Patent Application
20090044825
The present invention relates generally to makeup artistry, and more particularly to a holder for cosmetics and accessories that can be mounted to an appendage of a makeup artist or other user to facilitate application of the cosmetics to others.
Cosmetics, such as foundations, blushes, eye shadows, lipsticks, and so on, are often used in various broadcast, theatrical, movie and medical industries for enhancing or diminishing a person's features as well as creating special effects such as scars, blemishes, special character attributes, and so on. These cosmetics come in a myriad of styles, materials, colors and consistencies, such as oil-, water-, alcohol- and mineral-based pastes, creams, powders, gels, and sticks and are typically applied with brushes, pencils, pads, and so on. Such cosmetics are often mixed in various combinations to create other materials, colors and/or consistencies depending on such factors as a person's natural skin tone, features and preferences, background and foreground colors and lighting, clothing or costume colors, as well as the mood or ambiance requirements associate with a particular set or scene.
Since many situations require the makeup artist to go from one actor or actress to another on an expedited basis, a large number of cosmetic containers and accessories are carried in a bag or other carrier. However, rummaging through a bag to locate a particular cosmetic case, color and/or accessory can be both time consuming and stressful. In addition, when the particular cosmetic case is found, it is typically held in one hand of the makeup artist while the other hand is free for applying the makeup, thus reducing the efficiency of the makeup artist even more. In some situations where a scar, cut or other special effects must be applied to a person lying on the ground for a particular scene, the makeup artist's balance may be compromised while holding one or more cosmetic cases with one hand and applicators or other accessories with the other hand.
Accordingly, it would be desirous to facilitate the carrying and selection of cosmetics and accessories while freeing both hands for applying the cosmetics to a person in any required position. It would also be desirous to provide a plurality of cosmetic cases that can be simultaneously held or carried by a user without limiting the usefulness of one or both hands.
According to one aspect of the invention a cosmetic holder comprises a mounting base adapted for mounting to an appendage of a user; a first cosmetic container for storing at least one of a cosmetic and a cosmetic accessory; and a swivel joint connected between the mounting base and the cosmetic container for adjusting a position of the cosmetic container with respect to the mounting base.
According to a further aspect of the invention, a cosmetic kit comprises a mounting base adapted for mounting to an appendage of a user; and a plurality of cosmetic containers interchangeably connectable to the mounting base. Each cosmetic container has a different combination of cosmetics and/or cosmetic accessories.
The foregoing summary as well as the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention will be best understood when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like designations denote like elements throughout the drawings, and wherein:
It is noted that the drawings are intended to depict only typical embodiments of the invention and therefore should not be considered as limiting the scope thereof. In addition, the drawings may not necessarily be to scale. The invention will now be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Referring to the drawings, and to
With additional reference to
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The clamping member 42 preferably has a yoke portion 60 that is similar in shape to the side wall 26 and a threaded shaft portion 62 that extends from a center of the yoke portion 60 and engages the threaded bore 58 of the adjustment knob 36. In use, as the adjustment knob 36 is rotated in the clockwise or counter-clockwise direction, the yoke portion 60 is moved toward or away from the side wall 28, as represented by arrow 64 in
As best shown in
The mounting block 32, 34 preferably includes a dovetail-shaped slot 72 for receiving the dovetail-shaped projection 30 of the mounting base 14 and an upper semi-spherically shaped surface 74 that intersects with the central opening 68 and forms an upper socket portion for the ball 70. An inner threaded bore 76 is formed in the mounting base 14 in alignment with the opening 68.
The lower socket portion 71 preferably includes outer threads 78 that engage the threaded bore 76 of the mounting block 32, 34. A lower semi-spherical surface 80 is shaped to receive the ball 70 and a slot 82 is formed in the lower socket portion 72 for engagement with the blade of a screwdriver (not shown) in order to install the lower socket portion in the mounting block.
During assembly, the pivot rod 66 and ball 70 are inserted into the mounting block 32, 34 until the ball seats against the upper surface 74 and the pivot rod extends out of the central opening 68. The lower socket portion 71 is then screwed into the mounting block until the lower surface 80 seats against the ball 70. In this manner, the ball 70 is sandwiched between the upper and lower semi-spherical surfaces 74 and 80, respectively. The compressive force against the ball 70 can be adjusted by tightening or loosening the lower socket portion 71. In this manner, the pivot rod 66, and thus the attached cosmetic container 16, can be pivoted or swiveled about three mutually perpendicular axes, as represented by numeral 75 in
The mounting plate 73 preferably has a central threaded opening 84 that engages external threads 86 of the pivot rod 66 for securing the mounting plate and pivot rod together. It will be understood that other means for securing the components together can be used, including but not limited to adhesive bonding, welding, press-fitting, magnetic attraction, hook and loop fasteners, and so on. Alternatively, the mounting plate 73 and pivot rod 66 may be formed as a unitary structure. A pair of elongate clips 88 extend upwardly from the mounting plate 73 for removably receiving the cosmetic container 16.
