US20240180316A1

US20240180316A1 - Apparatus for storing and applying a product

Info

Publication number: US20240180316A1
Application number: US18/552,856
Authority: US
Inventors: Alexis LEONARD
Original assignee: LOreal SA
Current assignee: LOreal SA
Priority date: 2021-03-29
Filing date: 2022-03-22
Publication date: 2024-06-06
Also published as: WO2022210448A8; WO2022210448A1; KR20230157512A; EP4312657A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to an apparatus (10) for storing and applying a product (P). The apparatus (10) comprises (i) an applicator (100) for applying the product (P), comprising: a shank (110) having a longitudinal center axis (X1); and an applicator tip (120) that is mounted on a distal end (110a) of the shank (110). The apparatus (10) also comprises (ii) a container (200) for storing the product (P), comprising: a longitudinal center axis (X2); atop opening (210) orthogonal to the longitudinal center axis (X2); a tubular peripheral wall (220) that defines the top opening (210); and a bottom (230) that faces the top opening (210) and closes a lower end of the tubular peripheral wall (220). The tubular peripheral wall (220) and the bottom (230) cooperatively define a space (V) for storing the product (P). The applicator (100) and the container (200) are configured: (i) to be able to couple with each other such that the applicator tip (120) is located in the space (V) of the container (200) and the applicator (100) seals off the container (200); and (ii) to be separable from each other such that the applicator (100) can be used for application of the product (P) with the applicator tip (120). The container (200) further comprises a wiper (240) protruding inward from the tubular peripheral wall (220) towards the longitudinal center axis (X2) of the container (200).

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an apparatus for storing and applying a product, in particular a cosmetic product or a cosmetic formula. More specifically, the present invention relates to an apparatus to be used by a user to apply a product, in particular a cosmetic product or a cosmetic formula, stored in the apparatus, to a desired site, in particular to the user's own body or another person's body.
In the present specification, the term “cosmetic formula” should be understood to mean a formula as defined in European Council and Parliament Regulation 1223/2009 issued on Nov. 30, 2009, which pertains to cosmetic formulas.

BACKGROUND ART

Eyeliners are roughly classified as powder type, pencil type, liquid type, and gel type. Among them, liquid type eyeliner is most preferred for reasons such as having good gloss and excellent coloring, enabling users to freely draw thick lines or thin lines, and being easy to use on small body parts.
Typically, a pen type applicator is used to apply a liquid eyeliner. Such an applicator generally comprises an elongated shank and an applicator tip mounted at a distal end thereof. The elongated shank has a chamber therein, and this chamber is filled with the liquid eyeliner (also referred to as “eyeliner ink”). An appropriate amount of the liquid eyeliner in the chamber is supplied to the applicator tip via a liquid eyeliner transporting member.
However, these existing applicators have a disadvantage in that they cannot handle liquid eyeliner that contains large or glittering particles. This is because large or glittering particles cannot be transported by the liquid eyeliner transporting member. Therefore, another type of applicator (apparatus) has been proposed in which the applicator tip is immersed in a liquid eyeliner stored in a container prior to use, thereby adhering an appropriate amount of liquid eyeliner to the applicator tip.
With such an applicator, the above disadvantage is eliminated. However, such immersion type applicators, in turn, have the problem of being inconvenient to store and carry because they require a container in which the liquid eyeliner is stored. Therefore, there is a demand for a compact immersion type applicator (apparatus) that is easy to store and carry like existing elongated pen type applicators.
Conventional techniques considered to be somewhat related to the present invention are disclosed in, for example, WO2020/043816, WO2019/045224, KR20-0488671, U.S. Ser. No. 10/278,476, U.S. Ser. No. 10/499,720, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,974,980, and 5,054,946. WO2020/043816 discloses an applicator for applying a cosmetic product, comprising a gripping cap and an applicator element. WO2019/045224 discloses a container for a cosmetic product comprising: a container body; a scraper; a cap; a brush rod; and an applicator tip mounted thereon. KR20-0488671 discloses a cosmetic tool comprising a gripping portion, a rod, and an applicator tip mounted thereon. U.S. Ser. No. 10/278,476 discloses an apparatus comprising: a closure portion holding an eyeliner mechanism; and a bottle portion. U.S. Ser. No. 10/499,720 discloses an applicator for applying an eyeliner, including: an application member; a support carrying the application member; and a handle defining a gripping surface. U.S. Pat. No. 4,974,980 discloses an assembly including: a reservoir that contains a liquid; and an applicator equipped with a flexible, elastically deformable pen. U.S. Pat. No. 5,054,946 discloses an applicator device comprising: an envelope with an opened base and a top formed with a neck; and a squeezing member. However, these articles related to the prior art do not fully satisfy the above requirements.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

