US20070079844A1

US20070079844A1 - Longitudinal applicator with articulated shaft

Info

Publication number: US20070079844A1
Application number: US11/401,127
Authority: US
Inventors: Fabrice Dieudonat; Marc Phu
Original assignee: Alcan Packaging Beauty Services SAS
Current assignee: Albea Services SAS
Priority date: 2005-04-12
Filing date: 2006-04-10
Publication date: 2007-04-12
Also published as: FR2884121A1; FR2884121B1

Abstract

A cosmetic product applicator includes a cap, an application means, typically a brush, and an axial shaft anchoring said cap and said application means, said axial shaft being an articulated shaft including an upper arm attached to said cap, and a lower arm attached to application means, said upper arm engaging by its lower end with the upper end of said lower arm forming a hinge by engagement of a male element forming an axle with a female element forming a hub, so as to be able to orientate said lower arm relative to said upper arm according to at least an angle α different from 0°. The male element and/or said female element includes or include a plurality of N_Mfirst flexible radial elements forming said axle and/or a plurality of N_Fsecond flexible radial elements forming said hub, so as to be able to allow radial engagement of said male and female elements, and to ensure, during said application of said cosmetic product, a stable angular position for any typically pre-set angle α formed by said upper and lower arms. The applicator with pre-set and stable angular values improves the ease of assembly of the applicator.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This Application claims priority to French Application No. 0503631 filed Apr. 12, 2005.
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to the field of applicators for fluid products, typically mascara, for makeup or facial or eye care, these applicators generally including a brush as a means for applying said fluid product.
2. State of the Art
There are already a great number of known fluid cosmetic product applicators that include a brush, as described for example in European Application Nos. 860772, 87301927, 92303851, 94304753, 94306189, and 99420221.
These brushes typically include a metal frame made of metal wires twisted together to immobilize rows of bristles.
These applications are typically associated with a container to form a dispenser, said dispenser typically including the container forming a body that contains said fluid cosmetic product and fitted with a typically threaded neck, the applicator forming a threaded cap that seals said neck, said cap being attached to an application means, typically a brush, that is immersed in said fluid cosmetic product when the dispenser-applicator is typically closed, and a shaft anchoring said brush to said cap.
Furthermore, the neck is typically fitted with a wiper to restrict the quantity of fluid cosmetic product taken up by said brush each time said brush is withdrawn from said body.
Mascara applicators are also known that include a brush or an articulated shaft as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,165,755, 5,328,282 and 4,428,388.
Problems Posed
On the one hand, prior art applicators which include a brush or an articulated shaft as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,328,282 and 4,428,388 may require a large number of parts and are generally complex and expensive to manufacture given the assembly of their different components.
On the other hand, when the number of parts is small, as in some applicator embodiments described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,165,755 where the articulated shaft forms a hinge with two arms, either the arms are difficult to assemble in order to form said hinge, or said hinge has too much play and therefore lacks sufficient angular rigidity to allow the applicators to be used normally.
Additionally, in these patents, the articulated arms are able to form practically any angle α, whereas, since people use these applicators on themselves, the gestures needed to handle the applicators require only a limited number of angular configurations.
Finally, in the field of application devices and cosmetic product packaging, there is an ongoing need to renew the products on the market and to bring new technical functions to these new products.
The invention aims to obtain a straightforward applicator that is inexpensive to manufacture, that includes a shaft fitted with a hinge and with two articulated arms, and resolves the aforementioned problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention, the applicator for a cosmetic product, typically mascara, of axial direction, intended to engage with a container fitted with a typically threaded neck and containing said cosmetic product, for the purpose of forming a dispenser of said cosmetic product, includes: a) a manual gripping means typically forming a cap used to seal up said neck, b) a means of applying said cosmetic product, typically a brush, and c) an axial shaft anchoring said manual gripping means or said cap and said application means, said axial shaft being a shaft articulated in an axial plane, including an upper arm attached, at its upper end, to said manual gripping means or said cap, and a lower arm attached, at its lower end, to said application means, said upper arm engaging by its lower end with the upper end of said lower arm forming a hinge of so-called radial axis perpendicular to said axial direction, by engagement of a male element forming an axle at one end of one of the two arms, with a female element forming a hub at one end of the other arm, said hinge being formed by engagement of an upper part attached to said upper arm at its lower end and with a lower part attached to said lower arm at its upper end, so as to be able, for the purpose of applying said cosmetic product, to manually orientate said lower arm relative to said upper arm according to at least an angle α different from 0°, said angle α being equal typically to 0° when said applicator seals said container.
