Patent Application
20220265028
The present disclosure generally relates to a cosmetic applicator for applying a product including a cosmetic, care or pharmaceutical product, onto keratinous substrate such as skin, lips, under eyes, eyelids, cheeks, nails or any other part of the body.
Many Cosmetic product applicator assemblies conventionally include a container in which cosmetic products which are flow able or otherwise non-self-sustaining in shape, are packaged and sold. The cosmetic product is transferred and applied from the container by the cosmetic applicator to a user's skin. Generally, the cosmetic applicator is attached to a rod at one end. The rod's other end is connected to a cap suitable for being attached to a neck of the container. When the cap is attached to the neck, the rod and the applicator extend inside the container. The cap serves as a handle for the user when the cosmetic applicator, bearing a quantity of the cosmetic product, is withdrawn from the container and applied to the skin.
In some instances, in order to engage the cosmetic applicator as the cosmetic applicator is withdrawn through the opening, a flexible elastomeric wiper is mounted in the container opening, for removing excess cosmetic product that may be carried from the body of cosmetic product by the cosmetic applicator.
Applicators for cosmetics or other substances, such as drugs, are known in various designs and forms. For example, reference is made to the U.S. Pat. No. 7,677,826 and the U.S. Pat. No. 9,955,770.
Another prior art U.S. Pat. No. 7,677,826 B2 discloses a device may include an applicator including an applicator element that is at least partially elastically deformable and a receptacle configured to contain a Substance to be applied and configured to house the applicator element when not in use. The receptacle may include an opening through which the applicator element passes while the applicator element is being removed from the receptacle. The applicator element may include at least one inner cavity that is defined, at least in part, between at least two branches that are at least partially flocked. An outside cross-section of the applicator element may be large enough for the applicator element to deform while passing through the opening of the receptacle, the deformation resulting in a shape of the cavity being modified.
Another prior art U.S. Pat. No. 9,955,770 discloses an applicator for applying a composition, such as makeup or care product composition, e.g. lip gloss, mascara, eye linear, hair color, and wound care, pharmaceutical or like, that have diverse application characteristics. The applicator comprises an applicator element comprising a support and a layout of fibers on at least a portion of the support, the fibers being flocked to at least portion of the support, the fibers being flocked to at least portion of the support and allow the applicator element to be loaded with the composition. The layout of fibers defines a pattern of fibers on the support and the patterns of fibers is visible to naked eye and perceptible to touch.
Not all known applicators are convenient and designed to apply cosmetic products precisely over a large area and at the same time amounts extensive quantity of cosmetic product for example to the skin.
Thus there is a need for a cosmetic applicator which enables a gentle application while covering a large area during application.
It is an object of the present disclosure to provide a cosmetic package that can be easily configured to contain a product and a cosmetic applicator.
It is an object of the present disclosure to provide a cosmetic applicator which is very simple to use, economical to manufacture and aesthetically pleasing.
It is an object of the present disclosure to provide a cosmetic applicator which provides a soft feel on skin of a user during application.
Accordingly, there is provided a cosmetic applicator for applying a cosmetic bulk on a keratinous surface like human skin, lips, eyelashes, under eyes, cheeks, or any other part of the body. The cosmetic applicator comprises an applying member at its distal portion and a shank at its proximal portion. The applying member comprises a first application face and a second application face opposite to the first application face. The applying member is provided with a plurality of bulged portions on the second application face and wherein opposite surface of the plurality of bulged portions form a corresponding plurality of depressed portions on the first application face.
According to an aspect of the present disclosure, the applying member further comprises two peripheral edges that bound the first application face and the second application face, the two peripheral edges are namely a first peripheral edge and a second peripheral edge opposite the first peripheral edge. The first peripheral edge and the second peripheral edge converge towards the distal end of the applying member to form a pointed tip.
According to an aspect of the present disclosure, the bulged portions extend from the first peripheral edge towards a central longitudinal axis of the applying member on the second application face. Each bulged portion may have a cross section curve with a varying width along its entire length, and wherein the width of cross section curve of the each bulged portion being maximum near the first peripheral edge. The length of a bulged portion is measured from an edge of the bulged portion closest to the central longitudinal axis of the applying member to an outer edge of said bulged portion.