In view of the above, an object of the present invention is to provide a novel apparatus for storing and applying a product, in particular, a cosmetic product, which can overcome or at least alleviate the problems stated above in relation to the prior art articles. In particular, an object of the present invention is to provide a compact immersion type apparatus that can be used for various types of products and is easy to store and carry like the existing elongated pen type applicators.
In order to achieve these objects, the present invention provides an apparatus for storing and applying a product, comprising: (i) an applicator for applying the product, comprising: a shank having a longitudinal center axis; and an applicator tip that is mounted on a distal end of the shank, and (ii) a container for storing the product, comprising: a longitudinal center axis; a top opening orthogonal to this longitudinal center axis; a tubular peripheral wall that defines the top opening; and a bottom that faces the top opening and closes a lower end of the tubular peripheral wall. The tubular peripheral wall and the bottom cooperatively define a space for storing the product. The applicator and the container are configured: (i) to be able to couple with each other such that the applicator tip is located in the space of the container and the applicator seals off the container; and (ii) to be separable from each other such that the applicator can be used for application of the product with the applicator tip. In the present invention, the container further comprises a wiper protruding inward from the tubular peripheral wall towards the longitudinal center axis of the container. The wiper may be positioned in the space of the container such that when the applicator and the container are coupled with each other, the applicator tip is located at the same level as the wiper or below the wiper.
The present invention is based on the novel concept of using a cap of the immersion type applicator as a container for storing the product to be applied and incorporating a wiper inside the container to remove excess product adhering to the applicator tip. That is, according to the present invention, the cap of an immersion type applicator is diverted to function as a container for storing the product to be applied, with the wiper incorporated therein. Therefore, according to the present invention, unlike conventional immersion type articles, a separate bulky container is not required for storing the product to be applied. Accordingly, the apparatus according to the present invention can be used for various types of products and is easy to store and carry like existing elongated pen type applicators.
According to a preferred aspect of the present invention, the container may be made of plastic, and the wiper may be integrally formed on the tubular peripheral wall of the container by integral molding. This provides a particularly simple structure for the container.
According to a preferred aspect of the present invention, the wiper may extend circumferentially around the longitudinal center axis of the container such that it forms a side surface of a virtual truncated cone whose diameter decreases toward the bottom of the container. This makes it possible to insert the applicator tip into the wiper more smoothly, and more efficiently remove excess product adhering to the applicator tip or the distal end of the shank.
According to a preferred aspect of the present invention, the container may comprise: a tubular member forming the tubular peripheral wall; and a plug member forming the bottom, and the plug member may be fitted in a bottom opening of the tubular member so as to close the lower opening. This allows filling of the product into the container at the final stage, i.e. after the applicator and the container have been coupled. Therefore, it is not necessary to handle the container with the product filled therein, and as a result, the manufacturing work can be significantly simplified.
According to a preferred aspect of the present invention, the applicator and the container may be configured so as to be able to couple with each other by snap fitting. This makes it particularly easy for users to couple the applicator and the container. Of course, in addition to snap fitting, for example, an interference fitting or screwing can be adopted as a means for coupling the applicator and the container.
According to a preferred aspect of the present invention, the shank may comprise: an elongated main body; and an insert mounted on a distal end of the elongated main body, and the applicator tip may be fixedly held by the insert. In this case, the insert may comprise: a base portion embedded within the elongated main body; and a nose portion protruding from the elongated main body, and the applicator tip may be mounted on the insert so as to protrude from a distal end of the nose portion. Furthermore, in this case, the nose portion of the insert preferably tapers gradually toward the applicator tip.
According to a preferred aspect of the present invention, the applicator and the container may be configured such that when the applicator and the container are coupled with each other, the insert of the shank of the applicator is fully received in the container. This is useful for improving the aesthetics of the entire apparatus.
According to a preferred aspect of the present invention, the wiper may be configured such that the distal end of the nose portion of the insert moves through the wiper, and the distal end of the nose portion of the insert makes contact with the wiper all around. This also makes it possible to more efficiently remove excess product adhering to the nose portion of the insert of the applicator.
According to a preferred aspect of the present invention, the shank of the applicator may have a circular cross-section orthogonal to the longitudinal center axis of the shank, and the container may also have a circular cross-section orthogonal to the longitudinal center axis of the container. Of course, in addition to the circular cross-section, both the shank of the applicator and the container may have other cross-sections, for example, an oval cross-section or a polygon cross-section. In the case that both the shank of the applicator and the container have a circular cross-section, the outer diameter of the distal end of the elongated main body that makes contact with the container when the applicator and the container are coupled with each other, may be substantially the same as the outer diameter of a top opening side end of the container. In addition to this, the outer diameter of the elongated main body of the shank of the applicator may gradually decrease toward its proximal end, and the outer diameter of the container may be substantially constant. This makes it possible to achieve a smooth, continuous and elegant appearance with no steps at the seam between the applicator and the container.
According to a preferred aspect of the present invention, at least one annular rib extending circumferentially around the longitudinal center axis of the shank may be formed on the outer surface of the insert of the shank of the applicator, and at least one annular groove extending circumferentially around the longitudinal center axis of the container may be formed on the inner surface of the tubular peripheral wall of the container, and when the applicator and the container are coupled with each other, the annular rib of the shank may fit into the annular groove of the container. This makes it possible to realize a particularly simple and reliable coupling mechanism between the applicator and the container. The coupling mechanism between the applicator and the container using the snap fitting as described above may be realized by such a rib and groove coupling mechanism.
According to a preferred aspect of the present invention, the applicator tip may be composed of compacted artificial fibers such as, for example, polyester fibers, or compacted natural fibers such as, for example, cotton fibers.
According to a preferred aspect of the present invention, the product to be stored in the container may be a fluid cosmetic product, such as for example, liquid eyeliner (an eyeliner ink), liquid eyebrow product, liquid rouge, and liquid concealer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Non-limiting and representative embodiments of the present invention will now be explained in detail below, referring to the attached drawings.