This applicator is characterized in that said male element and/or said female element includes or include a plurality of N_Mso-called first flexible radial elements forming said axle and/or a plurality of N_Fso-called second flexible radial elements forming said hub, said flexible radial elements having, relative to said radial axis, resilient elasticity with resilient return, so as to be able to allow radial engagement, typically by snapping on radially, of said male and female elements, and to ensure, during said application of said cosmetic product, a stable angular position for any typically pre-set angle a formed by said upper and lower arms.
The applicator according to the invention resolves the problems posed.
Indeed, on the one hand, its articulated axial shaft comprises only two snap-on arms forming a hinge, so that the applicator according to the invention is cost-effective.
With the combination of means according to the invention, this hinge allows an assembly by radial engagement that is easy to implement, and ensures a stable angular position of the two arms while the applicator is being used, when the two arms make between them said angle α which forms a discrete angular value.
Moreover, this hinge makes it possible to form at least an angle α different from 0°, an angle that can be selected or modified manually and which can be preset, in order particularly to facilitate the application of said product and to make the applicator more ergonomic.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 a is a composite view from the side of an applicator (1) according to the invention, including from top to bottom: a cap (2), an axial shaft (3) fitted with a hinge (31) according to the invention, and application means (4), said cap being shown partly in axial cross-section, so as to show the outer shell (21) fitted with an inner thread, and the insert (31) attached to said shaft (3) and snapped into said shell (21).
FIG. 1 b is a composite view of a container (9) fitted with a neck (90) with a drainer (91) snapped into it, the upper part of the container being an axial cross-section whereas the lower part is a view from the side.
FIGS. 2 a to 2 f relate to the lower arm (6) of the applicator (1) in FIG. 1 a, said lower arm carrying said male element (7).
FIGS. 2 a and 2 b are two perspective views, with FIG. 2 a a front view and FIG. 2 b a rear view.
FIG. 2 c is a view from the side showing the front of said male element (7).
FIG. 2 d is a view from the side at 90° from the view in FIG. 2 c, showing the side of said male element (7).
FIG. 2 e is a cross-section view in the plane of said radial axis.
FIG. 2 f is a cross-section in the plane F-F in FIG. 2 f.
FIGS. 3 a to 3 e relate to the upper arm (5) of the applicator (1) in FIG. 1 a, said lower arm carrying said female element (8), and forming a component molded in one piece with the insert (21).
FIGS. 3 a and 3 b are perspective views, with FIG. 3 a a view from below and FIG. 3 b a view from above.
FIG. 3 c is an axial cross-section.
FIG. 3 d is a view from the side.
FIG. 3 e is an enlarged view of the lower part of FIG. 3 d.
FIGS. 4 a to 5 d show other embodiments of the invention.
In FIGS. 4 a to 4 h, said male element (7) includes said plurality of N_Mso-called first flexible radial elements forming said axle (70).
FIG. 4 a is an axial cross section showing a hinge embodiment (31) in a plane including said radial axis (32).
FIG. 4 b is a front view of the hinge in FIG. 4 a.
FIG. 4 c is an axial cross-section, similar to FIG. 4 a, showing another hinge embodiment in which said hub forms a blind hole.
FIG. 4 d is an axial cross section showing the female element (8) in FIG. 4 c.
FIGS. 4 e to 4 g are front views of different variants of the axle (70) as a function of the number N_Mof said first radial elements.
The axle (70) in FIG. 4 e, corresponding to that in FIG. 4 a includes 2 radial elements (N_M=2).
The axle (70) in FIG. 4 f, similar to that in FIG. 4 e, includes 4 radial elements (N_M=4).
The axle (70) in FIG. 4 g, similar to that in FIG. 4 f, includes 3 radial elements (N_M =3).
FIG. 4 h is an axial cross-section, in the plane C-C, perpendicular to the radial axis (32), in FIG. 4 c.
In FIGS. 5 a to 5 d, said female element (8) includes said plurality of N_Fso-called second flexible radial elements forming said hub (80).
FIG. 5 a, similar to FIG. 4 a, shows another hinge embodiment (31).
FIG. 5 b is an axial cross-section, in the plane A-A, perpendicular to the radial axis (32), in FIG. 4 c.
FIG. 5 c shows the female element (8) of the hinge in FIG. 5 a.