The cosmetic container 16 preferably includes a tray portion 90 and a cover portion 92 pivotally connected to the tray portion through a hinge pin 93. Elongate grooves 94 are formed in opposite sides of the tray portion 90 for receiving the elongate clips 88 of the mounting plate 73 in a snap-fit engagement to thereby releasably connect the cosmetic container 16 to the mounting base 14. The tray portion 90 and the cover portion 92 can have one or more compartments, as shown for example by compartments 95, 96, 98, 100, and 102, for receiving and/or storing cosmetics and cosmetic accessories as may be required by a user. By way of example, the compartments may include different combinations of makeup colors, pastes, creams, powders, gels, sticks and so on, as well as cosmetic accessories such as brushes, pencils, pads, mirrors, and so on.
The compartments can be integrally formed with the tray and cover portions. In accordance with a further embodiment of the invention, as shown in
It will be understood that the cosmetic container 16 may include only the tray portion 90 or cover portion 92 and/or may be of any desired size, shape and/or configuration with any number of compartments. It will be further understood that the cosmetic container 16 can be removably connected to the swivel joint 18 or mounting base 14 through other well known connection means, such as magnets, hook and loop fasteners, double-sided adhesive tape, latches, clamps, removable fasteners, and so on.
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The upper band portion 184 has a generally straight section 188 to which a dovetail-shaped projection 30 is attached, a first curved section 190 and a second curved section 192 extending from the straight section in opposite directions. Each curved section 190 and 192 includes an elongate slot 194 and 195, respectively, through which the flexible band portion 186 extends. A strip of flexible foam padding material 196, such as memory foam, is attached to a lower surface 198 of the upper band portion 184 to provide a more comfortable and secure fit for the user.
The lower band portion 186 is preferably constructed of a flexible strip of material and includes a loop section 200 that extends through the slot 195 and a loop section 202 that extends through the slot 194. The loop section 200 is preferably formed by inserting an end 204 of the lower band portion 186 through the slot 195 then securing the end 204 to the lower band portion such as by sewing, adhesive bonding, or any other well-known manner. First and second strips 206, 208 of hook and loop material are located on one surface 210 of the lower band portion 186. In order to adjust and secure the cosmetic holder 180 around the hand, wrist or other body part of a user, the body part is slipped through the opening 212 formed by the upper and lower band portions 184 and 186, respectively. The end 214 of the lower band portion 184 is then pulled until the lower and upper band portions are snug against the body part. The hook and loop strips 206, 208 are then pressed together to secure the lower band portion against movement.
An accessory holder 216 is preferably removably connected to the lower band portion 184 and includes a body 218 with a pair of spaced bores 220, 222 that extend through the body 218 for receiving cosmetic accessories such as brushes. A strip 224 of hook and loop material is located on an opposite surface 228 of the lower band portion 186 and a strip 226 of hook and loop material is located on the body 218 for engaging the strip 224. With this arrangement, the position of the accessory holder 216 can be adjusted along the length of the lower band portion 186 to accommodate different sizes of hands, wrists or other body parts and the particular preferences of the user.
A carabiner clip or snap ring 230 preferably extends through the loop section 200 so that the cosmetic holder can be conveniently carried on the clothing of a user, such as on a belt or belt loop, as well as any other convenient object or location.
Referring now to
It will be understood that any of the above cosmetic holder embodiments may be used singly or in combination. By way of example, the cosmetic holder 16 may be mounted to the hand of a user while the cosmetic holder 180 may be mounted to the wrist, forearm, or other body part of a user. Likewise, a plurality of the same cosmetic holder 16, 150, 160 or 180 may be mounted to both the hand and wrist and/or other body parts of a user.
It will be understood that the term “preferably” as used throughout the specification refers to one or more exemplary embodiments of the invention and therefore is not to be interpreted in any limiting sense. It will be further understood that the term “connect” and its various derivatives as may be used throughout the specification refer to components that may be removably or permanently attached together either directly or through one or more intermediate members. Moreover, terms of orientation and/or position as may be used throughout the specification relate to relative, rather than absolute, orientations and/or positions.
It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes could be made to the embodiments described above without departing from the broad inventive concept thereof. By way of example, the dovetail mounting arrangement in each of the above-described embodiments may be replaced with any well-known connection means, such as mutually engaging projections, clamps, fasteners, magnets, double adhesive tape, hook and loop fasteners, adhesive bonding, welding, and so on. It will be understood, therefore, that this invention is not limited to the particular embodiments disclosed, but is intended to cover modifications within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.