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of an apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention, wherein an applicator and a container both of which are components of the apparatus, are separated from each other.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 , taken along the longitudinal central axis thereof, wherein the applicator and the container are combined with each other.

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 , taken along the longitudinal central axis thereof, wherein the applicator and the container are separated from each other.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged longitudinal cross-sectional view of a part of the apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 , wherein the applicator and the container are combined with each other.

FIG. 5 is a partially cutaway perspective view of the container of the apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 .

FIG. 6 is an enlarged longitudinal cross-sectional view of a part of the apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 showing the operation of an integrated wiper of the container, wherein the applicator is being pulled out from the container.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Some preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be explained referring to FIGS. 1 to 6 . In each figure, the scale ratio of width, length, height, diameter or the like of each element may not be constant, and may be different from the actual one. It should be noted that in certain figures, certain elements or features are drawn larger or smaller than they actually are, for emphasis.
As used herein, the terms related to direction such as “upper”, “lower”, “up”, “down”, “upward”, “downward”, “above”, “below”, “right”, “left” or the like should be understood in relation to the orientation of the apparatus in the figures, which may or may not match the actual orientation in use. Furthermore, as is obvious to those skilled in the art, in this specification, the term “proximal” or “proximally” means a position opposite to the applicator tip for applying a product. On the other hand, the term “distal” or “distally” means a position closer to the applicator tip. Alternatively, when a user grips the applicator in a typical fashion, the direction pointed to by the user's fingertips is the “distal” direction and the opposite-direction is the “proximal” direction.
The following exemplary embodiments of the present invention relate to an apparatus for storing and applying a product, in particular a cosmetic product or a cosmetic formula such as for example, liquid eyeliner (an eyeliner ink), liquid eyebrow product, liquid rouge, and liquid concealer. The apparatus is to be used by a user to apply a cosmetic product stored in the apparatus itself (more specifically, in a container of the apparatus), to a desired site, in particular to the user's own body or another person's body. For example, if the cosmetic product is a liquid eyeliner, the apparatus is to be used by the user to apply the liquid eyeliner supplied from the apparatus itself around the eyes of the user or another person. The following exemplary embodiments of the present invention are particularly suitable for storing and applying a liquid cosmetic product containing relatively large particles, glittering particles or the like. However, the present invention can be used for storing and applying various types of products other than cosmetic products.
FIG. 1 , which is an external perspective view of the apparatus, shows an apparatus 10 for storing and applying a cosmetic product P, according to one preferred embodiment of the present invention. The apparatus 10 comprises an applicator 100 for applying the liquid (fluid) cosmetic product P, and a container 200 for storing the cosmetic product P. In this embodiment, the container 200 also functions as a cap for the applicator 100. The applicator 100 and the container 200 are manufactured from a plastic such as polypropylene (PP), except for the applicator tip described later. In FIG. 1 , although the apparatus 10 is shown with the container (cap) 200 removed from the applicator 100, normally (that is, when the apparatus 10 is not in use), the container 200 is in a state in which it is coupled to the distal end of the applicator 100.
In addition to FIG. 1 , as can be seen from FIGS. 2 and 3 , which are longitudinal cross-sectional views of the apparatus in different states, the applicator 100 comprises a shank 110 having a longitudinal center axis X₁, which is also a longitudinal central axis of the apparatus, and an applicator tip 120 that is mounted on a distal end 110 a of the shank 110. The applicator tip 120 is configured to be able to retain a certain amount of the cosmetic product P on its surface and inside. The applicator tip 120 has a form that gradually tapers from its proximal end. The applicator tip 120 is composed of compacted artificial fibers such as polyester fibers. Alternatively, the applicator tip 120 may be composed of compacted natural fibers such as cotton fibers. In the state shown in FIG. 2 in which the applicator 100 and the container 200 are combined with each other, the applicator chip 120 is located near a bottom surface of the container 200.