FIG. 5 d is a front view of the female element in FIG. 5 c.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention, said male element (7) may include said plurality of N_Mfirst flexible radial elements (71) forming said axle (70), as shown for example in FIGS. 2 a to 2 f, and said hub (80) of said female element (8) may be a rigid hub (82), as shown in FIGS. 3 a to 3 e.
However, as shown in FIGS. 5 a to 5 d, said female element (8) may include said plurality of N_Fsecond flexible radial elements (81) forming said hub (80), and said axle (70) of said male element (7) may be a rigid axle (72).
However, said male element (7) may include said plurality of N_Mfirst flexible radial elements (71) forming said axle (70), and said female element (8) may include said plurality of N_Fsecond flexible radial elements (81) forming said hub (80).
Generally, the number N_Mof first flexible radial elements (71) of said plurality forming said axle (70) may be range from 2 to 8, and typically from 2 to 4.
The number N_Fof second flexible radial elements (81) of said plurality forming said hub (80) may range from 3 to 12, and typically from 4 to 8.
As shown for example in FIGS. 2 a to 2 f, said male element (7) may include a first axial projection (73) typically including a first axial plane (730) perpendicular to said radial axis (32) of said hinge (31), said axle (70) of said male element (7), formed by said plurality of N_Mflexible radial elements (71) or by said rigid axle (72), being orientated perpendicular to said first axial plane (730), said axle (70) typically forming with said first axial projection (73) a first component molded in one piece (74).
As shown for example in FIGS. 3 a to 3 e, said female element (8) may include a second axial projection (83) typically including a second axial plane (830) perpendicular to said radial axis (32) of said hinge (31), said hub (80) of said female element (8), formed by said plurality of N_Fflexible radial elements (81) or by said rigid hub (82), being orientated perpendicular to said second axial plane (830), said hub (80) typically forming with said second axial projection (83) a second component molded in one piece (84).
As shown in FIGS. 4 a and 4 c, said hub (80) of said female element (8) may form or delimit a cavity orientated according to said radial axis (32), said cavity forming either a blind hole (80″) having a front orifice (800), as shown in FIG. 4 c or 4 d, or a cavity (80′) open on both sides having a front orifice (800) and a rear orifice (801) in communication.
As shown in FIGS. 2 d and 4 a, said axle (70) may include a radial locking means (700), so as to allow said axle (70) to be snapped radially into said hub (80). Thus, said axle (70) may include an outer part, typically forming an external flange (701), of cross-section greater than that of said hub, so as to form said locking means (700).
As shown in FIG. 4 c, said axle (70) may include a typically central part, of minimum or maximum cross-section (702), said hub (80) having a homothetic cross-section, so as to form said locking means (700).
As shown in FIG. 4 h, said axle (70) may have an outer surface (75) forming or inscribable in a first regular p order polygon and said hub (80) may have an inner surface (85) forming or inscribable in a second regular polygon homothetic with said first regular polygon, in such a way that said angle α is able to assume at least two adjacent discrete angular values α_Iand α_j, such that |α_I-αj| is equal to 360°/p, with p a whole number ranging typically from 3 to 12.
For aesthetic reasons particularly, said upper (5) and lower (6) arms may have one and the same transverse, typically circular, cross-section, said transverse cross-section being taken perpendicular to said axial direction (10).
As shown for example in FIG. 4 c, said first axial projection (73) of said male element (7) and said second axial projection (83) of said female element (8) may engage in said hinge (31) in such a way that, with said first axial plane (730) adjoining said second axial plane (830), said hinge (31) has said transverse cross-section, particularly when said upper (5) and lower (6) arms are aligned, and between them make an angle α then amounting to 0°.
According to one variant of the invention, said upper arm (5) may carry at its lower end (51) said male element (7), said lower arm (6) carrying at its upper end (60) said female element (8).
According to another variant shown in FIGS. 1 a to 3 e, said upper arm (5) may carry at its lower end (51) said female element (8), said lower arm (6) carrying at its upper end (60) said male element (7).
According to the invention, said upper (5) and lower (6) arms may have a length, denoted L_Sand L_Irespectively, such that L_s+L₁is between 20 mm and 100 mm, and L_S/L_Iis between 1 and 10.
As shown in FIG. 2 d, said lower end (61) of said lower arm (6) may include or form a threaded end (62).
Generally, and as shown in FIG. 2 f, said lower end (61) of said lower arm (6) may include a means (63) for anchoring said application means (4). Said anchoring means (63) may be an axial channel forming a blind hole (630) able to engage with a support portion (41) of said application means (4).
According to the invention, p being a whole number between 3 and 12, said discrete angular values may be as follows for each of the values of p:

- if p=3, α=0°, 120°, |α_I-αj| equals 360°/3 or 120°,
- if p=4, α=0°,
- if p=5, α=0°, 72°, 144°, |α_I-αj| equals 360°/5 or 72°,
- if p=6, α=0°, 60°, 120°, |α_I-αj| equals 360°/6 or 60°,
- if p=7, α=0°, 51°, 102°, |α_I-αj| equals 360°/7 or 51°,
- if p=8, α=0°, 45°, 90°, 135°, |α_I-αj| equals 360°/8 or 45°,
- if p=9, α=0°, 40°, 80°, 120°, 160°, |α_I-αj| equals 360°/9 or 40°,
- if p=10, α=0°, 36°, 72°, 108°, 144°|α_I-αj| equals 360°/10 or 36°,
- if p=11, α=0°, 33°, 66°, 99°, 132°, 165°, |α_I-αj| equals 360°/11 or 33°,
- if p=12, α=0°, 30°, 60°, 90°, 120°, 150°, |α_I-αj| equals 360°/12 or 30°,

Generally, said manual gripping means may be constituted by said cap (2), said cap typically including an outer shell (20) typically including a lower part fitted with an inner thread (200) and an inner insert (21) attached to said upper arm (5) and able to engage with said neck (90) of said container (9), said neck being fitted with an outer thread (900), as shown in FIGS. 1 a and 1 b.
As shown in FIG. 1 a, said inner inset (21) and said upper arm (5) may form a component molded in one piece (11), typically of thermoplastic material.
In some cases, in particular when said application means are able to be formed by molding, said application means (4) and said lower arm (6) may form a component molded in one piece, typically of thermoplastic material.
As shown in FIG. 3 c, said upper part (310) of said hinge (31) may form a component molded in one piece with said upper arm (5), said upper part (310) forming said male element (7) or said female element (8).
Possibly, said upper part (310) of said hinge (31) may form a distinct part (51′) anchored, typically by being snapped on axially, to said upper arm (5).
Likewise, as shown in FIGS. 2 a to 2 f, said lower part (311) of said hinge (31) may form a component molded in one piece with said lower arm (6), said upper part (311) forming said male element (7) or said female element (8).
Possibly, said lower part (311) of said hinge (31) may form a distinct part (60′) anchored, typically by being snapped on axially, to said lower arm (6).
Whatever the type of hinge, said application means (4) is formed by any means for applying the mascara, typically by a brush (4′).

