WO2007017576A1

WO2007017576A1 - Mask with a finishing trim

Info

Publication number: WO2007017576A1
Application number: PCT/FR2006/001858
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jean Heitz
Original assignee: Jean Heitz
Priority date: 2005-08-05
Filing date: 2006-07-31
Publication date: 2007-02-15
Also published as: FR2902339B1; EP1912531A1; FR2902339A1

Abstract

A part (3) engageable with a patient's skin can be produced by (a) providing a liquid-absorbing strip with yarns (2) and an active filler (4) having therapeutically or cosmetically beneficial properties, which filler is bonded to the yarns and advantageously made of green clay in a dry state at this stage; (b) cutting said strip to fit the shape (3) of the area of skin to be covered; and (c) pressing a peripheral finishing trim (31) at or adjacent to the edge of said shape during or after the cutting step.

Description

MASK WITH EDGE FINISH

This is a part intended to cover an outer area of a human or animal body and its method of production.

The use of clay for medical or beauty purposes has been known for a long time, and the therapeutic or cosmetic properties of certain clays have already been studied. In this regard, particularly in EP-A-116,240, it has already been proposed an active load band used for particular treatment in humans and animals. This strip comprises a support with an airy structure carrying a load of clay, in particular of green clay, adhering to it.

A problem posed here relates to the production of a covering part of a skin zone, this part having a priori a shape other than that of such a strip. It is indeed useful for the piece to adapt better to the shape of the area of the body to be covered.

It is also useful that the constitution, typically filamentary, of the structure of the strip to which the active load is bound does not hinder the use of the part, either in terms of appearance of this part or interference with sensitive areas of the body, such as the eyes, nostrils, lips ... It has also appeared useful to avoid that bits of son can create parasitic attachment areas likely to cause detachment of the load, locally . Another aim is to offer at a competitive cost a part as aforesaid likely to meet the requirements of the market and potential buyers, whether in terms of ease and speed of production, ease of packaging, storage, appearance, obtaining various forms ....

Under these conditions, it is first proposed that the covering part of said body zone comprises a support structure with son retaining an active load therapeutic or cosmetic virtue having a liquid absorption capacity, the piece having a cut-out shape adapted to the body area to be covered, with a peripheral finishing edge.

In a preferred application, it is expected that this piece has a form of facial mask, with two internal cutouts for the eyes, both the outer edge of the mask and the contour of the cutouts for the eyes having said finishing edge.

In addition to the piece, there is also proposed a favorable method of obtaining.

This process will preferably comprise the following steps in which: a) one starts from a band comprising yarns and an active load with therapeutic or cosmetic virtue and having a liquid absorption capacity, this load, which is linked to the yarns, then being in the dry state, b) cutting in this band a shape adapted to the body area to cover, c) and, during this cutting, or later, is carried out at the edge or in the immediate vicinity of the edge of said forms a peripheral finishing edge, by pressing. Favorably, the cut form will be heated to its edge to obtain the finishing edge.

It is advisable that, during step a), the strip from which it is made is carried out with a ventilated support having said yarns and carrying, as active filler, a dry clay filler then adhering to the support and / or that during in this step a), the strip peripherally has individual tips of projecting threads. To obtain the shape of the part during step b), provision is made in particular to use a punch.

In addition or alternatively, provision is furthermore made for: - substantially simultaneously at the same time the cutting of step b) and the pressing of step c),

- to create the cutting zone around the pressing zone of the band that is cut, and to press this band which is cut from one of its faces, in a groove, so that this present face, at the end of the pressing, said edge then formed in recess, the opposite face having a relief edge trace.

Regarding the filamentous support of the strip, it is expected that it is favorably an aerated support, particularly a woven or a nonwoven, intimately impregnated by the clay load which is present on both sides of the support, the clay filler being favorably a green clay adhering to the support structure.

Among the clays, the properties of green clay have indeed attracted particular attention. However, any clay of another color, for example white, red, pink, blue, yellow, may be used in the process according to the invention.

The clay may be any kind of known clay, for example smectite, bentonite, montmorillonite, illite, chlorite, kaolinite or ghassoul, or a mixture thereof.

Green clay (therapeutic) has general properties of decongestion, disinfection, healing and easing pain.

Thus, green therapeutic clay closes wounds without local irritation and without microbial proliferation, eliminating the risk of inflammation, by removing the mood. It dries burns and closes ulcerous wounds. It improves blood circulation and thus eliminates venules and varicose veins. It also works in cases of osteoarthritis and calms pain.

It is known that this green clay typically contains the following constituents: silica, iron oxide, aluminum oxide, manganese, zinc oxide, magnesia, potassium, lime, soda, chlorine, sulphates, phosphorus, carbonates, gold, silver and calcium .

Among these constituents, phosphorus, in equilibrium with calcium, is involved in bone building.

Magnesium is involved in many vital reactions; it provides the energy-rich bonds of carbohydrates and has enzymatic activity. Calcium contributes to the ionic balance of the blood. Potassium is needed for intracellular exchange across membranes and for the release of muscle energy. The invention makes it possible to obtain a product allowing easy and convenient exploitation of the properties of the clay.

