U.S. patent application number 11/969193 was filed with the patent office on 2008-07-10 for powder applicator for cosmetic use.
This patent application is currently assigned to COSMOGEN. Invention is credited to Gerard GIEUX.
Application Number | 20080163887 11/969193 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32327943 |
Filed Date | 2008-07-10 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080163887 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
GIEUX; Gerard |
July 10, 2008 |
POWDER APPLICATOR FOR COSMETIC USE
Abstract
A powder applicator includes a reservoir for powder and a porous
membrane tensioned over the reservoir. A portion of the powder is
stored in the vicinity of the membrane, in a very open synthetic
foam pad between the reservoir and the membrane and communicating
with the reservoir.
Inventors: |
GIEUX; Gerard; (Paris,
FR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
STEVENS DAVIS LLP
1615 L STREET NW, SUITE 850
WASHINGTON
DC
20036
US
|
Assignee: |
COSMOGEN
Paris
FR
|
Family ID: |
32327943 |
Appl. No.: |
11/969193 |
Filed: |
January 3, 2008 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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10730980 |
Dec 10, 2003 |
|
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11969193 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
132/294 ;
132/293 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45D 33/02 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
132/294 ;
132/293 |
International
Class: |
A45D 33/26 20060101
A45D033/26; A45D 33/00 20060101 A45D033/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 12, 2002 |
FR |
02 15726 |
Dec 26, 2002 |
FR |
02 16719 |
Claims
1. A powder applicator including: a reservoir for powder, a porous
membrane tensioned over said reservoir, a storage section that
stores a portion of said powder in the vicinity of said membrane,
communicating with said reservoir, said storage section including a
very open synthetic foam pad between said reservoir and said
membrane, and a first grid having a plurality of orifices and
disposed between said reservoir and said pad, wherein: said porous
membrane is formed of a synthetic foam which is much less open than
the foam forming said pad.
2. The powder applicator claimed in claim 1 wherein said first grid
is domed and its concave side faces said reservoir.
3. The powder applicator claimed in claim 1 including a second grid
mounted to rotate relative to said first grid between a service
position in which orifices of said grids face each other and a
storage position in which said orifices are offset relative to each
other.
4. The powder applicator claimed in claim 3 wherein said first grid
is domed and its concave side faces said reservoir and said second
grid is domed and espouses the shape of said first grid.
5. The powder applicator claimed in claim 3 wherein said orifices
of at least one of said grids have a section that diminishes in the
direction from said reservoir toward said pad.
6. The powder applicator claimed in claim 3 including a ring with
an inside edge adapted to clamp the periphery of said membrane
against one of said grids.
7. The powder applicator claimed in claim 1 including a ring with
an inside edge adapted to clamp the periphery of said membrane
against said pad.
8. The powder applicator claimed in claim 7 wherein said membrane
has a portion covering the edge of the face of said pad that faces
said reservoir.
9. The powder applicator claimed in claim 7 wherein said pad has a
groove receiving said inside edge of said ring.
10. The powder applicator claimed in claim 6 wherein said ring is
conformed to conceal the connection region between said membrane
and said reservoir.
11. The powder applicator claimed in claim 1 wherein the peripheral
face of said pad is at least partly covered by an envelope made of
a synthetic foam that is harder than the foam forming said pad.
12. The powder applicator claimed in claim 7, wherein: the
peripheral face of said pad is at least partly covered by an
envelope made of a synthetic foam that is harder than the foam
forming said pad, and said envelope has a groove receiving the
interior edge of said ring.
13. The powder applicator claimed in claim 9 wherein: the
peripheral face of said pad is at least partly covered by an
envelope made of a synthetic foam that is harder than the foam
forming said pad, and said envelope is interrupted at said
groove.
14. The powder applicator claimed in claim 11 wherein said envelope
is set back relative to the face of said pad that is against said
membrane.
15. The powder applicator claimed in claim 1 wherein said pad is
machined to a mushroom shape.
16. The powder applicator claimed in claim 15 wherein: the
peripheral face of said pad is at least partly covered by an
envelope made of a synthetic foam that is harder than the foam
forming said pad, and said envelope is conformed to espouse said
mushroom shape of said pad.