EMBODIMENT EXAMPLES

Applicators (1) fitted with hinges (31) have been manufactured in accordance with FIGS. 1 a to 5 d. Firstly, the applicator (1) was manufactured in accordance with FIGS. 1 a to 3 e. This applicator (1), as can be seen in FIG. 1 a, was formed by assembling four parts:

- 1) an outer shell (20),
- 2) a component molded in one piece (11), a component shown in FIGS. 3 a to 3 e, including an insert (21), an upper arm (5) anchored to said insert (21) at its upper end (50) and including at its lower end (51) said upper part (310) of the hinge (31). In this component molded in one piece (11), the upper part (310) of the hinge (31) forms a hub (80) of said female element (8), said hub (80) being in this case a rigid hub (82),
- 3) a lower arm (6), as shown in FIGS. 2 a to 2 f, including at its upper end (60) said lower part (311) of the hinge, and anchored, at its lower end (61) to said application means (4). Said lower part (311) of the hinge (31) forms the central axle (70) of said male element (7), this central axle (70) including two first flexible radial elements (71) separated by a space (710) and including at their radial end an outer flange (701) forming a locking means (700), and
- 4) an application means (4) typically constituted by a brush including a central support (40), the central support (40) typically forming a twisted metal wire, the central support (40) including a portion (41) able to engage with a blind hole (630) formed at the lower end (61) of the lower arm (6).

The outer shell (20), the component molded in one piece (11), and the lower arm (6) were formed by molding thermoplastic material.
The outer shell (20), and the component molded in one piece (11), were assembled by axial force fitting.
The hinge (31) was formed by radially snapping on the lower arm (6), and the application means (4) was assembled by axial force fitting of said portion (41) into said blind hole (630).
In FIG. 1 b there has been shown the container (9) intended to engage with this applicator (1) so as to form a cosmetic product dispenser, of mascara in the present circumstance. This container includes a neck (90) fitted with an outer thread (900), with which a wiper is assembled (91).
Applicators (1) fitted with different hinges (31) have been manufactured as shown in FIGS. 4 a to 5 d. In these figures, only the hinge (31) has been shown by the assembly of its male (7) and female (8) elements, said male element (7) being able to be attached to said upper arm (5) or with said lower arm (6), and said female element (8) being able to be attached to said lower arm (6) or with said upper arm (5) respectively.
A first hinge embodiment (31) has been formed in accordance with FIGS. 4 a, 4 b and 4 e. In this embodiment, the axle (70) is similar to that in FIGS. 2 a to 2 f, and includes two first flexible elements (71) separated by a space (710), and the hub (80) is a rigid hub (82) including front (800) and rear (801) orifices. The cross sections of the axle (70) and of the hub (80) are circular, conversely, the male element (7) includes a polygonal inner surface (75′) which engages with a polygonal outer surface (85′) of said female element (8), so as to obtain a plurality of angles α of pre-set values.
A second hinge embodiment (31) has been formed in accordance with FIGS. 4 a and 4 h. In this case, the cross sections of the axle (70) and of the hub (80) are polygonal, as shown in FIG. 4 h, said axle (70) including a polygonal outer surface (75) engages with a polygonal inner surface (85) of said hub (80), so as to obtain a plurality of angles a of pre-set values.
According to a variant of these embodiments shown in FIG. 4 f, said axle (70) may be an axle (70′) including four first flexible elements (71).
According to another variant of these embodiments shown in FIG. 4 g, said axle (70) may be an axle (70″) including three first flexible elements (71).
Another hinge embodiment (31) has been formed in accordance with FIGS. 4 c and 4 d. In this case, the means (700) for the radial locking of the axle (70) is formed not by an outer flange (700) as in FIG. 4 a, but by a radial profile that has a maximum (or minimum) cross-section, the hub (80) being a hub (80′) that has a homothetic cross-section, as shown in FIG. 4 d.
Another hinge embodiment has been formed in accordance with FIGS. 5 a to 5 d. In this embodiment, the axle (70) is a rigid axle (72) of hexagonal cross-section, and said hub (80) is formed by six second flexible radial elements (81) arranged in a regular hexagon and separated by a space (810), as can be seen in FIG. 5 b and in FIG. 5 d.
The so-called second flexible radial elements (81) include or form at their end inner hooks (811) which allow the axle (70) to be snapped on radially.

