U.S. patent application number 15/424342 was filed with the patent office on 2017-05-25 for devices and methods of pressurized delivery of materials in cosmetic dispensers.
This patent application is currently assigned to ALBEA SERVICES. The applicant listed for this patent is ALBEA SERVICES. Invention is credited to Michael Malvar, Volker Schrepf.
Application Number | 20170143101 15/424342 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39313098 |
Filed Date | 2017-05-25 |
United States Patent
Application |
20170143101 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Malvar; Michael ; et
al. |
May 25, 2017 |
DEVICES AND METHODS OF PRESSURIZED DELIVERY OF MATERIALS IN
COSMETIC DISPENSERS
Abstract
Cosmetic dispensers, and methods of use of such dispensers, for
transferring material onto an applicator head through a transfer
chamber and/or nozzle by applying force or pressure to the
material.
Inventors: |
Malvar; Michael; (Oceanside,
NY) ; Schrepf; Volker; (East Islip, NY) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
ALBEA SERVICES |
Gennevilliers |
|
FR |
|
|
Assignee: |
ALBEA SERVICES
Gennevilliers
FR
|
Family ID: |
39313098 |
Appl. No.: |
15/424342 |
Filed: |
February 3, 2017 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
11977656 |
Oct 25, 2007 |
9596918 |
|
|
15424342 |
|
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|
60854494 |
Oct 26, 2006 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45D 40/265 20130101;
A45D 40/24 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A45D 40/26 20060101
A45D040/26; A45D 40/24 20060101 A45D040/24 |
Claims
1. A cosmetic dispenser comprising: an applicator; a storage
compartment enclosing material; and a chamber having one or more
openings into a receiving area for at least a portion of the
applicator and at least one orifice through which material from the
storage compartment flows into the chamber, wherein the storage
compartment is a bladder.
2. The cosmetic dispenser of claim 1, further comprising a
pressurizer for causing material in the bladder to flow through
said at least one orifice into the chamber.
3. The cosmetic dispenser of claim 2 wherein the pressurizer
comprises a support adjacent at least one wall of the bladder.
4. The cosmetic dispenser of claim 3 wherein the pressurizer
comprises said support and a lever.
5. The cosmetic dispenser of claim 2 wherein the pressurizer
comprises at least one plunger.
6. The cosmetic dispenser of claim 2 wherein the chamber has a
curved shape.
7. The cosmetic dispenser of claim 4 wherein the lever comprises a
handle for the applicator, the applicator having a head at least
partially insertable into the receiving area and a stem connecting
the handle to the head in such position that, when the head is
inserted into the receiving area, the handle is depressible to
squeeze the bladder between the handle and said support.
8. The cosmetic dispenser of claim 2 wherein the pressurizer
comprises a clam-shell housing within which the bladder is mounted,
the housing having opposed sides such that when one of said sides
is pressed toward the other of said sides, material in the bladder
flows through said at least one orifice into the receiving
area.
9. The cosmetic dispenser of claim 2 wherein the pressurizer
comprises a roller movable along the bladder for pressing the
bladder against a support adjacent the bladder.
10. The cosmetic dispenser of claim 9 wherein the roller is
slidably movable along the bladder.
11. The cosmetic dispenser of claim 2 wherein the pressurizer
comprises a roller connected to an end of the bladder and movable
in a direction lengthwise of the ladder while rotating to roll up
the bladder.
12. A cosmetic dispenser comprising: an applicator; a storage
compartment enclosing a material, and a chamber having at least one
opening into a receiving area for at least a portion of the
applicator and at least one orifice through which material from the
storage compartment flows into the chamber, further comprising a
pressurizer for causing material in the storage compartment to flow
through the at least one orifice into the chamber, wherein the
pressurizer comprises at least one plunger.
13. The cosmetic dispenser of claim 12 wherein the plunger
comprises a lever.