17. The powder applicator claimed in claim 1 wherein an exterior
wall of said membrane is flocked.
18. The powder applicator claimed in claim 1 wherein said membrane
has pores with an average diameter of the order of 0.1 mm
distributed at the rate of approximately 130 pores per
centimeter.
19. The powder applicator claimed in claim 1 wherein said pad has
pores with an average diameter of the order of 2 mm distributed at
the rate of approximately eight pores per centimeter.
20. The powder applicator claimed in claim 1 including a ring with
an inside edge adapted to clamp the periphery of said membrane
against said pad and wherein said envelope has a groove receiving
the interior edge of said ring.
21. The powder applicator claimed in claim 11 wherein said pad has
a groove receiving said inside edge of said ring and said envelope
is interrupted at said groove.
22. The powder applicator of claim 11 wherein the first grid
comprises a plurality of orifices.
Description
[0001] This application is a continuation of application Ser. No.
10/730,980 filed Dec. 10, 2003, which claims priority of FR 02
15726 filed Dec. 12, 2002 and FR 02 16719 filed Dec. 26, 2002, the
entire contents of each of which are incorporated by reference
herein.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to a powder applicator for
cosmetic use.
[0004] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0005] An object routinely referred to as a "powder applicator" can
advantageously be used to apply a cosmetic powder to the skin. This
is known in the art.
[0006] The patent application 2001-0026125 filed in South Korea on
28 Aug. 2001 discloses a powder applicator of the type including a
powder applicator including a reservoir for powder, a porous
membrane tensioned over the reservoir, and storage means for
storing a portion of the powder in the vicinity of the
membrane.
[0007] In the above prior art powder applicator, the storage means
are formed by a latex bulb fixed to the reservoir.
[0008] The latex bulb has a concave region for storing the powder
in the vicinity of the porous membrane and a passage allowing the
powder to migrate from said reservoir toward said concave
region.
[0009] Although the above prior art powder applicator applies a
cosmetic powder correctly to the skin, it has the main disadvantage
of being very costly to manufacture, in particular because it is
necessary to use a latex bulb.
[0010] An object of the present invention is to provide a powder
applicator of the type mentioned above that is significantly less
costly than the prior art powder applicator.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0011] The above object of the invention is achieved by a powder
applicator including a reservoir for powder, a porous membrane
tensioned over the reservoir, and storage means for storing a
portion of the powder in the vicinity of the membrane,
communicating with the reservoir and including a very open
synthetic foam pad between the reservoir and the membrane.
[0012] Thanks to these features, the prior art bulb can be replaced
by a simple synthetic foam pad that communicates with the reservoir
and is significantly less costly than the prior art bulb.
[0013] Moreover, and this is important, powder can be stored inside
the pad because the synthetic foam forming the pad has a very open
structure.
[0014] This improves the efficacy of the powder applicator relative
to the use of a latex bulb, which is too dense to soak up the
powder.
[0015] According to other optional features of the powder
applicator according to the invention:
[0016] the powder applicator includes a first grid between the
reservoir and the pad and fastened to the reservoir,
[0017] the first grid is domed and its concave side faces the
reservoir,
[0018] the powder applicator includes a second grid mounted to
rotate relative to the first grid between a service position in
which orifices of the grids face each other and a storage position
in which the orifices are offset relative to each other,
[0019] the second grid is domed and espouses the shape of the first
grid,
[0020] the orifices of at least one of the grids have a section
that diminishes in the direction from the reservoir toward the
pad,
[0021] the powder applicator includes a ring with an inside edge
adapted to clamp the periphery of the membrane against one of the
grids,
[0022] the powder applicator includes a ring with an inside edge
adapted to clamp the periphery of the membrane against the pad,
[0023] the membrane has a portion covering the edge of the face of
the pad that faces the reservoir,
[0024] the pad has a groove receiving the inside edge of the
ring,
[0025] the ring is conformed to conceal the connection region
between the membrane and the reservoir,
[0026] the peripheral face of the pad is at least partly covered by
an envelope made of a synthetic foam that is harder than the foam
forming the pad,
[0027] the envelope has a groove receiving the interior edge of the
ring,
[0028] the envelope is interrupted at the groove,
[0029] the envelope is set back relative to the face of the pad
that is against the membrane,
[0030] the pad is machined to a mushroom shape,
[0031] the envelope is conformed to espouse the mushroom shape of
the pad,
[0032] an exterior wall of the membrane is flocked,
[0033] the membrane has pores with an average diameter of the order
of 0.1 mm distributed at the rate of approximately 130 pores per
centimeter,
[0034] the pad has pores with an average diameter of the order of 2
mm distributed at the rate of approximately eight pores per
centimeter.