The product is particularly simple to use, since it is sufficient for the person who uses it to place the piece on the part of the body concerned, the piece, flexible and without mechanical strength, marrying itself the shape of this body this especially in the wet state.

As indicated, the favorable aeration of the support of the product obtained must allow the penetration of the clay throughout the thickness of the support and thus a better adhesion between the clay and this support, as well as obtaining a piece covered with a layer of clay on both sides. This aerated support can be in natural or synthetic fibers; but an aerated cotton support (gauze) seems particularly suitable.

The base band which will therefore preferably used to obtain the desired piece may be in lengths of 3 or 5 meters for example. It will then be sufficient for the user to extend the band for

(d) cut the shape (s) retained (s), depending on the intended use.

It has been found that satisfactory treatment results are typically obtained by the application on the part concerned of a said piece, soaked in water, left in place between one hour and two hours.

If desired, other products or treatment agents may be incorporated in the strip, or piece, to obtain for example a specific therapeutic or cosmetic effect. To adhere the clay sufficiently and definitively on the filamentous support of the strip and / or the piece, reference may be made to EP-A-116 240. Thus, it is possible to make a suspension of clay (green of preferably) in a liquid medium formed by an adhesive and a solvent or dispersing agent for it, to form a pasty or sufficiently viscous mass that will be applied to the support, in particular by coating. The assembly will then be dried to cause the removal of the solvent or dispersing agent.

The suspension can be prepared by introducing a clay powder into a liquid consisting of the solvent or dispersing agent and the adhesive.

It is possible to use an organic solvent or dispersing agent, such as methylene chloride. The adhesive incorporated in this solvent or dispersant is suitably a cellulosic product, such as a cellulose ether.

This pasty filler can be produced from 50 to 60 liters of solvent per 100 kg of clay, and about 2 kg of glue per 100 kg of clay.

The pasty or viscous mass obtained can then be applied to the support, for example at a squeegee station, at a rate of 400 to 600 g of clay per square meter. The scrolling of the support to the coating station and its favorably ventilated nature favor the intimate penetration of the pasty mass into its structure and attachment.

At the outlet of the coating station, the product formed is conveyed through a drying tunnel, for removal of the solvent or dispersing agent. The temperature can be of the order of 40 ^° C. in the case of methylene chloride. It is also possible to dry the product in air at room temperature.

After drying, the produced strip can be cut to the required width and wound around a core, then cut to the desired length, or it can be cut directly into short strips held flat.

An exemplary implementation will be given hereinafter, in particular making it possible to understand the process according to the invention in relation to the appended figures in which:

It is preferably, starting from the band 1 which has been presented above and which is seen to be wound in FIG. 5, that piece 3 of FIGS. 3 and 4 can be prepared.

The strip is therefore thin (a few mm thick) and made of a flexible material, so that it is untied and can be easily pulled and unrolled on the tray, or conveyor belt, 5 of the preparation machine 7 schematized figure 1.

This band therefore comprises an aerated support consisting of interlaced flexible yarns 2 (a gauze for example made of cotton) incorporating and retaining an active load 4 having a liquid absorption capacity, here a green clay load. The load, and therefore the band are in the dry state. Strands of projecting threads 6 appear on the periphery of the band.

Above the plate 5, the preparation machine 7 comprises an enclosure 9 defining a volume of cleanliness limited by walls 11.

Inside is disposed a cutting device 13 and a pressing device 15. Favorably, as here, these two devices are grouped together in the same tool 17, so that they will act together on the band 1.

The tool 17 comprises a matrix 19 disposed at the location of a zone of the plate 5.

The matrix 19 comprises a slot 21 lined internally by a recessed shape, or groove, 23.

The slot 21 draws the outer contour of the part 3 to obtain. It is definitely deeper than the throat.

The recessed shape 23 follows this contour, a priori immediately adjacent to the slot 21.

Opposite this die is a movable punch 25 which moves alternately up and down and as shown in Figure 1 and the vertical arrows marked therein.

The punch 15 comprises a cutting knife 27 which defines a punch device, with the slot 21 into which it enters the lower cutting position. The punch also includes a raised, domed shape 29 arranged slightly recessed relative to the knife 27; see Figure 1.

The raised form 29 is complementary to the hollow form or groove 23 and has the same contour as it.

The raised form 29 is peripherally bordered, a priori immediately adjacent, by the knife 27.

Suppose the piece 3 to be obtained is a face mask, as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4.

The contours of said slots and recessed form of the die 19 and those of said knife and raised form the punch 25 will then be adapted to the drawing of the outer contour of this mask, to reproduce or follow it, as shown schematically in Figure 2 for the knife 27 of the punch, the raised form of the pressing device has not been illustrated so as not to overload the figure.

If, as in FIGS. 3, 4, the mask 3 comprises openings 30a, 30b for the eyes, there will be found a cutting knife having this shape on the punch side 25 and a complementary slot on the matrix side 19 to cut this shape in the strip 1 likewise for any other form to be cut.