In an alternate embodiment, each bulged portion may consist of a central wall and a pair of opposing side walls giving the bulged portion a generally trapezoidal cross-section. In yet alternate embodiments, at least one of the bulged portions may a cross section with a substantially equal width along its entire length.
According to yet another aspect of the present disclosure, each bulged portion has a substantially varying height along its entire length and width. In alternate embodiments, however, at least one of the bulged portions may have a substantially constant height along its entire length and width. In the exemplary embodiment, the height of the each of the bulged portions is maximum closest to the first peripheral edge.
According to yet another aspect of the present disclosure, the bulged portions are protruded features which are sculptured from the surface of the second application face. The bulged portions are formed as a reverse portion of the depressed portions of the first application face.
According to yet another aspect of the present disclosure, the plurality of the bulged portions tend to increase the contact area of the second application face of the applying member.
According to yet another aspect of the present disclosure, each bulged portion is convex in shape and each of the depressed portions is in the form a concave cavity that can hold a sufficient amount of bulk. The first application face dispenses the bulk stored in depressed portions during application. More particularly, each bulged portion has an arched structure and each depressed portion is like a hollow bowl that can hold a cosmetic product.
The bulged portions have the massaging capability to give a sensational massage effect when applied to a keratinous surface like human skin, lips, under eyes, cheeks, or any other part of the body. At least one of the bulged portions may have at least one protrusion on its surface capable of providing a soft touch effect when applied on a human skin surface.
Furthermore, the bulged portions and the opposing depressed portions are located such that they are spaced apart from a skirt present at a proximal end of the applying member, and are spaced apart from the tip of the applying member.
According to yet another aspect of the present disclosure, the applying member is substantially planar or flat except in the areas with bulging portions. The planar or flat means the applying member has a width greater than its thickness. Both the first and second application faces, comprising generally partially flat surface that can be used to apply and blend a cosmetic bulk on a keratinous surface like human skin.
At least some portions of the first peripheral edge comprise and define the outer free edges of the bulged portions and the depressed portions of the applying member. The first peripheral edge has a convexly curved profile when seen from along the longitudinal axis from the pointed tip to the skirt of the applying member. The first peripheral edge extends in more than one plane as the bulged portions of the first peripheral edge projects out from a mid-plane in which the rest of the applying member lies.
The second peripheral edge extends from the pointed tip to the skirt of the applying member. The second peripheral edge has a convexly curved profile when seen from along the longitudinal axis from the pointed tip to the skirt of the applying member. The second peripheral edge has a sufficient width such as it can be used to reach the narrow part of the user's body, and thus the second peripheral edge can be used for precision application of the cosmetic bulk on the user's skin.
According to yet another aspect of the present disclosure, the pointed tip of the applying member is off-centered from the central longitudinal axis of the cosmetic applicator. In alternate embodiments, the tip may be rounded and/or may lie on the central longitudinal axis of the cosmetic applicator.
In an embodiment, the free edges of bulged portions on the first peripheral edge are uniformly spaced from one another by flat portions of the applying member, however, in alternate embodiments, they may or may not be uniformly spaced.
The bulged portions may or may not extend in parallel directions. As seen, the bulged portions are substantially non-parallel with one another. Furthermore, according to another aspect, the bulged portions may be different from one another in shape and size.
In an embodiment, the applying member comprises three bulged portions and wherein the free edges of the three bulged portions represent at least 60% of the first peripheral edge, and still better at least 80% of the first peripheral edge. The three bulged portions are of different sizes, wherein a first bulged portion of the three bulged portions is located below the pointed tip of the applying member and a third bulged portion of the three bulged portions is located just above the skirt of the applying member. The second bulged portion of the three bulged portions is located in the area between the first and the second bulged portions of the three bulged portions. The first bulged portion being the largest and the third bulged portion being the smallest in size. More particularly, the width and height of the first bulged portion are greatest among the three bulged portions. The opposing depressed portions of the applying member thus correspond to the shape and size of the corresponding three bulged portions, and thus accordingly three corresponding depressed portions of the applying member have different depths and widths. The storage capacity for holding cosmetic bulk is thus different for each of the three depressed portions according to its size.
