Patent Application
20130048011
The present invention concerns the field of cosmetic applicators, and in particular, cosmetic applicators for applying a foundation to the skin of a user's face and/or neck. More particularly, the invention concerns a roller assembly having two distinct and specialized ends specifically adapted to apply foundation to the skin to create a smooth transition from one part of the face and/or neck to another.
Creating a successful look with makeup depends not only on the product type and color but on its application to the skin. Selection and proper use of the right tool can enhance the user's natural beauty, evening skin tone and de-emphasizing flaws. An observer should not see where the foundation begins and ends.
Makeup, specifically, liquid or cream foundations, can be applied to the face and/or neck skin using the fingers, or a variety of tools or applicators. Applicators for applying cosmetics are well-known and include sponges, tufts of bristles, and rollers. These applicators generally provide a more even distribution of makeup than is possible using the fingers; however, applicators are not without their problems. Sponges, especially those having a wedge shape, are useful for distributing makeup into difficult or tight areas, such as around the nose and eyes; however, sponges can harbor bacteria and further tend to deteriorate. For these reasons, it is advisable that, if sponges are used, these should be of the disposable variety. However, replacing the sponges can be costly. An additional disadvantage to sponges is that some contain latex, a product to which many are allergic. Brushes, carrying tufts of bristles, do not permit foundation to be blended properly and can result in streaking. Available roller-type applicators include a cylindrical roller which does not provide an even distribution of makeup, especially around the nose and the eyes, and can result in streaking. As examples of roller devices, reference may be made to U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,501,342; 3,157,135; 3,638,939; 4,335,483; 6,484,341; 7,435,029; Des. 113,690; Des. 299,972; and Des. 459,639. There continues to be a need for a cosmetic applicator that will result in a seamless application of foundation to all areas of the skin and neck.
To overcome the deficiencies in the prior art, a dual ended applicator for evenly applying a cosmetic to a skin surface is provided. The applicator has a handle having a longitudinal axis and opposite ends. A first rolling member has a concave surface and a first axial dimension and is mounted at one end of the handle for rotation about a fixed axis extending laterally of the longitudinal axis of the handle. A second rolling member has a convex surface and a second axial dimension and is rotatably mounted at the opposite end of the handle. The axial dimension of the first rolling member is greater than the axial dimension of the second rolling member. The applicator further includes means for mounting the first and second rolling members to respective opposite ends of the handle.
The means for mounting each of the first and second rolling members to the handle may comprise at least one support having a rolling member-engaging end and a handle-engaging end and at least one supporting member for the rolling member extending from the rolling member-engaging end of the support and allowing for rotation of the rolling member.
The present invention concerns an applicator for applying a cosmetic, and in particular, the invention relates to a double-ended roller applicator for applying a cosmetic to the skin of the face and the neck. The majority of roller applicators on the market have a cylindrical geometry, indicating that a flat applicator surface will be applied to skin surfaces having compound curves. A flat application is not be suitable for evenly coating flexible convex or concave surfaces such as the skin of the face and neck with a makeup foundation, and is likely to leave streaks or areas of inconsistent makeup thickness or uniformity on the skin. To overcome the deficiencies of known applicators, the present invention provides an applicator in the form of a concave-convex roller assembly, including a first rolling member and a second rolling member. The first rolling member has a greater surface area and axial dimension than does the second rolling member. The first rolling member, having a broad concave surface with rounded edges, is designed to closely follow the profile of the skin on broad, minimally detailed areas of the face, such as the cheeks, the chin and forehead, and the neck. The detailed, deep or confined areas of the face can be effectively covered by a second, smaller, “ball-like” convex rolling member. The term “ball-like” is intended to include any structure which is capable of demonstrating the freedom of rotation associated with a roller ball. Thus, the second rolling member may be described as a ball, a wheel, or the like. Unlike fixed wheels, however, which move in a straight line, the second rolling members of applicators according to the present invention, function like a ball and can move in any direction, making easy turns with minimal effort.