The container 200 for storing the cosmetic product P comprises a longitudinal center axis X₂and a top opening 210 that is orthogonal to the longitudinal center axis X₂. When the applicator 100 and the container 200 are coupled with each other, the longitudinal center axis X₁of the shank 110 and the longitudinal center axis X₂of the container 200 coincide with each other. The container 200 further comprises a tubular peripheral wall 220 that defines the top opening 210, and a bottom 230 that faces the top opening 210. The bottom 230 closes a lower end of the tubular peripheral wall 220. The tubular peripheral wall 220 and the bottom 230 cooperatively define a space V for storing the cosmetic product P therein. In another preferred embodiment, the container 200 can contain a small ball for stirring the cosmetic product P and adhering it to the applicator chip 120.
Hereinafter, the applicator 100 will be described more specifically. As can be best seen from FIG. 4 , which is an enlarged longitudinal cross-sectional view of a distal side section of the applicator of the apparatus, the shank 110 comprises an elongated main body 112 and an insert 114 mounted on a distal end 112 a of the elongated main body 112. As stated above, both the elongated main body 112 and the insert 114 are manufactured from a plastic such as polypropylene (PP). The applicator tip 120 is fixedly held by the insert 114. More specifically, the insert 114 comprises a base portion 114 a embedded within the elongated main body 112 and a nose portion 114 b protruding from the elongated main body 112. The applicator tip 120 is mounted on the insert 114 so as to protrude from a distal end of the nose portion 114 b. In this embodiment, the applicator 100 and the container 200 are configured such that when the applicator 100 and the container 200 are coupled with each other, the insert 114 of the shank 110 of the applicator 100 is fully received in the container 200.
Further referring to FIG. 4 , an annular rib 116 extending circumferentially around the longitudinal center axis X₁of the shank 110 is formed on the outer surface of the insert 114 of the shank 110. Furthermore, an annular groove 222 extending circumferentially around the longitudinal center axis X₂of the container 200 is formed on the inner surface of the tubular peripheral wall 220 of the container 200. The annular rib 116 and the annular groove 222 are formed complementary to each other. Therefore, when the applicator 100 and the container 200 are coupled with each other, the annular rib 116 of the shank 110 fits (snap fits) into the annular groove 222 of the container 200. In this embodiment, there is only one rib/groove pair, but in another embodiment, there may be a plurality of rib/groove pairs.
Hereinafter, the container 200 will be described more specifically. The container 200 comprises a tubular member 250 forming the tubular peripheral wall 220, and a plug member 260 forming the bottom 230. As stated above, both the tubular member 250 and the plug member 260 are manufactured from a plastic such as polypropylene (PP). The plug member 260 is fitted in a lower opening 252 of the tubular member 250 so as to close the lower opening 252. For this, an interference fitting or screwing can be adopted. Alternatively, it is also possible to adopt adhesive-gluing for fitting the plug member 260 in the lower opening 252 of the tubular member 250.
As shown in FIG. 2 , the applicator 100 and the container 200 are configured to be able to couple with each other such that the applicator tip 120 is located in the space V of the container 200 and the applicator 100 seals off the container 200. In this embodiment, the applicator 100 and the container 200 are configured so as to be able to couple with each other by snap fitting (a mechanism for this will be explained in detail below). Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 3 , the applicator 100 and the container 200 are configured to be separable from each other such that the applicator 100 can be used for application of the cosmetic product P with the applicator tip 120.
In this embodiment, the shank 110 of the applicator 100 has a circular cross-section that is orthogonal to the longitudinal center axis X₁of the shank 110. Similarly, the container 200 has a circular cross-section that is orthogonal to the longitudinal center axis X₂of the container 200. As can be best seen from FIG. 4 , the outer diameter D₁of the distal end of the elongated main body 112 that makes contact with the container 200 when the applicator 100 and the container 200 are coupled with each other, is the same as the outer diameter D₂of a top opening side end of the container 200. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the outer diameter of the elongated main body 112 of the shank 110 of the applicator 100 gradually decreases toward its proximal end. On the other hand, the outer diameter of the container 200 is constant. As a result, a smooth, continuous and elegant appearance with no steps at the seam between the applicator 100 and the container 200 is achieved. Of course, the shank 110 of the applicator 100 and the container 200 may have any cross-sectional shapes as long as they are ergonomically suitable.
