Patent Application
20140331422
A typical cosmetic brush applicator contains a handle and a plurality of fibers attached to one end of the handle. This combination of a handle and a plurality of fibers provides a simple, low-cost and effective brush for the application of cosmetic materials. However, cosmetic or personal care products range from hard packed powder compositions to softer powder compositions, lotions and other liquid solutions. Moreover, cosmetic compositions are used in many different applications. For example, more rigid compositions can be used for harsher applications like lining and contouring and often require stiffer, more rigid brushes. In contrast, fluffier materials which can be used for softer applications, like blending, often require softer, more flexible brushes. Hence, since different applications often require different applicators, users are required to purchase a plurality of brush applicators. Accordingly, there remains a need for improved applicators.
This summary is provided to introduce simplified concepts of applicators having combination brush and paddle applicator heads, which are further described below in the Detailed Description. This summary is not intended to identify essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended for use in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.
According to an embodiment, this disclosure is directed to cosmetic applicators comprising a handle having a distal end and a proximal end, and a head, configured for application of one or more cosmetic products to a surface, attached to the proximal end of the handle. A first portion of the head comprises a brush and a second portion of the head comprises a paddle or other application member.
In some implementations, the head includes a first portion, a second portion and a third portion, and each of the first portion, the second portion and the third portion comprises a brush, a paddle or other application member, or a combination thereof.
The detailed description is set forth with reference to the accompanying figures. In the figures, the left-most digit(s) of a reference number identifies the figure in which the reference number first appears. The use of the same reference numbers in different figures indicates similar or identical items.
This disclosure is directed to applicators having a handle connected to an applicator head. The term “applicator head” or “head” may include a combination of one or more brush portions, one or more paddle portions, and/or one or more other application members. According to certain embodiments, the applicator head may comprise two portions with a first portion comprising a brush and second portion comprising a paddle or other application member. According to certain embodiments, the first portion may surround the second portion. According to other embodiments, the applicator head may comprise three or more portions with each portion comprising a brush, a paddle, an application member, or a combination of the foregoing. According to certain embodiments, the first and third portions, may each comprise a brush, and may surround or sandwich the second portion, which may comprise a paddle or other application member.
In some embodiments, the first portion may have a different size or shape, relative to the second or third portions. For example, in embodiments where the applicator head has two portions, the first portion and second portions may each independently comprise from about 5.0% to about 95%, from about 20% to about 60% or from about 45% to about 55% of the combined applicator head cross sectional area. In certain embodiments, the first and second portions each comprise about 50% of the combined applicator head cross sectional area. For another example, the first portion and the second portion may have a split of first-to-second portion of approximately 10:90, 20:80, 30:70, 40:60, 50:50, etc. To illustrate, for 20:80, the first portion may comprise approximately 20% of the combined cross-sectional area of the applicator head while the second portion may comprise approximately 80% of the combined applicator head. In embodiments having three or more portions, each portion may comprise from about 5.0% to about 95%, from about 20% to about 60% or from about 30% to about 50% of the combined cross-sectional area of the applicator head. In certain embodiments, the first, second and third portions may each comprise about 33.3% of the combined applicator head cross sectional area. In still other embodiments, the first and third portion may be of a different or the same size and comprise from 35% to about 45% each of the combined cross-sectional area of the applicator head while the second portion, which may be surrounded or sandwiched by the first and third portions, may comprise from 10% to about 30% of the combined cross-sectional area of the applicator head.
According to certain embodiments, the brush may be made of natural bristles, synthetic bristles (e.g. plastic, silicone, latex or composites thereof), metallic bristles, flocking or a composite thereof. According to certain embodiments, the paddle or other application member may be made of silicone, rubber, sponge, foam, latex, an elastomer, plastic or a composite thereof. According to other embodiments, the paddle or other application member may additionally or alternatively include metal, ceramic, glass, stone, wood, or composites thereof. In some embodiments, the paddle may comprise a spatula, spoon, scoop, spreader, or knife. Other application members may include, for example and without limitation, a conical or pencil-shaped member, a pyramid shaped member, or a rod (e.g., having a cylindrical, polygonal, or variable cross section, and having a domed, conical, pyramidal, or flat terminus). The size and shape of the brush(es), paddle(s), and/or other application member(s) may vary depending on, among other things, the product to be applied, the location to which the product is to be applied, and/or the method in which the product is to be applied. Moreover, according to certain embodiments, the handle may comprise metal, glass, stone, ceramic, plastic, wood, or a composite thereof.
In certain embodiments, the handle and applicator head may be connected or joined together via, for example, fusing, gluing, anchoring, clamping, press-fit, stapling or inserting the applicator head into at least a portion the handle. In other embodiments, the handle and applicator head can be joined via, for example, a ferrule made of plastic, metal or other suitable material.
