Patent Application
20080142406
This invention relates to a flexible, flow-through cosmetic or pharmaceutical container including a small, spatula-shaped, flexible applicator with an internal channel through which a cosmetic or pharmaceutical product flows to an exit port connected to the internal channel at an angle, e.g., of about 90°.
This invention concerns a container for housing and dispensing a cosmetic or a pharmaceutical material which may be in liquid, gel or powder form. The container includes an applicator that delivers a small amount of cosmetic or pharmaceutical material from a reservoir in the container to, e.g., one's skin. Preferably, each use of the applicator results in the transfer of an amount of pharmaceutical or cosmetic that is suitable for an individual application to a specific location on the skin, e.g., the face, the hands, and the body. This is advantageous in circumstances where a user is attempting to apply fine lines of cosmetic without the blurring effect of having a surplus of cosmetic on the applicator. The applicator may be spatula-shaped, may be elastomeric, and includes an internal channel through which a cosmetic or pharmaceutical material or product flows to an opening, an external exit port, that may be located at or near the distal end of the applicator and at or near the distal end of the channel. The exit port is connected to the channel, and may be at an angle of, e.g., about 90° to the channel, or at another suitable angle.
The applicator may be made of a soft, flexible elastomer such as Santoprene, is fabric free, and is soft enough to use around the face or eyes with minimal pressure. The applicator may also have a sponge type covering, e.g., a mitt, extending over the exit port and the end of the applicator.
With reference now to the drawings,
See
Friction fitted into proximal end 29 of body portion 11 is piston assembly 30. Assembly 30 includes piston 13 that engages the internal sidewalls of body portion 11, washer 14 that has a polygonal periphery to engage a complementary surface on the internal sidewalls of body portion 11, driver screw 15, and rotatable driver screw actuator 12 to drive piston 13 through the inside of body portion 11. Piston 13 propels cosmetic or pharmaceutical material in reservoir 16 toward and through the channel 19 in applicator 20
In use, body portion 11 is friction fitted with applicator 20 and ferrule 17 at its distal end 26, body portion reservoir 16 is filled with a cosmetic or pharmaceutical material, and driver screw assembly 30 is friction fitted into the proximal end 29 of body portion 11. Rotation of actuator 12 moves piston 13 toward the distal end of body portion 11, and propels the material in reservoir 16 into channel 19 to exit from port 21.
Applicator 20 may have a sponge-like covering over surfaces 22 and opening 21. Applicator 20 may be made of a soft, flexible elastomer such as Santoprene, and may be tapered from its proximal to its distal end. In some embodiments, the applicator may be about 0.2 to about 0.3 inch in width, about 0.3 to about 0.4 inch in length and about—in thickness. The exit port may be about 0.04 to about 0.07 inch in diameter in such embodiments.
Although the foregoing description sets forth an embodiment in specific detail, alterations, variations and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. As such, the inventors desire to avail themselves of all such variations, alterations and/or modifications, and the invention should not be limited by the aforesaid specific embodiment.