[0035] Other features and advantages of the present invention will
become apparent on reading the following description and examining
the appended drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0036] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a first embodiment
of a powder applicator according to the invention.
[0037] FIG. 2 is a view of said powder applicator in axial
section.
[0038] FIGS. 3 to 13 are views in axial section of other variants
of a powder applicator according to the invention (partial views in
the case of FIGS. 7 to 13).
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0039] In the above figures, the same reference numbers designate
identical or similar items or groups of items.
[0040] FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of a powder applicator
according to the invention that includes mainly a powder reservoir
1, a lid 7, a selector 2, a synthetic foam pad 3, a porous membrane
4, a ring 5 and a protective cap 6.
[0041] The powder reservoir 1 can be substantially cylindrical with
a shoulder e1.
[0042] The lid 7 includes a reservoir grid 9 with a plurality of
orifices 11 and is conformed to define two more shoulders e2 and
e3.
[0043] The lid 7 preferably has a small annular bead 13 at its
periphery and in the region of the shoulder e3.
[0044] The lid 7 is connected to the reservoir 1 by any appropriate
means such as gluing, clipping, etc.
[0045] The selector 2 has a skirt 15 adapted to nest over the
shoulder e3 on the lid 7.
[0046] On top of the skirt 15 is a substantially annular wall 17
extending around a selection grid 19 with a plurality of orifices
21. The annular wall 17 and the selection grid 19 define a housing
23.
[0047] The pad 3 is preferably substantially cylindrical so that it
can be placed in the housing 23 of the selector 2.
[0048] The synthetic foam forming the pad 3 is very open, i.e. it
comprises large-diameter pores communicating freely with each
other.
[0049] For example, said pores can have an average diameter of the
order of 2 mm and there can be approximately eight pores per
centimeter.
[0050] The membrane 4 is substantially disk-shaped with a diameter
significantly larger than that of the housing 23 formed in the
selector 2.
[0051] The membrane 4 can also be formed of a synthetic foam, but a
foam much less open than the foam forming the pad 3.
[0052] For example, the pores of the membrane 4 can have an average
diameter of the order of 0.1 mm and there can be approximately 130
pores per centimeter.
[0053] The exterior wall 25 of the membrane 4 is preferably
flocked, i.e. covered with very fine nylon fibers making it softer
to the touch.
[0054] The inside diameter of the ring 5 is slightly larger than
the outside diameter of the skirt 15 of the selector 2.
[0055] Moreover, the upper portion of the ring 5 includes a rim 26
extending toward the interior of the ring and having an inside
diameter slightly larger than the outside diameter of the annular
wall 17 of the selector 2.
[0056] The ring 5 is adapted to nest over the shoulder e2 defined
by the lid 7.
[0057] The protective cap 6, which can be transparent, is adapted
to nest over the shoulder e1 on the reservoir 1.
[0058] The powder reservoir 1, the selector 2, the ring 5 and the
protective cap 6 can be molded from plastics materials.
[0059] FIG. 2 shows how the items described hereinabove cooperate
with each other.
[0060] The skirt 15 of the selector 2 has on its inside face a
groove 27 cooperating with the small bead 13, thereby enabling the
selector 2 to be clipped onto the lid 7 but also enabling these two
components to rotate relative to each other.
[0061] FIG. 2 shows the powder applicator in a service
configuration, i.e. with the orifices 21 in the selection grid 19
of the selector 2 aligned with the orifices 11 in the reservoir
grid 9.
