EP2461715B1

EP2461715B1 - Device for applying cosmetic and/or curative products to the skin

Info

Publication number: EP2461715B1
Application number: EP10760759.0A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Giovanni Piazzalunga; Patrick Cazaux
Original assignee: PIROLA GABRIELLA CARLA; Cazaux Patrick; Doloy Catherine
Current assignee: Cazaux Patrick; Doloy Catherine; PIROLA GABRIELLA CARLA; TREVISI, ANTONIO ANDREA
Priority date: 2009-08-03
Filing date: 2010-07-30
Publication date: 2013-07-17
Anticipated expiration: 2030-07-30
Also published as: WO2011015940A3; EP2461715A2; IT1399146B1; WO2011015940A2; ITBG20090043A1

Description

The present invention relates to a device for applying cosmetic and/or curative products to the skin, and to a relative method for applying cosmetic products to the skin.
A cosmetic and/or curative product is normally applied to the skin by withdrawing the product, preferably by means of an applicator, and then distributing it onto the skin.
An object of the present invention is to provide a device for applying cosmetic and/or curative products to the skin which results in more homogeneous distribution.
Another object is to provide a device which is of simple production. A further object is to provide a device which can be multifunctional.
These and further objects are attained according to the present invention by a device for applying cosmetic and/or curative products to the skin comprising: a portable container comprising an upper outer surface; said container comprising a heating element for said surface; a support for said cosmetic and/or curative products; at least one frame for fixing said support onto said surface; control means for said heating element which are comprised within said at least one frame.
These objects are also attained by a method for applying cosmetic products to the skin comprising the steps of providing a device having an upper outer surface heated to a predetermined temperature; positioning a support for a cosmetic product above said surface; rubbing said surface onto the skin.
Further characteristics of the invention are described in the dependent claims.
This solution has various advantages compared with solutions of the known art.
Heating the cosmetic and/or curative product, even only to ambient temperature or to body temperature, means that the user does not feel the unpleasant sensation of a cold product on the skin.
The heating dilates the pores of the skin, resulting in greater penetration of the cosmetic and/or curative product.
Moreover the cosmetic and/or curative product remains more fluid and hence more easily applicable, so more effectively releasing the active principles contained therein.
The device has been produced in a shape and size such that it can be transported and be held comfortably in one hand to facilitate its use.
The characteristics and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the ensuing description of one embodiment thereof, illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the following drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a device for applying a cosmetic and/or curative product to the skin, according to the present invention;
Figure 2 is an exploded schematic side view of a device for applying a cosmetic and/or curative product to the skin, according to the present invention;
Figure 3 is an exploded schematic front view of a device for applying a cosmetic and/or curative product to the skin, according to the present invention.

