FLOCKED COSMETIC APPLICATORS

Abstract

Flocked cosmetic applicators have a mounting post connected to an applicator tip by a flexing element. The flexing element has a cutaway, reduced diameter portion, which may be provided by horizontal grooves formed on opposite sides of the flexing element, to provide flexibility by reducing its cross-sectional area. The applicator tip has a body and one or more flocked applicator surfaces. Preferred embodiments of the applicator tip include applicator surfaces which are angled relative to the body, and include a doefoot body, a flexible body, and a spatula body. A preferred applicator tip has a convex applicator surface. The design permits use of lower cost materials yet provides the sensation of softness to the user.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top, front and left side perspective view of a first embodiment (referred to as the doefoot embodiment) of a Flocked Cosmetic Applicator in accordance with the present invention upon removal from a mold and prior to application of flocking;

FIG. 2 is a left side elevation view thereof;

FIG. 3 is a right side elevation view thereof;

FIG. 4 is a front elevation view thereof;

FIG. 5 is a rear elevation view thereof;

FIG. 6 is a top plan view thereof; and

FIG. 7 is a bottom plan view thereof;

FIG. 8 is the top, front and left side perspective view of the first embodiment (doefoot embodiment) of the Flocked Cosmetic Applicator of FIG. 1 after removal of the umbrella element and with flocking applied;

FIG. 9 is a left side elevation view thereof;

FIG. 10 is a right side elevation view thereof;

FIG. 11 is a front elevation view thereof;

FIG. 12 is a rear elevation view thereof;

FIG. 13 is a top plan view thereof;

FIG. 14 is a bottom plan view thereof;

FIG. 15 is a top, front and left side perspective view of a second embodiment (referred to as the convex surface embodiment) of a Flocked Cosmetic Applicator in accordance with the present invention upon removal from a mold and prior to application of flocking;

FIG, 16 is a left side elevation view thereof;

FIG. 17 is a right side elevation view thereof;

FIG. 18 is a front elevation view thereof;

FIG. 19 is a rear elevation view thereof;

FIG. 20 is a top plan view thereof; and

FIG. 21 is a bottom plan view thereof;

FIG. 22 is the top, front and left side perspective view of the second embodiment (convex surface embodiment) of the Flocked Cosmetic Applicator of FIG. 15 after removal of the umbrella element and with flocking applied;

FIG. 23 is a left side elevation view thereof;

FIG. 24 is a right side elevation view thereof;

FIG. 25 is a front elevation view thereof;

FIG. 26 is a rear elevation view thereof;

FIG. 27 is a top plan view thereof;

FIG. 28 is a bottom plan view thereof;

FIG. 29 is a top, front and left side perspective view of a third embodiment (referred to as the spatula embodiment) of a Flocked Cosmetic Applicator in accordance with the present invention upon removal from a mold and prior to application of flocking;

FIG. 30 is a left side elevation view thereof;

FIG. 31 is a right side elevation view thereof;

FIG. 32 is a front elevation view thereof;

FIG. 33 is a top plan view thereof; and

FIG. 34 is a bottom plan view thereof;

FIG. 35 is the top, front and left side perspective view of the third embodiment (spatula embodiment) of the Flocked Cosmetic Applicator of FIG. 29 after removal of the umbrella element and with flocking applied;

FIG. 36 is a left side elevation view thereof;

FIG. 37 is a right side elevation view thereof;

FIG. 38 is a front elevation view thereof;

FIG. 39 is a top plan view thereof;

FIG. 40 is a bottom plan view thereof;

FIG. 41 is a top, front and left side perspective view of a fourth embodiment (referred to as the flexing embodiment) of a Flocked Cosmetic Applicator in accordance with the present invention upon removal from a mold and prior to application of flocking;

FIG. 42 is a left side elevation view thereof;

FIG. 43 is a right side elevation view thereof;

FIG. 44 is a front elevation view thereof;

FIG. 45 is a rear elevation view thereof;

FIG. 46 is a top plan view thereof; and

FIG. 47 is a bottom plan view thereof;

FIG. 48 is the top, front and left side perspective view of the fourth embodiment (flexing embodiment) of the Flocked Cosmetic Applicator of FIG. 43 after removal of the umbrella element and with flocking applied;

FIG. 49 is a left side elevation view thereof;

FIG. 50 is a right side elevation view thereof;

FIG. 51 is a front elevation view thereof;

FIG. 52 is a rear elevation view thereof;

FIG. 53 is a top plan view thereof; and

FIG. 54 is a bottom plan view thereof.