14. A cosmetic dispenser comprising: an applicator; a storage
compartment enclosing a material; and a chamber having at least one
opening into a receiving area for at least a portion of the
applicator and at least one orifice through which material from the
storage compartment flows into the chamber, further comprising a
pressurizer for causing material in the storage compartment to flow
through the at least one orifice into the chamber; wherein the
pressurizer comprises a roller.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a division of U.S. patent application
Ser. No. 11/977,656, filed Oct. 25, 2007 (now allowed), which
claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application No. 60/854,494
filed Oct. 26, 2006, both of the aforesaid applications being
incorporated herein in their entirety by this reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention relates to cosmetic dispensers which include
applicators having a core or stem and an applicator head
constituted of an array of fibers carried by the core forming a
brush for transporting and applying cosmetic material. In one
specific sense, the invention is directed to cosmetic dispensers in
which pressure is used to deliver the cosmetic material to the head
while minimizing or eliminating delivery of material to the
core.
[0003] In traditional cosmetic dispensers, both the applicator head
and at least a portion of the stem are inserted into the storage
compartment, that is, the portion of the dispenser containing the
cosmetic material. As the applicator contacts the cosmetic
material, some of the material transfers from the storage
compartment onto the applicator head. However, at least three
unavoidable results of this contacting step are that, typically:
(1) too much material transfers to the applicator head; (2) the
distribution of material on the applicator head is uncontrolled and
thus somewhat random; and (3) some material transfers onto the
stem.
[0004] To correct for these results, traditional dispensers
typically include a wiper. The wiper removes excess material from
both the applicator and stem, more evenly distributes the
transferred material on the applicator head, and cleans the stem.
To achieve this correction, however, both the wiper opening and the
stem should have a similar profile. For most traditional
dispensers, this profile is usually circular.
[0005] Further, the length of the stem must be sufficiently long to
reach the material in the storage compartment, and especially the
material at the farthest end, usually the bottom, of the storage
compartment. For long or deep storage compartments, the stem can
become too long, that is, the distance between the applicator head
and the user's hand is so long that the applicator is awkward and
difficult to control.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] An object of the invention is to provide a chamber in a
cosmetic dispenser for distributing material onto an applicator
head so that the stem and the opening to the storage compartment or
reservoir need not conform to the requirements of a wiper or the
structure of the storage compartment.
[0007] Another object of the invention is to provide a cosmetic
dispenser in which the material is pushed onto the applicator
instead of the applicator head pulling the material out of the
cosmetic dispenser.
[0008] A further object of the invention is to provide a cosmetic
dispenser in which the stem need not be dipped into the storage
compartment allowing the stem to remain clean without wiping.
[0009] An additional object of the invention is to provide a
cosmetic dispenser in which the length of the stem can be designed
ergonometrically and for optimal application by a user instead of
being dependent on the dimensions of the storage compartment.
[0010] A further object of the invention is to provide a cosmetic
dispenser in which the wiper can be optimized solely to control the
distribution of material on the applicator head instead of also
having to wipe the stem and remove excess material from the
applicator head.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] FIG. 1 is a front cross-sectional view of a cosmetic
dispenser with a single wall transfer chamber according to one
embodiment of the invention;
[0012] FIG. 2 is a top view of the single wall transfer chamber of
FIG. 1;
[0013] FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic view of a cosmetic dispenser with a
nozzle and a brush according to one embodiment of the
invention;
[0014] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a cosmetic dispenser
with a double wall transfer chamber according to one embodiment of
the invention;
[0015] FIG. 5 is a partially transparent perspective view of a
cosmetic dispenser with a collapsible tube storage compartment and
an embedded transfer chamber according to one embodiment of the
invention;
[0016] FIG. 6 is a partially transparent perspective view of a
cosmetic dispenser with a collapsible tube storage compartment and
an adjacent double wall transfer chamber according to one
embodiment of the invention;
[0017] FIG. 7 is a partially transparent perspective view of a
cosmetic dispenser with a collapsible tube storage compartment and
dual transfer chambers according to one embodiment of the
invention;
[0018] FIG. 8 is a partially transparent perspective view of a
cosmetic dispenser with a collapsible tube storage compartment and
a ring-shaped transfer chamber according to one embodiment of the
invention;