According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a cosmetic package is equipped with a cosmetic applicator of the present disclosure. The cosmetic package comprises a container having a containing capacity inside for storing the cosmetic bulk, and an applicator comprising a cap to protect the bulk stored inside the container, a shaft connecting the cap to the cosmetic applicator through a shank of the cosmetic applicator. Further, a wiper is provided in a neck of the container to clean the shaft and also remove the extra bulk from the applying member of the cosmetic applicator.
According to an aspect of the present disclosure, the applying member of the cosmetic applicator is flocked with fibers from the pointed tip to the skirt of the applying member. The flocking on the applying member provides both comfort and sensorial feel when applied on the human skin surface. The shank may not be flocked. Preferably, the shank is a flockless structure that extends proximally from the skirt.
The cosmetic bulk is loaded in the depressed portions on the first application face of the applying member when the cosmetic applicator is inserted in the container. When the cosmetic applicator is withdrawn from an opening of the container, the bulged portions of the applying member frictionally contact with the wiper member, and while the cosmetic bulk is retained inside the depressed portions on the opposite sides of the bulged portions.
According to yet another aspect of the present disclosure, the shaft comprises a cavity at a distal end thereof to receive and retain the shank of the applicator head for coupling the applicator head with the shank. The shank of the cosmetic applicator comprises an annular groove that receives a corresponding annular protrusion provided in the cavity of the shaft.
According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the cosmetic applicator is preferably formed of an elastomeric material e.g. in a material selected from the following list: elastomers; thermoplastic elastomers. However, in alternate embodiments, the cosmetic applicator may be formed from any suitable rigid or flexible material known in the art.
Further, the first application face and the opposing second application face of the cosmetic applicator may also have different surface properties, in particular application properties.
According to an embodiment, container and the cap may be made of a rigid material like glass, metal, plastic or any other material known in the art. However, in alternate embodiments, the container and the cap may be made of a flexible material like flexible polymeric material or any other material known in the art.
According to an embodiment, the container is of an elongated cylindrical configuration. However, in alternate embodiments, the receptacle may be of an elongated square, polygonal configuration, oval, triangular, heart, or any other configuration known in the art.
According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the shaft can have a longitudinal axis that is rectilinear. However, in alternate embodiments, it could be curved.
According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a longitudinal axis of the shaft coincides with the central longitudinal axis of the cosmetic applicator. However, in alternate embodiments, the longitudinal axis of the shaft may not coincide with the central longitudinal axis of the cosmetic applicator.
It will be understood that the foregoing is only illustrative of the principles of the disclosure, and that various modifications can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the disclosure. For example, the shapes and/or sizes of various components can be different from the shapes and sizes described herein. As another example, the materials used for various components can be different from those mentioned specifically herein.
A more complete appreciation of the present disclosure and many of the attendant advantages thereof will be readily obtained as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
As shown throughout the drawings, like reference numerals designate like or corresponding parts.
Throughout this specification, the terms “comprise,” “comprises,” “comprising” and the like, shall consistently mean that a collection of objects is not limited to those objects specifically recited.
As shown in
The applying member 6 is provided with a plurality of bulged portions 4 on the second application face 12, and wherein back sides of the bulged portions 4 form a corresponding plurality of depressed portions 20 on the first application face 22. The bulged portions 4 extend from the first peripheral edge 16 towards a central longitudinal axis X of the applying member 6 on the second application face 12.
As seen in
In an alternate embodiment, (not shown) each bulged portion 4 may consist of a central wall and a pair of opposing side walls giving the bulged portion 4 a generally trapezoidal cross-section. In yet alternate embodiments, (not shown) at least one of the bulged portions 4 may a cross section with a substantially equal width along its entire length.
Further, as shown
The bulged portions 4 are protruded features which are sculptured from the surface of the second application face 12. The bulged portions 4 are formed as reverse portions of the depressed portions 20 of the first application face 22.
The plurality of the bulged portions 4 tend to increase the contact area of the second application face 12 of the applying member 6.
