for shaving mixed with a propellant gas. In other embodiments, the reservoir is surrounded by the body. This is the case in particular for a non-aerosol bomb, that is to say a bomb comprising a reservoir or a pocket containing the product surrounded by a pusher gas located in the space between the body and the reservoir, the gas pusher not being in contact with the product.

In certain embodiments, the head and reservoir are produced in the form of a single part, therefore in a single piece (injection molding for example). This may be the case in particular for sticks. In other embodiments, the head can be fitted directly to the body. Finally, in other embodiments, it can be adapted on a known complete application device, such as for example being placed on an aerosol or non-aerosol can provided with an application head.

(usually including a valve) or on a one-piece stick. The application device obtained comprises then two heads: the existing head and the head comprising bristles according to the invention.

The application head can be arranged in the longitudinal axis of the body (see Figure 1), or be inclined relative to this axis (see Figure 2).

The means of conveying the product from the reservoir to the head can consist of any known means used for the distribution of cosmetic or shaving products. It can be, for example, a worm screw actuating a piston, a pusher or piston sliding by pressure, a propellant gas mixed with the product (aerosol gel) or a pusher gas separated from the product (gel non-aerosol), manual pressure (case of a deformable body and reservoir, such as a flexible tube). It is also possible to provide for the case of a conveying means coupled to a dosing means, in order to apply a controllable quantity of product.

A particularly preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention corresponds to an application head comprising a carpet fixed to a non-aerosol can comprising a post-foam gel in a flexible and deformable pocket surrounded by a pusher gas which is preferably compressed air. Compressed air is preferred to other propellants such as butane or propane, for ecological reasons.

More preferably, the application head (4) is fixed to the valve (10) of the non-aerosol can which can have a ring-shaped structure, that is to say open at its center. The user slides a single finger into the ring and presses on the valve (10), which causes the gel to come out. Thus, the output of the product is obtained by pressing a single finger. Other forms valve allow the product to exit by pressing one or two fingers.

In the case of a spray can, whether aerosol or not aerosol, user pressure on the valve of the spray can in any way cause the product to exit through the application head and therefore allows application on the skin. Depending on the device, the pressure can be applied in the longitudinal axis of the product or inclined with respect to this axis, in the center or on one side with respect to this axis.

The device according to the invention therefore makes it possible to obtain a remarkable foaming effect by avoiding any contact between the user (outside the shaving zone of course) and the product. The invention will be explained in more detail in connection with the figures in which:

- Figure 1 shows schematically, in longitudinal section, an embodiment of a device according to the present invention, - Figure 2 shows another embodiment of the present invention,

- Figures 3a, 3b and 3c show in cross section several files usable in the devices according to the invention, - Figure 4 shows schematically, in longitudinal section, an embodiment of the application head of a device according to the present invention, comprising a base with rounded outer edge. - Figure 5a shows schematically, in section, an application device according to the present invention, comprising a non-aerosol can with a valve and a head In application, FIGS. 5b to 5e show diagrammatically other forms of valves.

Figure 1 shows schematically, in longitudinal section, an embodiment of an application device (1) according to the present invention comprising a body (2) comprising a reservoir (3) of the product suitable for shaving, a head of application (4) comprising short bristles (5) fixed on a support (7), said head being adaptable to said body, and means for conveying (6) the product from the reservoir to the application head.

The conveying means (6) is here in this case a piston (6c) controlled by an endless screw (6a) rotated through the bottom (6b) of the body. The support (7) is a backrest, and is fixed on a base (9) provided with an orifice allowing the passage of the product towards the outside.

Figure 2 shows schematically an aerosol can (2) on which is adapted an application head (4) comprising short bristles (5) fixed on a backrest (7), itself fixed on a base (9).

Figures 3a, 3b and 3c show different files (7) pierced with slots (8).

FIG. 4 schematically represents, in longitudinal section, an embodiment of the application head (4) of a device according to the present invention, comprising a base (9) with rounded external edge, on which the backrest ( 7) carrying the short hairs (5).

FIG. 5a represents a non-aerosol can (2) comprising a post-foam gel, and an application head

(4), forming an application device (1) according to the present invention. The bomb (2) comprises an internal flexible and deformable pocket (3) containing the gel and surrounded by pusher gas, preferably compressed air, the application head (4), which here is circular, is fixed to the valve (10) with the non-aerosol can which is in the form of a ring, ie open at its center. The user can slide a finger into the ring and press the valve (10) with a single finger (which is represented by an arrow), which causes the gel to come out, passing through the application head to be applied. by the user and lather. Figures 5b to 5e show different application heads fixed on different valves (10), the arrows representing the pressure of the user with one or two fingers.

The tests described below show that the device according to the invention makes it possible to obtain an effective foaming effect, an easy and pleasant use for the consumer, thanks in particular to the fact that the bristles retain their structure, even after several successive wetting and drying. . In addition, cleaning with running water is also facilitated compared to the devices of the prior art, with long bristles.