[0019] FIG. 9 is a partially transparent perspective view of a
cosmetic dispenser with a collapsible tube storage compartment and
a partial ring-shaped transfer chamber according to one embodiment
of the invention;
[0020] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a cosmetic dispenser with a
bladder storage compartment and a lever according to one embodiment
of the invention;
[0021] FIG. 11 is a close-up partially cut-away perspective view of
the cosmetic dispenser of FIG. 10;
[0022] FIG. 12A is a perspective view of a cosmetic dispenser with
a bladder storage compartment in a clam-shell housing according to
one embodiment of the invention;
[0023] FIG. 12B is a top view of a bladder storage compartment with
a roller according to one embodiment of the invention;
[0024] FIG. 12C is a cross-sectional view of the bladder storage
compartment and a roller which flattens the bladder according to
one embodiment of the invention;
[0025] FIG. 12D is a cross-sectional view of the bladder storage
compartment and a roller which rolls up the bladder according to
another embodiment of the invention;
[0026] FIG. 13 is a close-up partially cut-away perspective view of
the cosmetic dispenser of FIG. 12A;
[0027] FIG. 14A is a partially transparent perspective view of a
cosmetic dispenser with a dual opening transfer chamber and a
syringe-type applicator according to one embodiment of the
invention;
[0028] FIG. 14B is a cross-sectional side view of a cosmetic
dispenser with a dual opening transfer chamber and a syringe-type
applicator according to one embodiment of the invention;
[0029] FIG. 15A is a partially transparent perspective view of a
cosmetic dispenser with a rotary plunger according to one
embodiment of the invention;
[0030] FIG. 15B is a cross-sectional side view of a cosmetic
dispenser with a rotary plunger according to one embodiment of the
invention;
[0031] FIG. 16A is a partially transparent perspective view of a
cosmetic dispenser with a pump and a joint connecting the transfer
chamber to the storage compartment in a folded position according
to one embodiment of the invention;
[0032] FIG. 16B is a partially transparent perspective view of the
cosmetic dispenser of FIG. 16A with the joint in an unfolded
position according to one embodiment of the invention;
[0033] FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional side view of a cosmetic
dispenser with a pump and a joint connecting the transfer chamber
to the storage compartment in the folded position according to one
embodiment of the invention;
[0034] FIG. 18 is a perspective view of cosmetic dispenser with a
transfer chamber having a side slit;
[0035] FIGS. 19A, 19B, and 19C are cross-sectional views of a
cosmetic dispenser having a collapsible tube storage compartment
with separate sections for different materials, showing a top view,
a side view, and a side view of the applicator head after the
material is applied, respectively;
[0036] FIGS. 20A, 20B, 20C, 20D, and 20E are cross-sectional views
of a cosmetic dispenser having a storage compartment and a transfer
chamber with separate sections for delivery of different materials
to the applicator head, showing a side view, a section cut view
along line C-C of FIG. 20A, a section cut view along line B-B of
FIG. 20A, and a section cut view along line A-A of FIG. 20A, and a
side view of the applicator head after the materials are applied,
respectively;
[0037] FIGS. 21A, 21B, and 21C are cross-sectional views of a
cosmetic dispenser having a plunger-type storage compartment with
separate sections for different materials, showing a top view, a
side view, and a side view of the applicator head after the
material is applied, respectively;
[0038] FIGS. 22A and 22B are a perspective view and a
cross-sectional view, respectively, of a chamber which functions as
both a receiving chamber and a storage compartment;
[0039] FIGS. 23A and 23B are a perspective view and a
cross-sectional view, respectively, of a chamber which functions as
both a receiving chamber and a storage compartment having a
breachable barrier at each end;
[0040] FIG. 24 is a three-quarter sectional view of the chamber of
FIGS. 23A and 23B with an applicator before insertion;
[0041] FIG. 25 is three-quarter sectional view of the chamber of
FIG. 24 after the applicator has breached one of the barriers;
and
[0042] FIG. 26 is three-quarter sectional view of the chamber and
applicator of FIG. 24 after the applicator has breached both
barriers and the applicator head has been moved out of the
chamber.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0043] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, one embodiment of this invention
employs a cosmetic dispenser 10 having a transfer chamber 12 and a
storage compartment 14 for holding the material 16. In this
embodiment, the transfer chamber 12 has a single wall 18 defining
an applicator receiving space 19, at least one opening 20 for
receiving an applicator, and one or more orifices 22, 30 in the
wall through which material 16 can flow. Because the material 16
has a density which prevents the material from easily flowing
through the orifices 22, 30 into the receiving space 19 without the
application of external pressure or an internal vacuum, the
material remains outside of the transfer chamber 12 until a
pressure differential is applied. When the pressure differential is
applied, typically by the user, the material 16 flows through the
orifices 22, 30 into the receiving space 19 and onto the applicator
head 24.