Further, as clearly visible in
The bulged portions 4 have the massaging capability to give a sensational massage effect when applied to a keratinous surface like human skin, lips, under eyes, cheeks, or any other part of the body. At least one of the bulged portions 4 may have at least one protrusion on its surface capable of providing a soft touch effect when applied on a human skin surface.
Furthermore, the bulged portions 4 and the opposing depressed portions 20 are located such that they are spaced apart from a skirt 10 present at a proximal end of the applying member 6, and are spaced apart from the tip 2 of the applying member 6.
The applying member 6 is substantially planar or flat except in the areas with bulging portions 4. The term “planar” or “flat” means the applying member 6 has a width W2 (
At least some portions of the first peripheral edge 16 comprise and define the outer free edges of the bulged portions 4 and the depressed portions 20 of the applying member 6. The first peripheral edge 16 has a convexly curved profile when seen from along the longitudinal axis X from the pointed tip 2 to the skirt 10 of the applying member 6. The first peripheral edge 16 extends in more than one plane as the bulged portions of the first peripheral edge 16 projects out from a mid-plane in which the rest of the applying member 6 lies.
The second peripheral edge 14 extends from the pointed tip 2 to the skirt 10 of the applying member 6. The second peripheral edge 14 has a convexly curved profile when seen from along the longitudinal axis X from the pointed tip 2 to the skirt 10 of the applying member 6. The second peripheral edge 14 has a sufficient width such as it can be used to reach at the narrow part of the user's body, and thus the second peripheral edge 14 can be used for precision application of the cosmetic bulk on the user's skin.
As shown in
In the exemplary embodiment, referring
The bulged portions 4 may or may not extend in parallel directions. As seen in
In the exemplary embodiment, the applying member 6 comprises three bulged portions 4 and wherein the free edges of the three bulged portions 4 represent at least 60% of the first peripheral edge 16, and still better at least 80% of the first peripheral edge 16. The three bulged portions 4 are of different sizes, wherein first bulged portions 4a of the three bulged portions 4 is located below the pointed tip 2 of the applying member 6 and a third bulged portion 4c is located just above the skirt 10 of the applying member 6. The second bulged portion 4b is located in the area between the first and the second bulged portions 4a, 4b. The first bulged portion being the largest and the third bulged portion being the smallest in size. More particularly, the width and the height of the first bulged portion 4a are greatest among the three bulged portions 4. The opposing depressed portions 20 of the applying member thus correspond to the shape and size of the corresponding three bulged portions 4, and thus accordingly three corresponding depressed portions 20 of the applying member have different depths and widths. The storage capacity for holding cosmetic bulk is thus different for each of the three depressed portions 20 according to its size.
According to an aspect of the present disclosure, the applying member of the cosmetic applicator 1 is flocked with fibers from the pointed tip 2 to the skirt 10, see
The cosmetic bulk is loaded in the depressed portions 20 on the first application face 22 of the applying member 6 when the cosmetic applicator 1 is inserted in the container 32. When the cosmetic applicator 1 is withdrawn from an opening of the container 32, the bulged portions 4 of the applying member 6 frictionally contact with the wiper member 24 and while the cosmetic bulk is retained inside the depressed portions 20 on the opposite sides of the bulged portions 4.
The shaft 30 comprises a cavity 34 at a distal end thereof to receive and retain the shank of the applicator head for coupling the applicator head with the shank 30. The shank 8 of the cosmetic applicator 1 comprises an annular groove 28 that receives a corresponding annular protrusion provided in the cavity of the shaft.
In general, the use of the terms “distal” and “proximal” herein is supposed to mean that the distal side/end is the side/end facing towards the tip 2 of the cosmetic applicator 1, whereas the proximal side/end is the side/end downward and away from the pointed tip 2.
According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the cosmetic applicator is preferably formed of an elastomeric material e.g. in a material selected from the following list: elastomers; thermoplastic elastomers. However, in alternate embodiments, the cosmetic applicator may be formed from any suitable rigid or flexible material known in the art.
While illustrative embodiments of the present disclosure have been described and illustrated above, it should be understood that these are exemplary of the disclosure and are not to be considered as limiting. Additions, delbetions, substitutions, and other modifications can be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the present disclosure. Accordingly, the present disclosure is not to be considered as limited by the foregoing description.