The cosmetic applicator of the present invention therefore has two distinct and specialized rolling members of different and specific shapes/contours disposed at opposite ends of the applicator to conform to the various aspects of the face; a broad concave rolling member for covering large surfaces of skin on the face, and a narrower convex, ball-like rolling member for blending makeup foundation into small, difficult to access detailed areas of the face. The applicator of the present invention is designed so that the rolling members work in a complentary fashion to provide complete and even coverage and blending across different skin surfaces. The “open” areas of the face that need uniform coverage are in fact convex surfaces that benefit from a concave roller surface in terms of receiving even coverage, including the cheeks, the chin, the forehead and the neck. The convex roller surface more easily conforms to the small, tight areas of the face such as the nose, and the eye areas having typically concave surfaces requiring detailed application. The combination of these two types of surfaces, a concave surface and a convex surface, and the concave surface being of greater axial dimension and/or surface area than the axial dimension and/or surface area of the convex surface, accommodates the entire face/neck, the rolling members complementing one another sufficiently to blend foundation in the areas where the different skin surfaces meet.
The applicator of the present invention therefore comprises a first rolling member having a broad concave surface at one end thereof and a second rolling member having a convex surface at the opposite end thereof, a handle, i.e., that portion of the applicator which separates the first and second rolling members, and means for mounting the first and second rolling members to opposite ends of the handle. The first rolling member has a greater axial length than does the second rolling member. The first rolling member is mounted on the applicator so as to rotate about a fixed axis lateral to the longitudinal axis of the applicator, and will move in straight paths along the skin, in line with the longitudinal axis of the applicator. The second rolling member is mounted on the applicator so as to travel along both straight and curved paths, automatically adjusting between positions as the applicator is moved along the skin surface.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, as shown in
Referring to
As further indicated in
Applicators according to the present invention preferably have a length in the range of from about 75 mm to about 100 mm, such as from about 85-95 mm. The first rolling member may have an axial dimension (length) which is in the range of from about 25 mm to about 30 mm, with a diameter in the range of from about 8 mm to about 12 mm. The second rolling member may have an axial dimension (width) which is in the range of from about 6 mm to about 10 mm, and a diameter in the range of from about 9 mm to about 14 mm. Therefore, the axial length of the first rolling member is less than the axial length of the second rolling member. In preferred embodiments of the present invention the ratio of the axial dimension of the first rolling member to the axial dimension of the second rolling member is in the range of from about 2:1 to about 5:1, for example, from about 3:1 to about 4:1.
As shown in
The handle 3 and the first yoke 25 may be of a unitary construction. However, other suitable means of engagement are possible. As non-limiting examples, the handle 3 and the first yoke 25 could be integrally molded from different materials, or the first yoke 25 could be snap-fit to the handle 3.
The second yoke 31 may be secured to the handle 3 by any suitable means known in the art which will allow the second yoke 31 to rotate freely or swivel 360° in either direction relative to the intersection 41 of longitudinal axes L and L1 of the handle 3 and the second yoke 31, respectively. Such means may comprise, but are not limited to, a gimbal mount; a universal joint; a knuckle joint; a dual joint, or the like. In a preferred embodiment of the applicator shown in
Referring to
For ease of illustration, the first rolling member 13 and the second rolling member 15 are shown as axially symmetric, the first rolling member 13 being symmetric across its length, and the second rolling member 15 being symmetric across its width. However, it would be readily recognized that the rolling members 13, 15 may also be asymmetric as long as each has an effective convex and concave profile conducive to skin application. It is believed that this range of shapes conforms to the most common compound curves/surfaces on the face and neck.