[0044] The orifices 22, 30 are preferably positioned only along
that portion of the receiving chamber 19 where the applicator head
24 is positioned when properly inserted into the transfer chamber
19. Proper insertion can be indicated to the user by forming the
transfer chamber 12 with an end wall 26 or other stop which
prevents the distal end of the applicator head 24 from being
further inserted into the storage compartment 14. In this way,
delivery of the material 16 is limited to the applicator head 24
leaving the stem 28 essentially free of the material.
[0045] In one embodiment, one or more of the orifices 22, 30 is
thin and elongated along the longitudinal axis of the transfer
chamber. Such elongated openings or `tracks` 30 result in beads of
the material 16 being applied to the applicator head 24 when
pressure is applied. Such beads allow for a greater volumizing
effect on a user's lashes when the material 16 is mascara.
[0046] FIG. 3 illustrates an embodiment of the invention in which
the user can control a nozzle 40 connected to a supply 42 of
material 44. In such an embodiment, the material 44 is emitted from
the nozzle 40 under pressure and the user guides the material 44 to
desired positions on the applicator head 46. However, unlike the
transfer chamber 12 discussed above, the user is unlikely to
consistently control the delivery of the material 44, and holding
the nozzle 40 to an exposed applicator head 46 can be awkward and
messy.
[0047] Accordingly, in another embodiment of the invention with a
nozzle 40, the nozzle opening 48 can be placed over or be attached
one or more of the orifices 22 of a transfer chamber 12 to guide
the material 44 to the applicator head 24 without requiring the
user to regulate the distribution of the material on the applicator
head.
[0048] However, as shown in FIG. 1, and in several embodiments of
the invention, the transfer chamber 12 is connected to the storage
compartment 14 so that the material 16 surrounds, or under
pressure, flows to surround, the orifices 22, 30 of the transfer
chamber. Accordingly, when appropriate pressure is applied to the
storage compartment 14, the material 16 flows through the orifices
22, 30 and onto the applicator head 24 without the need for the
user to establish, or maintain, a connection between the storage
compartment and the transfer chamber 12.
[0049] FIG. 4 illustrates another embodiment of the invention in
which the transfer chamber 60 has two walls 62, 64 thereby
providing an outer chamber 66 at least partially surrounding the
applicator receiving space 68. Outer orifices 70 are provided in
the outer wall 62 for receiving the material 72 into the outer
chamber 66, and inner orifices 74 are provided for delivering
material from the outer chamber 66 into the receiving space 68. The
opening 76 of this transfer chamber 60 permits insertion of the
applicator head 78 into the receiving space 68. In this embodiment,
when the pressure differential is applied, the material 72 flows
through the outer orifices 70 and into the outer chamber 66. From
the outer chamber 66, the pressure differential causes the material
72 to flow to and through the inner orifices 74 into the receiving
space 68 where the material is delivered or injected onto the
applicator head 78.