[0062] In this configuration, said orifices therefore form passages
enabling the powder 29 to migrate from the reservoir 1 toward the
compartment 23 of the selector 2.
[0063] The powder applicator according to the invention has another
configuration known as the storage configuration, not shown, in
which the orifices 11 and 21 are offset from each other by pivoting
the selector 2 relative to the lid 7.
[0064] Migration of the powder 29 from the reservoir 1 toward the
compartment 23 is prevented in the storage configuration.
[0065] The pad 3 is disposed inside the compartment 23 and occupies
substantially all of its volume.
[0066] The membrane 4 is tensioned over the selector 2 and held in
place on the selector 2 by the ring 5, whose interior profile
corresponds, apart from a slight clearance, to the exterior profile
of the selector 2.
[0067] It will be noted that the orifices 11 and possibly the
orifices 21 preferably have a section that reduces in size from the
reservoir 1 toward the compartment 23.
[0068] The operation and the advantages of the powder applicator
according to the invention follow directly from the foregoing
description.
[0069] When the powder 29 in the reservoir 1 is to be applied to
the skin, the powder applicator is set to the service configuration
shown in FIG. 2.
[0070] The powder applicator is then tipped slightly to cause some
of the powder 29 to migrate into the pad 3 through the passages
defined by the orifices 11 and 21.
[0071] Because the synthetic foam forming the pad 3 has a very open
structure, a large quantity of powder can be stored in the pad.
[0072] The porous membrane 25 can be applied to the skin and tapped
gently to cause powder to exit the pad 3 and to migrate through the
membrane 4 onto the skin.
[0073] When the user has finished with the powder applicator
according to the invention, it is set to its storage
configuration.
[0074] To this end, the selector 2 is pivoted relative to the lid 7
so that the orifices 11 and 21 are offset from each other, thereby
preventing the powder 29 leaving the reservoir 1.
[0075] As is clear from the foregoing description, the structure
defined by the passages 11, 21 and the pad 3 makes it possible to
dispense with the prior art bulb whilst providing an improved
powder storage capacity in the immediate vicinity of the membrane
4.
[0076] The material of the pad 3 being significantly less costly
than that forming the prior art bulb, the powder applicator
according to the invention can be manufactured at very low
cost.
[0077] It will be noted that, being distributed over the whole of
the surface of the selection grid 19 of the selector 2 and of the
reservoir grid 9 of the lid 7, the passages 11, 21 distribute the
powder homogeneously in the pad 3, so making the powder applicator
according to the invention more efficient and more comfortable to
use.
[0078] One of the diverse advantages of the powder applicator
according to the invention is that the method of fixing the
membrane 4 to the selector 2, i.e. wedging it by means of the ring
5, enables the use of a membrane formed in one piece, unlike the
membrane of the prior art powder applicator, which had to be
designed to cover the bulb, which necessarily implied that the
membrane had to be formed of two parts welded together.
[0079] As a result of this, the exterior face of the porous
membrane carried a weld line that seriously compromised the general
aesthetics of the powder applicator.
[0080] Note that because the membrane 4 is tensioned, the pad 3
assumes a flared shape, as shown in FIG. 2, i.e. a shape that
projects from the wall 17 of the selector 2, thus improving the
aesthetics of the powder applicator.
[0081] Note also that, because of this flared shape, the pad 3 can
cover the upper edge of the wall 17 and at least a portion of the
ring 5, which prevents the hard portions of the powder applicator
discomforting the user.
[0082] Note further that the pad 3 could have dimensions slightly
greater than those of the housing 23 before being inserted therein,
so that it has to be compressed slightly to place it in the housing
and, once fitted, tends to project from the housing.
[0083] Note also that because the ring 5 is adapted to nest over
the shoulder e2, it can therefore conceal the region connecting the
membrane 4 with the selector 2 and the selector with the lid 7,
thereby further enhancing the finish of the powder applicator.
[0084] Note also that the densities and the dimensions of the pores
of the materials forming the pad 3 and the membrane 4 can be
adapted as a function of the nature of the powder 29 to be applied
to the skin, in particular its particle size range.