Claims

1. An applicator, comprising: an upper mounting element;at least one flexing element connected with said mounting element, said flexing element having a portion having a lesser cross-sectional area than an adjacent portion of said mounting element, said flexing element having at least a partial cutaway in one side thereof;an applicator tip having a body and one or more applicator surfaces.

2. The applicator of claim 1, wherein said applicator tip is flocked.

3. The applicator of claim 1, wherein said applicator tip has one applicator surface extending upwardly from a lower end of one side of said applicator tip body to an opposite side of said applicator tip body.

4. The applicator of claim 3, wherein said applicator tip has a doefoot shaped body.

5. The applicator of claim 3, wherein said applicator surface of said applicator tip is a convex surface.

6. The applicator of claim 3, wherein said applicator tip has a flexible body.

7. The applicator of claim 1, wherein said applicator tip has two applicator surfaces on opposite sides of said body, said two applicator surfaces extending upwardly from a center lower end of said applicator tip body to opposite sides of said applicator tip body.

8. The applicator of claim 1, wherein said one partial cutaway in said flexing element and one said applicator surface are positioned in alignment on one side of said applicator.

9. The applicator of claim 1, wherein said cutaway comprises a horizontal groove formed in one side of said flexing element.

10. The applicator of claim 9, wherein said cutaway comprises a pair of horizontal grooves formed on opposite sides of said flexing element.

11. The applicator of claim 9, wherein said cutaway comprises two commonly aligned pairs of horizontal grooves formed on opposite sides of said flexing element.

12. The applicator of claim 1, said upper mounting element including a lower endpiece having a lower endpiece cross-sectional area, and an upper endpiece having an upper endpiece cross-sectional area, connected by a stem having a stem cross-sectional area which is less than the lower endpiece cross-sectional area and the upper endpiece cross-sectional area.

13. An applicator, comprising: an upper mounting element;at least one flexing element connected with said mounting element, said flexing element having a portion having a lesser cross-sectional area than an adjacent portion of said mounting element;an applicator tip having a body and one or more applicator surfaces.

14. The applicator of claim 13, wherein said flexing element has at least one horizontal groove formed in one side thereof.

15. The applicator of claim 14, wherein there are a pair of horizontal grooves formed on opposite sides of said flexing element.

16. The applicator of claim 15, wherein there are two commonly aligned pairs of horizontal grooves formed on opposite sides of said flexing element.

17. The applicator of claim 15, wherein there are two perpendicularly aligned pairs of horizontal grooves formed on opposite sides of said flexing element.

18. The applicator of claim 14, wherein said applicator tip is flocked.

19. The applicator of claim 13, said applicator surfaces being angled relative to said body.

20. The applicator of claim 19, wherein said applicator tip has one applicator surface extending upwardly from a lower end of one side of said applicator tip body to an opposite side of said applicator tip body.

21. The applicator of claim 20, wherein said applicator tip has a doefoot shaped body.

22. The applicator of claim 13, wherein said applicator surface of said applicator tip is a convex surface.

23. The applicator of claim 13, wherein said applicator tip has a flexible body.

24. The applicator of claim 19, wherein said applicator tip has two applicator surfaces on opposite sides of said body, said two applicator surfaces extending upwardly from a center lower end of said applicator tip body to opposite sides of said applicator tip body.

25. A cosmetic applicator, comprising: an upper mounting element;at least one flexing element connected with said mounting element, said flexing element having a portion having a lesser cross-sectional area than an adjacent portion of said mounting element, said flexing element having a pair of horizontal grooves formed on opposite sides of said flexing element forming said lesser cross-sectional area of said flexing element;an applicator tip having a body and one or more flocked applicator surfaces, said applicator surfaces being angled relative to said body;one of said horizontal grooves in said flexing element and one said applicator surface being positioned in alignment on one side of said cosmetic applicator.

26. The cosmetic applicator of claim 25, wherein said applicator tip has one applicator surface extending upwardly from a lower end of one side of said applicator tip body to an opposite side of said applicator tip body.

27. The cosmetic applicator of claim 27, wherein said applicator tip has a doefoot shaped body.

28. The cosmetic applicator of claim 26, wherein said applicator surface of said applicator tip is a convex surface.

29. The cosmetic applicator of claim 26, wherein said applicator tip has a flexible body.

30. The cosmetic applicator of claim 25, wherein said applicator tip has two applicator surfaces on opposite sides of said body, said two applicator surfaces extending upwardly from a center lower end of said applicator tip body to opposite sides of said applicator tip body.