Turning to FIGS. 2 and 3 , in this exemplary embodiment, the container 200 further comprises a wiper 240 for removing excess product adhering to the applicator tip 120 or the distal end of the shank 110, i.e., the nose portion 114 b of the insert 114 mounted on the elongated main body 112 of the applicator. As can be best seen from FIG. 5 , which is a partially cutaway perspective view of the container of the apparatus, the wiper 240 protrudes inward from the tubular peripheral wall 220 towards the longitudinal center axis X₂of the container 200. In this embodiment, the wiper 240 is integrally formed on the tubular peripheral wall 220 of the container 200 by integral molding. Of course, the wiper 240 can be a separate member from the main body of the container 200, but since this increases the number of parts and the number of manufacturing processes, it is preferable that the wiper 240 be integrally provided with the main body of the container 200.
As shown in FIG. 2 , the wiper 240 is positioned in the space V of the container 200 such that when the applicator 100 and the container 200 are coupled with each other, the applicator tip 120 is located below the wiper 240 after the applicator tip 120 has passed through the wiper 240. More specifically, the wiper 240 extends circumferentially around the longitudinal center axis X₂of the container 200 such that it forms a side surface of a virtual truncated cone C whose diameter decreases toward the bottom 230 of the container 200. This configuration makes it possible to insert the applicator tip 120 into the wiper 240 smoothly. In this embodiment, the wiper 240 is further configured such that when the distal end of nose portion 114 b of the insert 114 moves through the wiper 240, the distal end of the nose portion 114 b makes contact with the wiper 240 all around. As a result, as can be seen from FIG. 6 showing the operation of the wiper 240, the excess product adhering to the applicator tip 120 or the nose portion 114 b of the insert 114 of the shank 110 can be efficiently removed. The angle of the wiper 240 with respect to the tubular peripheral wall 220 of the container 200, that is, angle θ in FIG. 4 is not particularly limited, but in some embodiments, the angle θ is in the range of, for example, 30° to 60°. In another preferred embodiment, the wiper 240 may be positioned in the space V of the container 200 such that when the applicator 100 and the container 200 are coupled with each other, the applicator tip 120 is located at the same level as the wiper 240.
As stated above, in the present embodiment, a cap of an immersion type applicator is used or diverted to function as a container for storing a cosmetic product to be applied, with a wiper incorporated inside the container to remove excess cosmetic product adhering to the applicator tip. Therefore, unlike conventional immersion type articles, the apparatus as described above does not require a separate bulky container for storing the cosmetic product to be applied. Accordingly, the apparatus is easy to store and carry like existing elongated pen type applicators while being able to be used for various types of cosmetic products, in particular, liquid eyeliner that may contain large or glittering particles. In addition to this, as a result of being configured as described above, the apparatus according to the present embodiment has a smooth, continuous and elegant appearance with no steps at the seam between the applicator and the container.
Although single-use type apparatuses have been described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6 , it is also conceivable to configure the apparatus so that the liquid cosmetic formula (such as eyeliner liquid) can be replenished as needed. In this case, for example, the plug that closes the bottom of the container will need to be configured to be removable from the main body of the container. Of course, such an embodiment is also included in the scope of the present invention.
Preferred embodiments of the present invention have been explained above with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and various modifications and changes may be made to the above-described embodiments without deviating from the gist and scope of the present invention, and such modifications and changes are included in the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. An apparatus for storing and applying a product (P), comprising:

an applicator for applying the product (P), comprising:

a shank having a longitudinal center axis (X₁); and

an applicator tip that is mounted on a distal end of the shank, and

a container for storing the product (P), comprising:

a longitudinal center axis (X₂);

a top opening orthogonal to the longitudinal center axis (X₂);

a tubular peripheral wall that defines the top opening; and

a bottom that faces the top opening and closes a lower end of the tubular peripheral wall,

wherein the tubular peripheral wall and the bottom cooperatively define a space (V) for storing the product (P),

wherein the applicator and the container are configured:

to be able to couple with each other such that the applicator tip is located in the space (V) of the container and the applicator seals off the container; and

to be separable from each other such that the applicator can be used for an application of the product (P) with the applicator tip, and

wherein the container further comprises a wiper protruding inward from the tubular peripheral wall towards the longitudinal center axis (X₂) of the container.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the container is made of plastic, and wherein the wiper is integrally formed on the tubular peripheral wall of the container by integral molding.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the wiper extends circumferentially around the longitudinal center axis (X₂) of the container such that it forms a side surface of a virtual truncated cone whose diameter decreases toward the bottom of the container.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the container comprises: a tubular member forming the tubular peripheral wall; and a plug member forming the bottom, and wherein the plug member is fitted in a lower opening of the tubular member so as to close the lower opening.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the applicator and the container are configured so as to be able to couple with each other by snap fitting.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the shank comprises: an elongated main body; and an insert mounted on a distal end of the elongated main body, and wherein the applicator tip is fixedly held by the insert.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the insert comprises: a base portion embedded within the elongated main body; and a nose portion protruding from the elongated main body, and wherein the applicator tip is mounted on the insert so as to protrude from a distal end of the nose portion.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the applicator and the container are configured such that when the applicator and the container are coupled with each other, the insert of the shank of the applicator is fully received in the container.

9. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the wiper is configured such that the distal end of the nose portion of the insert moves through the wiper, and the distal end of the nose portion of the insert makes contact with the wiper all around.

10. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the shank of the applicator has a circular cross-section orthogonal to the longitudinal center axis (X₁) of the shank, and wherein the container has a circular cross-section orthogonal to the longitudinal center axis (X₂) of the container.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the outer diameter (D₁) of a distal end of the elongated main body that makes contact with the container when the applicator and the container are coupled with each other is substantially the same as the outer diameter (D₂) of a top opening side end of the container.

12. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the outer diameter of the elongated main body of the shank of the applicator gradually decreases toward its proximal end, and wherein the outer diameter of the container is substantially constant.

13. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein at least one annular rib extending circumferentially around the longitudinal center axis (X₁) of the shank is formed on the outer surface of the insert of the shank, and wherein at least one annular groove extending circumferentially around the longitudinal center axis (X₂) of the container is formed on the inner surface of the tubular peripheral wall of the container, and wherein when the applicator and the container are coupled with each other, the annular rib of the shank fits into the annular groove of the container.

14. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the applicator tip is composed of compacted artificial fibers or compacted natural fibers.

15. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the product (P) to be stored in the container is a fluid cosmetic product.