Preferably each knife / slot assembly will be lined internally by the pressing means, such as the relief-shaped / recessed shape assembly, which will make it possible to produce the finishing edge 31 expected at the edges of the blanks of the piece 3, such as we see it in figures 3 and 4.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the movable cutting knife 27 will thus have a closed shape 27a corresponding to the outer contour of the mask, if such a mask is to be produced from the strip 1.

Two other inner cutting contours (not shown) will define the cut to be made for the eyes, 30a, 30b.

It will therefore adapt the shape of the cutting elements constituting the knife 27 according to the shape to be cut.

Regarding the pressing elements, it will be noted that they will very favorably heat pressing the strip, or the cut piece 3. For this, it is expected that electric heating resistors 33 are arranged at the location of the pressing form 29 carried by the punch.

The hot pressing means, such as 29, will favorably, during pressing and cutting of the strip 1 to heat it to about 60-100 ⁰ C ₇ and preferably around 80 ⁰ C, if a band such as described at the beginning of the description is used. Figs 3 and 4, it will be noted that the mask 3 obtained has a finishing edge adjacent to each cutout 31, 31a and 31b. On one side, Figure 3, these borders are recessed relative to the rest of the surface of the mask. On the opposite face, FIG. 4, the corresponding finishing edges 31 ', 31a', 31b 'are slightly convex and thus define the counter-shape of the recesses of the first face.

Preferably, the different borders will be continuous and therefore extend over the entire periphery of the cutouts.

Possibly, one could imagine dashed borders; less favorable solution, as well as hollows on both sides. From the illustrations of Figures 1 and 2, the method of obstruction of the part 3 will be favorably as follows: the strip 1 is unwound on the plate 5. Traction and holding means, not shown, hold it on this plate . The band portion between the die 19 and the punch 25 is then cut to the shape and the (x) contour (s) of the workpiece 3; and preferably substantially at the same time this part of strip is pressed to achieve the finishing edge 31 at the edge of the room 3. Heating around 80 ⁰ C of the pressing tool 15 promotes a clean, compact border, and therefore a clean contour. With the cutting device 13 described, it will therefore favorably achieve the cutting of the piece 3 by punch.

The piece 3 obtained thus bears, printed by the press, a compression trace which constitutes the aforementioned finishing edge.

For the conditioning of the parts 3 obtained downstream of the tool 17, it was possible to place a sheet 35 under the part of the strip disposed facing this tool (see FIG. 1). It may be a plastic sheet interposed between two parts 3 belonging to a stack of such parts.

On the body area to be covered, the piece 3 will be placed wet, so that it will naturally follow the shape of this zone, with the active charge directly to its contact.

Claims

A method of obtaining a workpiece for covering an area of a human or animal body, said method comprising steps in which: a) starting from a web (1) comprising threads (2) and a load active (4) therapeutic or cosmetic virtue and having a liquid absorption capacity, this load, which is related to the son, then being in a dry state, b) is cut in this band a form (3) adapted to the body area to cover, c) and, during this cutting, or subsequently, is made at the edge or in the immediate vicinity of the edge of said shape a border (31) of peripheral finish, by pressing.

2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that to obtain the finishing edge (31), the cut form is heated to its said edge.

3. Method according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that, to carry out the pressing, a hot press (15) is moved towards the strip (1) to be cut, or to the already cut form (3). which is adapted to mark an imprint on the strip, or the shape, and which, when removed, once the imprint is marked, leaves said border as a trace on the strip or shape.

4. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, when in step a), the strip (1) from which it is made is carried out with a ventilated support having said yarns and bearing, as active filler, a dry clay filler then adhering to the support and / or, when In step a), the strip peripherally has ends of projecting threads (6).

5. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that during step b), the form (3) is cut by punch (13).

6. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that:

at the same time, substantially the cutting of step b) and the pressing of step c) are carried out at the same time;

a cutting zone (21, 27) is created around the pressing zone (23, 29) of the strip which is cut,

and pressing into a groove (23), and from one of its faces, this strip which is cut, so that this face has, at the end of the pressing, said hollow edge, the face opposite having a relief border trace (31 ', 31a', 31b ').

7. The method of claim 4, or 5 or 6 attached to this claim 4, characterized in that the aerated support is a woven or a nonwoven intimately impregnated by the clay load (4) which is present on both sides of the support, the clay load being a green clay.

8. Part intended to cover an outer area of a human or animal body and obtained by the process according to one of the preceding claims.

9. Part designed to cover an outer zone of a human or animal body and comprising a support structure with yarns (2) retaining an active load (4) with a therapeutic or cosmetic virtue having a capacity for absorbing liquid, the piece having a cut-out shape (3) adapted to the body area to be covered with a peripheral finishing edge (31) marked on at least one face.

10. Part according to claim 9, characterized in that it has a form of face mask (3), with two internal cutouts (30a, 30b) for the eyes, both the outer edge of the mask and the contour of the cutouts for the eyes having said finishing edge (31, 31 ').

11. Part according to any one of claims 9 to 10, characterized in that the active load is a green clay load adhering to the support structure.

12. Part according to one of claims 9 to 11, characterized in that, charged with dry clay, it is flexible, without holding, so that, wet, it naturally marries the shape of the body against which it is placed.