According to certain embodiments, the applicator may be used for applying one or more cosmetic or medicinal products to a surface, such as skin or hair. For example, a paddle portion or other application member of the applicator may be used with more rigid compositions to, for example, scrape or dig the product from a container. In such examples, the paddle or application member may be made rigid or semi-rigid to facilitate removal of the product from the container. In other implementations, the paddle or application member portion may be used for certain application techniques, such as lining and contouring (e.g., for applying eye liner to a user's eye). In such examples, the paddle or application member may be made flexible or resilient as appropriate for the application techniques. In contrast, the brush portion may be used for applying fluffier or softer materials to, for example swab or lift the product from a container. Moreover, the brush portion may be used for certain application techniques, such as blotting or blending (e.g. for applying blush to a user's cheek).
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In still other embodiments, the overall length of the first portion 106 may be greater than the overall length of the second portion 108 such that the first portion 106 appears longer than, or extends beyond, the second portion 108 when viewing the side face 124 of the applicator 100. In still other embodiments, the overall length of the second portion 108 may be greater than the overall length of the first portion 108.
The materials used to make each of the first portion 206, second portion 208, handle 202 and ferrule 210 may be any combination of those described with respect to the corresponding parts of the applicator 100 described above with respect to
According to an embodiment, when viewing the front face of the applicator 200, a first side of the front face of the applicator head 204 comprises the first portion 206 and a second side of the front face comprises the second portion 208. Moreover, as explained above, the first portion 206 or the second portion 208 may comprise from about 5.0% to about 95%, from about 20% to about 60% or from about 45% to about 55% of the combined cross-sectional area of the applicator head 204 or the two portions may each comprise about 50% of the combined cross-sectional area of the applicator head 204. In still other embodiments, the overall length of the first portion 206 may be greater than the overall length of the second portion 208 such that the first portion 206 appears longer than, or extends beyond, the second portion 208 when viewing the side face of the applicator 200. Alternatively, the overall length of the second portion 208 may be greater than the overall length of the first portion 206.
The materials used to make each of the first portion 406, second portion 408, third portion 412, handle 402 and ferrule 410 may be any combination of the materials used to make the portions and other corresponding parts of the various applicators described above. Moreover, the size and shape of each of the first portion 406, second portion 408, third portion, handle 402 and the ferrule 410 can be as described above.
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In still other embodiments, the overall length of the second portion 408 may be greater than the overall length of the first portion 406 and third portion 412 such that the second portion 408 appears longer than, or extends beyond, the first portion 406 and third portion 412 when viewing the side face of the applicator 400. Alternatively, the overall length of the first portion 406 and third portion 412 may be greater than the overall length of the second portion 408. In still other embodiments, each portion can be of a different length from each of the other two.
This embodiment may also include a power source 508 disposed in a handle 510 or ferrule of the applicator, which provides electrical power for the temperature modulating element 506. According to an embodiment, electricity provided to the temperature modulating element 506 may be controlled via a temperature controller 512. According to an embodiment, the power source 508 may include, for example, one or more fuel cells, one or more solar cells and/or one or more batteries which may be disposable or rechargeable. According to another embodiment, the device can include an alternating current (AC) adapter (not shown) to be plugged into a wall socket or other external electrical source.
Illustrative Implement with Applicator Member Surrounded by Brush
In the embodiment of
In this example, the terminus of the second portion 608 extends distally beyond the first portion 606. However, in other embodiments, the first portion 606 may extend distally beyond the second portion 608, or the first portion 606 and second portion 608 may extend a same distance and be coterminous.
The first and second portions 606, 608 of this embodiment are formed such that when assembled and viewed from a profile (i.e., a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the handle 604), the applicator head 602 has a teardrop shape. The application member of the first portion 606 may be used, for example, to pick up and apply an eye liner product around an eye of a user, while the brush of the second portion 608 may be used to blend the eyeliner into an eyelid of the user. The brush of the second portion 608 may additionally or alternatively be used to pick up and apply another product (e.g., eye shadow) around the eye of the user.
The foregoing combination applicators are some examples of applicators that may perform functions of multiple conventional applicators. However, numerous other variations are also within the scope of this disclosure. For instance, any of the features of the example embodiments may be combined with features of other example embodiments or conventional applicators, rearranged, modified, or omitted entirely without departing from the scope of the disclosure.
Although several embodiments have been described in language specific to structural features and/or methodological acts, it is to be understood that the claims are not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts described. Rather, the specific features and acts are disclosed as illustrative forms of implementing the claimed subject matter.