Advantages of the Invention

On the one hand, applicators (1) according to the invention are cost-effective to manufacture, since they are constituted in particular by a restricted number of components that are easy to assemble.
On the other hand, the two arms (5) and (6) of the applicator (1) may assume a restricted number of angular values, so that the person using the application is certain, given the design of the hinge (31), of being able to have at his/her disposal a number of pre-set angular orientations (for example four angular orientations α₀, α₁, α₂and α₄), as a function of the projected use, and of being able rapidly and straightforwardly to access each of the angular positions or orientations.
Additionally, these angular positions are positions which are stable since, while the applicator (1) is being used, a torque is exerted on the upper (5) and lower (6) arms that is less than the maximum torque C_Nneeded to move from an angular position α_Ito an adjacent angular position α_J, in the case of a hinge (31) the cross sections of which form a regular p order polygon as shown in FIG. 4 h in the case where p equals 6. However, a simple manual effort makes it possible to move from one angular position to an adjacent angular opposition.

Claims

1. An applicator for a cosmetic product, typically mascara, of axial direction, intended to engage with a container fitted with a typically threaded neck and containing said cosmetic product, for the purpose of forming a dispenser of said cosmetic product, comprising:

a) a manual gripping means typically forming a cap used to seal up said neck,

b) a means of applying said cosmetic product, typically a brush, and

c) an axial shaft anchoring said manual gripping means and said application means, said axial shaft being a shaft articulated in an axial plane, including an upper arm attached at its upper end to said manual gripping means, and a lower arm attached at its lower end to said application means, said upper arm engaging by its lower end with the upper end of said lower arm forming a hinge having a radial axis perpendicular to said axial direction, by engagement of a male element forming an axle at one end of one of the two arms with a female element forming a hub at one end of the other arm, said hinge being formed by engagement of an upper part attached to said upper arm at its lower end and with a lower part attached to said lower arm at its upper end, so as to be able, for the purpose of applying said cosmetic product, to manually orientate said lower arm relative to said upper arm according to at least an angle α different from 0°, said angle α being equal to approximately 0° when said applicator seals said container,

and characterized in that either of said male element includes a plurality of N_Mfirst flexible radial elements forming said axle or said female element includes a plurality of N_Fsecond flexible radial elements forming said hub, said flexible radial elements having, relative to said radial axis, resilient elasticity with resilient return, so as to be able to allow radial engagement, typically by snapping on radially, of said male and female elements, and to ensure, during said application of said cosmetic product, a stable angular position for any pre-set angle α formed by said upper and lower arms.

2. The applicator according to claim 1 wherein said male element includes said plurality of N_Mfirst flexible radial elements forming said axle, and wherein said hub of said female element is a rigid hub.

3. The applicator according to claim 1 wherein said female element includes said plurality of N_Fsecond flexible radial elements forming said hub, and wherein said axle of said male element is a rigid axle.

4. The applicator according to claim 1 wherein said male element includes said plurality of N_Mfirst flexible radial elements forming said axle, and wherein said female element includes said plurality of N_Fsecond flexible radial elements forming said hub.

5. The applicator according to claim 4 wherein the number N_Mof first flexible radial elements of said plurality forming said axle is between 2 and 8.

6. The applicator according to claim 5 wherein the number N_F, of second flexible radial elements of said plurality forming said hub is between 3 and 12.

