Patent Application
20140212199
Makeup applicators are used for applying applique. Such applique may have various consistencies, viscosity, and/or other attributes. Users may want to apply the applique with an applicator that is loaded with a desired amount and consistency of applique. Current solutions may provide an applicator that does not allow for removal of excess applique.
Many types of makeup, for instance mascara, may require a particular consistency of applique on an applicator. Many current applicators may provide a consistency of applique that is thicker than desired, resulting in “clumping” that causes unsightly results after applying the applique material.
Thus there is a need for an applicator and associated vessel that is able to conveniently and automatically remove excess applique without requiring any additional user effort or external tools.
Some embodiments provide an applique vessel that includes various excess applique removal elements (or manipulators). Such elements may be arranged in various different configurations, as appropriate. Different embodiments provide differently shaped application elements. Such elements may be shaped in various different ways, as appropriate. Some embodiments may provide a flexible (or squeezable) vessel such that a user may actively manipulate the amount of applique retained by an application element. Some embodiments may include a vessel with a compression fit top including an application element.
In one exemplary embodiment, an applique vessel for storing applique is provided. The vessel includes: an interior surface; and an applique removal feature positioned along a portion of the interior surface.
In another exemplary embodiment, an applique vessel for storing applique is provided. The vessel includes: a body adapted to store applique; and a top comprising an application element, where the body and the top adapted to form a vessel if coupled, and the top is adapted to couple to the body via a compression fit.
In yet another exemplary embodiment, an applique system adapted to store and apply applique is provided. The system includes: a flexible body adapted to store applique; a top including an application element; and an applique removal feature positioned along a portion of the flexible body.
In still another exemplary embodiment, an application element adapted to apply applique to a user is provided. The application element includes: a frame having a particular shape;
and a set of protuberances extending from the frame.
The preceding Summary is intended to serve as a brief introduction to some embodiments of the invention. It is not meant to be an introduction or overview of all inventive subject matter disclosed in this document. The Detailed Description that follows and the Drawings (or “Figures” or “FIGs.”) that are referred to in the Detailed Description will further describe the embodiments described in the Summary as well as other embodiments. Accordingly, to understand all the embodiments described by this document, a full review of the Summary, Detailed Description and the Drawings is needed. Moreover, the claimed subject matter is not to be limited by the illustrative details in the Summary, Detailed Description and the Drawings, but rather is to be defined by the appended claims, because the claimed subject matter may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit of the invention.
The novel features of the invention are set forth in the appended claims. However, for purpose of explanation, several embodiments of the invention are set forth in the following drawings.
In the following detailed description of the invention, numerous details, examples, and embodiments of the invention are set forth and described. However, it will be clear and apparent to one skilled in the art that the invention is not limited to the embodiments set forth and that the invention may be practiced without some of the specific details and examples discussed.
During operation, such an applicator 120 and vessel 130 may allow a user to insert a portion of the applicator element 160 and wand 150 into the reservoir portion 140 of the vessel 130. The user may then withdraw the applicator element 160 and wand 150 such that the applicator element 160 has retained some amount of material stored in the reservoir 140. The retained material may then be applied to a user as appropriate (e.g., by brushing mascara onto eyelashes of the user).
One of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the system of
The structural section 260 may include various structural backings and/or adhesives that may allow the structural section to be attached to the vessel 220 in a secure fashion. The manipulation section 270 may include various elements and/or features that may be adapted to remove excess applique from the applicator of some embodiments.
In addition, as shown in the top view 210, the vessel 220 may include a reservoir area 280 for storing applique material and a manipulator area 290 that extends radially from the sides of the vessel 220 in some embodiments.
One of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that although the applicator vessel 220 has been described with reference to various details, different embodiments may implement the vessel in various different ways without departing from the spirit of the invention. For instance, different embodiments may include different elements of different dimension within the structural section 260 of some embodiments (e.g., adhesive layers of differing widths, support layers such as lattice structures (not shown), etc.). Such elements may be made of various appropriate materials (e.g., metal, plastic, bristle, etc.). In addition, some embodiment may divide a manipulator into multiple sections, where each section may include a different manipulator configuration.
The examples of
The second example configuration 325 may include a set of protuberances that are evenly spaced radially about the vessel (as shown in view 305). Each protuberance may extend at an acute angle from the vessel wall (as shown in view 310). In addition, each protuberance may be viewed as an ellipse extending out from the vessel wall (as shown in view 315).