The at least one support for mounting each of the first and second rolling members to the handle may further comprise at least one supporting member allowing for rotation of the rolling members on their respective supports. Such supporting members may comprise any suitable means known in the art, and include, but are not limited to, axles; pins; magnetic connectors; cooperatively mating structures, such as projections and recesses; and the like. In one preferred embodiment of the applicator of the present invention, the connecting means are cooperatively mating structures. In a preferred embodiment of the applicator of
In other preferred embodiments of the present invention, once an applicator according to the present invention is molded, flock may be applied to one or both of the first and second rolling members. The process of flocking is a standard one, well-known in the art. Short fibers or particles, which may be of any commonly used material, such as nylon, polyester, or any natural fiber, are applied with an adhesive, such as an epoxy, to the surface to be flocked. Preferably, the flocking process takes place in an electrostatic field, which results in the proper orientation of the fibers which typically have a height of about 0.25-0.3 mm. The flock on the application surface provides a convenient “reservoir” which can hold a desired amount of cosmetic product, such as foundation, for application to the skin of the face and/or neck. The product is loaded onto the flocking by simple rubbing of the product against the flock, such as by rolling the applicator surface along the surface of the product, for example, contained in a pan. As a non-limiting example, and as shown in
It is particularly preferred, when the second rolling member is flocked and a relatively viscous cosmetic is to be applied to the skin, that the second yoke engage the handle in a manner which allows the flocked second rolling member to have the freedom of rotation which emulates a roller ball, but without the disadvantages attributable to the roller ball. Thus, the ability of a dual joint, for example, to rotate freely also enables the flocked second rolling member to move along straight and curved paths on the skin, and thus conform to and distribute product to tight areas of the face, such as creases around the nose, chin and eye areas. A conventional (unflocked) smooth roller ball is less well-adapted to distribute more viscous type products in these tight areas, since the ball relies on a minimum of friction between the ball and the cup or cradle that holds the roller ball in the applicator to move freely. The amount of friction would be too great between a plastic or metal ball which is flocked (and covered in product) and the cup that is holding it for the roller ball to move efficiently. Additionally, the area of contact of the roller ball with the skin would be limited to the opening in the cup. On the other hand, applicators of the present invention include a second rolling member, e.g., a wheel, which engages the handle by means of a dual joint, is free to rotate or swivel about multiple axes and thus function in a similar way to the roller ball but which will not be detrimentally affected by friction in the same way as is the roller ball. Moreover, the area of contact of the convex roller with the skin would be greater than when using the roller ball or ball-bearing type mechanism. Nevertheless, where flocking is not utilized, it would be readily understood by those skilled in the art that the roller ball would be entirely suitable for use as the second rolling member, particularly in applications in which a low viscosity cosmetic material is applied to the skin.
Thus, in accordance with further embodiments of applicators according to the present invention, the second rolling member may be a ball. The ball may be secured to the applicator by any suitable means known in the art which will allow the ball to rotate freely or swivel about at an end of the applicator in any direction. Suitable means for securing the ball to the handle may include a ball and socket construction, as illustrated in the partial view shown in
The applicators of the present invention may conveniently be made by injection molding, bi- or multi-injection molding, extrusion, vacuum forming, or thermoforming, casting or additive-manufacturing (layer by layer 3D printing) of thermoplastic or thermoset plastics, metals, ceramic, elastomers, or any of a variety or combination of ferrous or non-ferrous alloys or polymer resins common the cosmetic, pharmaceutical, treatment, or consumer goods packaging industries. Plastic materials suitable for injection molding may include, for example, styrene, acrylonitrile-butadiene styrene terpolymer (ABS), polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), polyoxymethylene (POM), polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE) or polycarbonate (PC). In addition, the handle may be covered with a relatively more elastic material to provide the handle with a “soft-touch” grip (not shown). Suitable materials for the soft-touch grip are, for example, elastomer thermoplastics (e.g., Santoprene®) or silicone rubber.
The rolling members may be of solid construction and be formed of plastic, ceramic, metal, elastomeric material, foamed (cellular) material, and the like, of any density useful for applying a cosmetic to a skin surface. Preferably, when flocking will be applied, the rolling members are not formed from metal. The rolling members may also be composed of multiple materials; for example, the core could be rigid plastic and the surface of the rolling member could be elastomeric or flexible. These configurations could provide the rolling members with a degree of stiffness or with a combination of rollability such as a flexible plastic pin that rolls against the applicator, but will bend a small amount when in contact with the skin. Typically, the durometer of the materials forming the rolling members will be the range of from about 40 Shore A to about 72 Shore D. It will be appreciated that the applicator may be constructed so that the rolling members are removable for cleaning and/or replacement.
It will be recognized that although the applicators are described herein as well-adapted for use on the facial/neck skin area of a user; their use is not limited in this way, as the applicators may also be used with any eye, lip, facial, or body applicator technologies and methods common to the cosmetic, pharmaceutical, treatment, or consumer goods packaging industries. Thus, the applicator may be used in cosmetic, treatment, or pharmaceutical packages, for product delivery of for example, concealers, lip gloss/treatments, sun protection/tanning products, foundations, whitening products, lotions, anti-acne preparations, nail polish, skin cleansers/exfoliants, massaging and topical/skin care products.
While the invention has been described and illustrated as embodied in preferred forms of construction, it will be understood that various modifications may be made in the structure and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention recited in the following claims.