TRIAL

Several application devices as described in FIG. 1 were tested by a panel of 10 people.

The shaving gel used has the following composition:

Myristic acid 8% Lauric acid 4%

Deionized water at 100

Sodium N-lauryl sarcosmate 10%

Glycerin 2% PEG-150 Pentaerythritol tetrastearate ... 2% Aloe Vera gel 1%

PEG-7 Glyceryl cocoate 2%

Hydroxyethyl cellulose 1% Potassium hydroxide 50% QSP

Perfume, color, preservative QSP.

The support is a file made up of a network of polyester threads, comprising 24 warp threads per centimeter and 37 weft threads per centimeter. The density of the hairs on the back is approximately 104 hairs / cm ² .

We tested several types of devices, varying the nature and length of the bristles.

The following characteristics are evaluated for each device tested: - effectiveness of the foaming effect,

- ease of cleaning with water after use,

- appearance after use,

- pleasant contact with the skin.

In a first step, we test hairs of different natures and of length varying between 3 and 30 mm. The results are given in Table I below. Each result represents the "average" of the responses of the 10 people. These are qualitative results: (+) = good

(-) = bad (±) = average. TABLE I

These tests have shown that too short lengths of hair (3 mm) do not allow to obtain the essential foaming effect, while the lengths of 30 mm do not allow to obtain the ease of cleaning, the appearance after use and the pleasant contact desired. It can also be seen that among the types of hair tested, mohair is particularly advantageous.

A second series of tests is then carried out in which a series of lengths between approximately 5 and 20 mm is tested, with mohair or acrylic bristles. The results are given in Table II.

TABLE II

It can be seen that mohair is generally preferred because of a particularly pleasant contact.

Beyond a length of 20 mm, the bristles no longer make it possible to obtain the desired appearance and ease of cleaning qualities. It can be seen that the most effective lengths are those at least equal to 5 mm and less than 20 mm, preferably less than 15 mm, more preferably less than or equal to 10 mm.

These tests made it possible to select the preferred length of bristles so as to obtain the best compromise between the effectiveness of the foaming effect obtained, the preservation of good resistance of the bristles during wetting / drying cycles linked to the rigidity of the bristles, and the flexibility of the bristles in order to obtain pleasant contact with the user's skin.

Claims

1. Device for applying (1) a fluid or gelled product for shaving, comprising - a body (2) comprising a reservoir (3) of said product,

an application head (4) comprising bristles (5) fixed on a support (7) comprising at least one orifice, said head being adaptable to said body,

- A means of conveying (6) the product from the reservoir to the application head, characterized in that the length of the bristles is less than 20 mm, preferably less than 15 mm, and more preferably still less or equal to 10 mm.

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the length of the bristles (5) is greater than or equal to 5 mm.

3. Device according to either of Claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the support (7) is a file.

4. Device according to claim 3, characterized in that the backrest is rigid and elastically deformable, and the orifice is a slot.

5. Device according to either of Claims 3 and 4, characterized in that the backrest is constituted by a network of polyester threads organized in weft and warp.

6. Device according to any one of claims 3 to 5, characterized in that the bristles (5) are fixed to the backrest by weaving, gluing, flocking, ultrasound, or the like.

7. Device according to any one of claims 3 to 6, characterized in that the backrest is made of polyester or polyester reinforced with elastomer or similar material.

8. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the bristles are made of synthetic material, for example polyester, polyamide or acrylic resin, or of natural material for example sheep wool, camel wool , mohair, wild boar or pig hair, the material being pure or mixed.

9. Device according to claim 8, characterized in that the bristles are made of mohair.

10. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the bristles or the support or the backrest are fixed on at least part of the central surface of a base adaptable to the body of the device and comprising at least one orifice, the base preferably having a rounded external edge.

11. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the bristles have a diameter of between approximately 15 and approximately 60 μm, preferably between approximately 20 and approximately 40 μm, more preferably between approximately 35 and approximately 40 μm.

12. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the bristles are present on the support with a density of between approximately 30 and approximately 500 bristles / cm ² , preferably between approximately 30 and approximately 200 bristles / cm ² , of more preferably between about 90 and about 110 hairs / cm ² .

13. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the product is a foaming aerosol gel, a non-foaming aerosol gel, a non-foaming gel, or a foaming cream.

14. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the head (4) and the reservoir (3) are produced in the form of a single piece.

15. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the application head (4) is fixed to an aerosol or non-aerosol can.

16. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 15, characterized in that the body (2) coincides with the reservoir (3).

17. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 13, 15 to 16, characterized in that the application head (4) is fixed to a non-aerosol can comprising a flexible and deformable bag (3) containing a non-gel aerosol and surrounded by a propellant which is preferably compressed air.

18. Device according to claim 17, characterized in that the application head is fixed to the non-aerosol can at the level of the valve (10) in the form of a ring.