The third example configuration 330 may include a set of protuberances that are evenly spaced radially about the vessel (as shown in view 305). Each protuberance may extend from the vessel wall (e.g., perpendicular to the wall, at an angle from the wall, etc.) and may include a “hook” tip, as is typical of a hook and loop type fastener, (as shown in view 310). In addition, each protuberance may be viewed as an elongated ellipse extending out from the vessel wall (as shown in view 315).
The fourth example configuration 335 may include a set of protuberances that are evenly spaced radially about the vessel (as shown in view 305) to form a valve. Each protuberance may extend at an acute angle from the vessel wall and may include a generally flat surface (as shown in view 310). In addition, each protuberance may be viewed as a rectangle extending out from the vessel wall (as shown in view 315).
The fifth example configuration 340 may include a set of generally round shaped protuberances that are evenly spaced radially about the vessel (as shown in view 305) to form a valve. Each protuberance may extend from the vessel wall (e.g., perpendicular to the wall, at an angle from the wall, etc.) and may include a generally flat surface (as shown in view 310). In addition, each protuberance may be viewed as a rectangle extending out from the vessel wall (as shown in view 315). In such a valve each element may overlap one or more other elements, such that a central passageway is bordered by each valve element.
The sixth example configuration 345 may include a set of generally round shaped protuberances that are evenly spaced radially about the vessel (as shown in view 305) to form a valve. Each protuberance may extend perpendicularly from the vessel wall and may include a generally flat surface (as shown in view 310). In addition, each protuberance may be viewed as a rectangle extending out from the vessel wall (as shown in view 315). In such a valve each element may be implemented in a layer that may overlap another layer formed by other valve elements, such that a central passageway is bordered by the layers of valve elements.
Different embodiments may optimize the various types, dimensions, materials, etc. of the structures described in reference to
Some embodiments may thus allow use of an applicator wand 420 and vessel 430 that are able to be connected using a compression fit that does not require, for example, securing the wand to the vessel by continuously rotating the wand relative to the vessel (i.e., “screwing” the wand into the vessel).
Some embodiments may provide a vessel (e.g., vessel 130, vessel 430, etc.) having a flexible body such that a user may squeeze the sides of the vessel during use. In this way, some embodiments may allow a user to control the amount of applique retained by an application element when the element is inserted into and removed from the vessel. Such a vessel may include various combinations of excess applique removal features, as appropriate. Thus, with a given set of applique removal features, a user may be able to achieve various levels applique applied to the application element by varying the amount of pressure applied to the sides of the vessel while removing the application element from the vessel.
One of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that compression fit embodiments such as system 400 may be implemented in various different ways without departing from the spirit of the invention. For instance, different specific shapes and/or sizes of opening, wand, applicator, vessel, etc. may be used, as appropriate.
As shown, an applicator 520 may include various wand types, shapes, etc. (not shown), and or various applicator elements 530 (e.g., elements 540-570). Each specific applicator may be associated with a vessel that has an opening 580 that may be associated with the applicator.
In addition, vessels used with some embodiments of system 500 may include various elements described above in reference to
As shown in
Each application element may include a frame and a set of protuberances. The frame may typically include a section of rigid wire (and/or other appropriate element) and each protuberance may be, for example, a bristle.
Next, process 600 may allow (at 620) a loaded applicator to contact the optimizing surface. Such an applicator may include an element similar to applicator element 160 described above in reference to
For example, a user may remove an applicator (e.g., applicator 120) from a vessel (e.g., vessel 220), such that various bristles of an application element (e.g., element 160) of the applicator engage a manipulator of some embodiments (e.g., manipulator 230 or 240) in order to remove excess applique from the applicator. Contact of the application element to the manipulator(s) may be at least partly determined, in some embodiments, by pressure applied to the exterior of a vessel (e.g., a user may squeeze the sides of the vessel).
One of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that process 600 may be implemented in various appropriate ways without departing from the spirit of the invention. For instance, a user may engage an application element and manipulator in various appropriate ways. As another example, the various operations of process 600 may be implemented in various different orders (and/or various other operations may be added and/or various operations may be removed). As another example, different embodiments may combine various distinct operations into a single operation, divide various single operations into multiple operations, and/or otherwise manipulate the operations performed. Likewise, various single operations may be divided into multiple sub-operations. As another example, the process may be performed as a sub-process of a larger macro process and/or divided into multiple sub-processes, as appropriate.
While the invention has been described with reference to numerous specific details, one of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the invention can be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, several embodiments were described above by reference to particular features and/or components. However, one of ordinary skill in the art will realize that other embodiments might be implemented with other types of features and components. One of ordinary skill in the art would understand that the invention is not to be limited by the foregoing illustrative details, but rather is to be defined by the appended claims.