[0085] Similarly, the relative thickness of the pad and the
membrane can be modified.
[0086] Note that the protective cap 6 is aligned with the exterior
wall of the reservoir 1 when it is in place on the shoulder e1,
which contributes to improving the aesthetics of the powder
applicator.
[0087] Note further that the presence of the selector 2, although
preferred, is in fact optional.
[0088] In a more economical embodiment of the powder applicator
according to the invention shown in FIG. 3, the selector 2 is
dispensed with and the pad 3 is placed directly on the reservoir
grid 9 and the membrane 4 is fixed directly to the lid 7.
[0089] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the reservoir grid 9 is
domed and its concave side faces toward the reservoir 1.
[0090] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the reservoir grid 9 and
selection grid 19 are both domed and their shapes espouse each
other.
[0091] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 6, the reservoir grid 9 is
flat and the pad 3 has a groove 31 at its periphery in which the
inside edge 26 of the ring 5 engages.
[0092] As a result, the membrane 4 is held wedged against the
bottom of the groove 31 by the inside edge 26.
[0093] This is a very simple way to immobilize the pad 3 and the
membrane 4.
[0094] The embodiment shown in FIG. 7 differs from the preceding
one in that the reservoir grid 9 is domed.
[0095] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 8, the reservoir grid 9 is
domed and the foam pad 3 is covered by an envelope 33 made of a
synthetic foam that is harder than the foam forming the pad, so as
to confer some stiffness on the combination of the pad 3, the
envelope 33 and the membrane 4.
[0096] The pad 3 and the membrane 4 are held by the pressure
exerted by the inside edge 26 of the ring 5.
[0097] The embodiment shown in FIG. 9 differs from the preceding
one in that there is no grid between the pad 3 and the reservoir 1
and the synthetic foam envelope 33 has a groove 31 at its periphery
in which the inside edge 26 of the ring 5 engages.
[0098] Thus the membrane 4 is held wedged into the bottom of the
groove 31 by the inside edge 26.
[0099] Note further that in the embodiment shown in FIG. 9 the
membrane 4 has a portion 4a that covers the edge of the face of the
pad 3 that faces the reservoir 1.
[0100] The membrane 4 therefore envelops practically all of the pad
3, with the result that the membrane and the pad form a compact
assembly whose fitting is greatly simplified.
[0101] The embodiment shown in FIG. 10 differs from the preceding
one in that the synthetic foam envelope 33 is divided into two
portions 33a and 33b defining a groove 31 in which the inside edge
26 of the ring 5 engages.
[0102] The embodiment shown in FIG. 11 differs from the preceding
one in that the synthetic foam envelope 33 has only an upper
portion 33a, situated above the inside edge 26 of the ring 5.
[0103] The embodiment shown in FIG. 12 differs from the embodiment
shown in FIG. 8 in that the pad 3 is machined so that it has
substantially the shape of a mushroom, the synthetic foam envelope
33 being set back relative to the face of the pad 3 that is in
contact with the membrane 4.
[0104] This prevents the synthetic foam envelope 33 coming into
contact with the skin of the user.
[0105] The embodiment shown in FIG. 13 differs from the preceding
one in that the synthetic foam envelope 33 extends to the height of
the face of the pad 3 that is in contact with the membrane 4.
[0106] In the embodiments shown in FIGS. 6 to 13, having the
membrane 4 formed of two portions welded together can be envisaged,
the weld line then being disposed so that it can be hidden by the
ring 5 and by its inside edge 26.
[0107] Of course, the present invention is not limited to the
embodiments described and shown, which are provided by way of
illustrative and nonlimiting example.
[0108] Thus other embodiments can be envisaged that combine the
features of the embodiments described hereinabove.
[0109] For example, eliminating the reservoir grid 9 in the
embodiments shown in FIGS. 12 and 13 or using a membrane like that
from FIG. 9 (i.e. having a portion 4a) in the embodiments shown in
FIGS. 4 to 8 and 10 to 13 could be envisaged.
* * * * *