# US 12,178,305 B2 · Applicator for applying a product to keratinous materials > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,178,305 B2 - Document ID: US12178305B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/642,198 - Filed: 2018-10-08 - Published: 2020-11-12 - Granted: 2024-12-31 - Earliest claimed: 2017-10-12 - Assignees: L'oreal - Applicants: L'Oreal - Inventors: Camille Schreiber; Alain Berhault - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12178305B2 ## CPC - A45D 40/262: {using a brush or the like} - A45D 40/265: {connected to the cap of the container} - A45D 34/042: {using a brush or the like} - A46B 15/00: Other brushes; Brushes with additional arrangements - A46B 2200/1053: Cosmetics applicator specifically for mascara - A45D: HAIRDRESSING OR SHAVING EQUIPMENT (wigs, toupees or the like A41G3/00, A41G5/00; hairdressers' chairs A47C1/04; hair cutting appliances, razors B26B); EQUIPMENT FOR COSMETICS OR COSMETIC TREATMENTS, e.g. FOR MANICURING OR PEDICURING - A46B: BRUSHES (handles not integral with brushware B25G) ## Abstract An applicator for applying a product to keratinous materials, in particular keratinous fibers, notably the eyelashes, the eyebrows and/or the capillary fibers. The applicator including an application member for applying the product on the keratinous materials, in particular the keratinous fibers, notably the eyelashes, the eyebrows and/or the capillary fibers, and a trough at least partially surrounding the application member, when the applicator is viewed in cross section, over an angular extent greater than 60°. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An applicator for applying a product to keratinous materials, comprising: an application member for applying the product on the keratinous materials, and a trough at least partially surrounding the application member, when the applicator is viewed in cross section, over an angular extent greater than 60°, the trough having a trench shape forming a furrow with a depth that accommodates the application member therein, the application member and the trough being configured in such a way that there is no sliding of the application member with respect to the trough, wherein the application member has an application ridge along the trough for the application and combing of the eyelashes, eyebrows and/or capillary fibers, and all parts of the trough that are positioned on the opposite side from the application member are free of bristles, wherein the formation of the application ridge along the trough is due to a forced orientation, by the trough, of bristles arranged on the application member toward the outside. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The applicator as claimed in claim 1, in which the angular extent of the trough, when the applicator is viewed in cross section, is less than 320°. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The applicator as claimed in claim 1, in which the trough has an outer surface free of any projecting relief. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The applicator as claimed in claim 1, in which the application member is at least partially compressed in the trough. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The applicator as claimed in claim 1, in which the trough extends over most of the length of the application member, when the applicator is viewed from the side. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The applicator as claimed in claim 1, in which the trough has two longitudinal edges which are in contact with the application member. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The applicator as claimed in claim 6, in which the longitudinal edges of the trough place pressure on the application member. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The applicator as claimed in claim 1, in which the trough has a snap-fastening tab at its proximal end, in order to allow it to be snap-fastened onto the applicator. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The applicator as claimed in claim 1, in which the application member has a brush, notably a brush having a core, which extends along a longitudinal axis, and bristles which are held by the core in a portion of the latter. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The applicator as claimed in claim 9, in which the bristles of the brush have free ends defining an envelope surface, the envelope surface having a shape chosen from the following list: cylindrical, non-cylindrical, peanut shape, kidney shape, rugby ball shape, truncated cone shape. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The applicator as claimed in claim 1, in which at least one longitudinal edge of the trough is non-rectilinear. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The applicator as claimed in claim 1, in which the application member comprises a block of porous material. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The applicator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the application ridge is convex or concave. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) A packaging and application device, comprising: a container containing a product to be applied, an applicator as claimed in claim 1. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) A method for making up the eyelashes or eyebrows, in which the application member of the applicator as claimed in claim 1 is used to apply the product to the eyelashes or the eyebrows, by orienting the application member toward the eyelashes or eyebrows and orienting the trough opposite thereto, toward the eyeball. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) A method for assembling an applicator as claimed in claim 1, in which the application member is inserted into the trough. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein the distal end of the application member is first of all inserted into the trough before inserting the proximal end of the application member into the trough. ### Claim 18 An applicator for applying a product to keratinous materials, comprising: an application member for applying the product on the keratinous materials, and a trough at least partially surrounding the application member, when the applicator is viewed in cross section, over an angular extent greater than 120°, the application member and the trough being configured in such a way that there is no sliding of the application member with respect to the trough, wherein the application member has an application ridge along the trough for the application and combing of the eyelashes, eyebrows and/or capillary fibers, all parts of the trough that are positioned on the opposite side from the application member are free of bristles, wherein the formation of the application ridge along the trough is due to a forced orientation, by the trough, of bristles arranged on the application member toward the outside.