7. The applicator according to claim 6 wherein said male element includes a first axial projection typically including a first axial plane perpendicular to said radial axis of said hinge, said axle of said male element, formed by said plurality of N_Mflexible radial elements or by said rigid axle, being orientated perpendicular to said first axial plane, said axle typically forming with said first axial projection a first component molded in one piece.

8. The applicator according to claim 7 wherein said female element includes a second axial projection typically including a second axial plane perpendicular to said radial axis of said hinge, said hub of said female element, formed by said plurality of N_Fflexible radial elements or by said rigid hub, being orientated perpendicular to said second axial plane, said hub typically forming with said second axial projection a second component molded in one piece.

9. The applicator according to claim 8 wherein said hub of said female element forms a cavity orientated according to said radial axis, said cavity forming either a blind hole having a front orifice, or a cavity open on both sides having a front orifice and a rear orifice in communication.

10. The applicator according to claim 9 wherein said axle includes a radial locking means, so as to allow said axle to be snapped radially into said hub.

11. The applicator according to claim 10 wherein said axle includes an outer part, typically forming an external flange, of cross-section greater than that of said hub, so as to form said locking means.

12. The applicator according to claim 10 wherein said axle includes a typically central part, of minimum or maximum cross-section, said hub having a homothetic cross-section, so as to form said locking means.

13. The applicator according to claim 12 wherein said axle has an outer surface forming a first polygon and said hub has an inner surface forming a second polygon homothetic with said first polygon, in such a way that said angle α is able to assume at least two adjacent discrete angular values α_Iand αj, such that |α_I-αj| is equal to 360°/p, with p a whole number between 3 and 12.

14. The applicator according to claim 13 wherein said upper and lower arms have the same transverse, typically circular, cross-section, said transverse cross-section being perpendicular to said axial direction.

15. The applicator according to claim 14 wherein said first axial projection of said male element and said second axial projection of said female element engage in said hinge in such a way that, with said first axial plane adjoining said second axial plane, said hinge has said transverse cross-section, particularly when said upper and lower arms are aligned, and between them make an angle α amounting to 0°.

16. The applicator according to claim 15 wherein said upper arm carries at its lower end said male element, said lower arm carrying at its upper end said female element.

17. The applicator according to claim 15 wherein said upper arm carries at its lower end said female element, said lower arm carrying at its upper end said male element.

18. The applicator according to claim 17 wherein said upper and lower arms have a length L_Sand L_Irespectively, such that L_S+L_Iis between approximately 20 mm and 100 mm, and L_S/L_Iis between approximately 1 and 10.

19. The applicator according to claim 18 wherein said lower end of said lower arm includes a threaded end.

20. The applicator according to claim 19 wherein said lower end of said lower arm includes a means for anchoring said application means.

21. The applicator according to claim 20 wherein said anchoring means is an axial channel forming a blind hole able to engage with a support portion of said application means.

22. The applicator according to claim 21 wherein, p being a whole number between 3 and 12, said discrete angular values may be between 30° and 120° depending on the value of p.

23. The applicator according to claim 22 wherein said manual gripping means is constituted by said cap, said cap typically including an outer shell typically including a lower part fitted with an inner thread and an inner insert attached to said upper arm and able to engage with said neck of said container, said neck being fitted with an outer thread.

24. The applicator according to claim 23 wherein said inner inset and said upper arm form a component molded in one piece.

25. The applicator according to claim 18 wherein said application means and said lower arm form a component molded in one piece.

26. The applicator according to claim 25 wherein said upper part of said hinge forms a component molded in one piece with said upper arm, said upper part forming either of said male element or said female element.

27. The applicator according to claim 25 wherein said upper part of said hinge forms a part anchored by being snapped on axially to said upper arm.

28. The applicator according to claim 27 wherein said lower part of said hinge forms a component molded in one piece with said lower arm, said upper part forming either of said male element or said female element.

29. The applicator according to claim 27 wherein said lower part of said hinge forms a part anchored by being snapped on axially to said lower arm.

30. The applicator according to claim 29 wherein said application means is formed by a means for applying the mascara.