With reference to the accompanying figures, a device for applying a cosmetic and/or curative product to the skin, according to the present invention, comprises a container 10 preferably of ellipsoidal shape. It comprises an upper outer surface 11 preferably of oval shape, bounded by a frame member 13 preferably of oval shape.
The frame member 13 consists preferably of two frames, namely an upper frame 14 and a lower frame 15.
The lower surface of the upper frame 14 comprises holes 20, while the upper surface of the lower frame 15 comprises two pins 21 arranged to cooperate with the holes 20, to maintain the two frames joined when pressed together.
The upper surface of the lower frame 15 also comprises positioning references 22, which can also coincide with the pins 21, to fix a support 23 interposed between the frames 14 and 15.
The support 23 is substantially a sheet impregnated with a cosmetic and/or curative product. The sheet can be made of paper, cloth, sponge or other material suitable for the purpose. The sheet must be sufficiently flexible to be able to lie in close contact with the surface 11 while at the same time be fixed within the frames 14 and 15. It could also be thermoformed to better follow the shapes which it is required to assume.
Said support 23 can be impregnated with a cosmetic and/or curative product or, alternatively, can be sprinkled with a cosmetic and/or curative product.
The cosmetic and/or curative products can be of the most varied types including make-up removers, emollients, moisturizers, toners, decongestants, skin relaxants, anti-wrinkle creams, skin stain removers, stretch mark removers, skin pathology treatments.
The cosmetic and/or curative product can be applied directly by the user onto a fresh support 23, or the supports 23 can be suitably formed already soaked.
The support 23 has a shape coinciding with the shape of the frames 14 and 15, and contains references (holes) which cooperate with positioning references 22. Once positioned, it remains as taut as possible between the frames by virtue of the positioning references 22.
The lower surface of the lower frame 15 comprises two predetermined positions at which one or two raised portions 16 and 17 are located. If only one raised portion 16 is provided it can be positioned in one or the other predetermined position.
The device comprises an upper shell 24 having a central hole 25 where the heatable surface 11 is positioned.
The upper surface of the upper shell 24 has a profile 27 which extends upperly outwards, such that the inner edges of the frames 14 and 15 can abut against the profile 27 when pressed against it, with the support 23 being in contact with the surface 11.
The surface 11 comprises a recessed and metallized lower portion 30. The metallization is connected to two contact terminals 31 which extend below it.
The device therefore comprises a printed circuit 32 on which the electronic circuit required for its operation is positioned.
Two sealed switches 33 and 34 are positioned on the printed circuit at the raised portions 16 and 17, to cooperate with them.
There are also two metallized holes 35, connected to the electronic circuit, to receive the contact terminals 31. A single terminal 31 and a single hole 35 could be sufficient.
The printed circuit 32 presents a central metallized area 40, connected to the electronic circuit.
Between the recessed metallized lower portion 30 and the metallized area 4 a heater 41 is provided having two metallized outer faces which make contact with the metallizations 30 and 40.
The heater 41 is for example a PTC heating resistor having its main sides metallized. Hence the heater 41 is advantageously powered without using wires.
The surface 11 has a size equal nearly to the entire surface of the device. The surface 11 is formed from a material having high thermal conductivity, for example aluminium or a material suitably treated for this purpose (for example metallized), such that the heat generated by the heater 41 is transferred to the surface 11.
The electronic circuit positioned on the printed circuit 32 comprises a microcontroller which powers the heater 41 and maintains a previously determined temperature. To determine the temperature the raised portions 16 and 17 are used, acting as a code, which operate the switches 33 and 34 respectively. If only the raised portion 16 is present (a raised portion only on the left side) the temperature is for example 25°C; if only the raised portion 17 is present (a raised portion only on the right side) the temperature is for example 37°C; if both the raised portions 16 and 17 are present, the temperature is for example 50°C. Other temperatures can be previously programmed by programming the microcontroller. The raised portions 16 and 17 and the corresponding switches 33 and 34 can be of a different number, in order to be able to set a larger number of temperatures.
The device comprises a lower shell 42 in which a compartment 43 is provided to contain the device powering batteries.
A lid 44 closes the compartment 43.
Suitable thermal insulation means I(not shown) are positioned below the printed circuit 32 to insulate the battery compartment from the heat generated by the heater 41.
The lower shell 42 comprises pins 45 which cooperate with holes 46 positioned in the upper shell 24, to enable the device to be closed. The operation of the device of the invention is apparent from that described and illustrated, and is substantially as follows.
A support 23 is chosen on the basis of the cosmetic and/or curative product to be applied, the choice being consequently made of the pair of frames 14 and 15 required for this type of cosmetic and/or curative product, these having the appropriate raised portions 16 and 17 for setting the correct temperature for the heater 41.
The user grips the device and rubs the respective skin portion.
The microcontroller powers the heater 41 for a predetermined period, after which it turns off the device. The device can also be set to wam the user that the treatment is terminated, for example by means of a buzzer.
Instead, to turn off the device manually, the frames 14 and 15 merely need to be removed.
With the aforedescribed embodiment, the frames are reusable in that when the treatment ends, the user reopens the two frames 14 and 15, extracts the spent support 23 and disposes of it. The frames 14 and 15 are ready to receive a new support 23.
The support 23 can be matched with the frames 14 and 15 for example by giving the parts the same coloration, so that each colour corresponds to one temperature.
In an alternative embodiment, the support 23 can be already inserted between the frames 14 and 15 to form one piece. On termination of treatment the unit composed of the frames and support is disposed of.
In a further embodiment, a single frame can be used.
The surface of the upper shell 24, at the edges of the central hole 25, has positioning references for the support 23. The lower surface of the single frame has the raised portions 16 and 17 suitably arranged. All the joints of the various parts of the device include gaskets (not shown) which maintain the device sealed.
The device material is plastic, however the materials used, the shape of the device (which instead of being ellipsoidal can be for example a chamfered parallelepiped) and the dimensions can be chosen at will according to requirements and to the state of the art.
The device is conceived mainly for human use, but is also suitable for veterinary applications.
The interaction between the suitable choice of a cosmetic and/or curative product absorbed onto a support which enables it to be brought into contact with a surface able to heat it to the optimum temperature for the product, results in ideal release of the active principles contained therein and a more effective result.
The device conceived in this manner is susceptible to numerous modifications and variants, all falling within the scope of the inventive concept; moreover all details can be replaced by technically equivalent elements.

Claims

A device for applying cosmetic and/or curative products to the skin comprising: a portable container (10) comprising an upper outer surface (11); said container (10) comprising a heating element (41) heating said upper outer surface (11); a support (23) impregnated or sprinkled with said cosmetic and/or curative products; at least one frame (13) for fixing said support onto said upper outer surface (11); said support (23) is placed between said upper outer surface (11) and said at least one frame (13); control means (33, 34) for said heating element (41) which are comprised within said at least one frame (13).
A device as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that said control means (33, 34) comprise means for activating said heating element.
A device as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that said control means (33, 34) comprise means (16, 17) for determining at least one predetermined temperature of said heating element.
A device as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that said control means (33, 34) are of mechanical type and operate electrical circuits.
A device as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that said support (23) comprises a sheet impregnated with a cosmetic product.
A device as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that said support (23) is positioned between two frames (14, 15), said two frames (14, 15) being fixed to said container (10).
A device as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that said container (10) has a profile which extends upperly outwards; said at least one frame (13) abutting against said profile in such a manner as to be fixed to said container (10).
A device as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the lower surface of said at least one frame (13) comprises at least one raised portion; said container (10) comprising at said at least one raised portion a switch for activating said heating element (41).
A device as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the lower surface of said at least one frame (13) comprises at least one plurality of raised portions; said container (10) comprising at said plurality of raised portions a plurality of switches for activating said heating element, and for determining the operating temperature on the basis of the position and number of said pins.
A device as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the joints between the various component parts of said device include gaskets which maintain said device sealed.
A device as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that said sheet is made of one or more of the following materials: paper, cloth, sponge or other material soaked with cosmetic and/or curative product.
A method for applying cosmetic products to the skin, comprising the steps of providing a device (10) according to claim 1, having an upper outer surface (11) heated to a predetermined temperature; positioning a support (23) impregnated or sprinkled with said cosmetic product above said upper outer surface (11); rubbing said upper outer surface (11) onto the skin.