[0050] As shown in FIG. 4, the outer orifices 70 need not be
aligned with the inner orifices 74 thereby removing the need to
locate the storage compartment 82 with respect to the inner
orifices 70. Indeed, the storage compartment 82 can be remote from
the inner orifices 74 which allows for unique design
possibilities.
[0051] The pressure differential for causing transfer of the
material through the transfer chamber or nozzle to the applicator
head can be provided by many means, for example, a collapsible
tube, a plunger, a pump and/or a traveling disc.
[0052] FIGS. 5-9 show embodiments employing a collapsible tube. In
FIG. 5, as in FIGS. 1 and 2, the transfer chamber 102 of the
cosmetic dispenser 100 is at least partially inserted into the
collapsible tube storage compartment 104. To create a pressure
differential, the user, after inserting the applicator head 109
into the receiving space 108, squeezes the pliable walls of the
storage compartment 104 causing the material 106 to flow through
the orifices 107 into the receiving space 108 and thereby deliver
the material 106 to the applicator head 109.
[0053] In FIG. 6, the cosmetic dispenser 110 has a double wall
transfer chamber 111 located above the collapsible tube storage
compartment 112. In this embodiment, when the user squeezes the
pliable wall of the storage compartment 112, the material 113 is
forced through outer orifices 114 into the outer chamber 116 and
then through the inner orifices 117 into the receiving space 118
where the material 113 is delivered to the applicator head 119.
[0054] Similar to FIG. 6, FIG. 7 illustrates a cosmetic dispenser
120 with a double wall transfer chamber 121 located above a
collapsible tube storage compartment 122. However, instead of a
transfer chamber 121 completely surrounding the applicator head
123, the transfer chamber 121 has two sections separated by slits
124. In this embodiment, when the user squeezes the pliable wall of
the storage compartment 122, the material 125 is forced through
outer orifices 126 into one of the two outer chambers 127 and then
through the respective inner orifices 128 into the receiving space
129 where the material 125 is delivered to the applicator head
123.
[0055] By separating the storage compartment 122 into two sections,
this embodiment also allows for the two outer chambers 127 to
deliver different materials to different portions of the applicator
head 123. In such a variation, each separate section of the storage
compartment 122 is connected only to the outer orifices 126 of one
of the outer chambers 127.
[0056] FIG. 8 illustrates a cosmetic dispenser 140 with a double
wall transfer chamber 142 having an outer orifice 144 connected to
a collapsible tube storage compartment 146 with a nozzle 147. In
this embodiment, when the user squeezes the pliable wall of the
storage compartment 146, the material 148 is forced out of the
nozzle 147 and through outer orifices 144 into the ring-shaped
outer chamber 151.
[0057] Since the shape and size of the transfer chambers according
to the invention can be varied based on the desired distribution of
material on the applicator head, the transfer chamber can be longer
than, as long as, or shorter than the applicator head. Thus, for
example, in FIG. 8, the transfer chamber 142 is ring-shaped.
Accordingly, when the material 148 flows from the outer chamber 151
through the inner orifices 153 into the receiving space 155, the
material 148 is delivered only to the portion of the applicator
head 158 positioned adjacent the inner orifices. To apply material
148 along the length of the applicator head 158, the user can move
the applicator head through the receiving space 155 while
simultaneously squeezing the collapsible tube storage compartment
146.
[0058] FIG. 9 illustrates a cosmetic dispenser 160 similar to FIG.
8, except that instead of a ring-shaped outer chamber, the outer
chamber 162 is semi-circular allowing the delivery of material to
only one longitudinal portion of the applicator head 166. However,
should the user desire to apply material 164 along the entire
length and circumference of the applicator head 166, the user can
spin and move the applicator head through the receiving space 168
while simultaneously squeezing the collapsible tube storage
compartment 169 or pass the applicator head 166 through the
receiving space 168 twice, once for each side.
[0059] FIGS. 10-15B show embodiments employing a plunger. In FIGS.
10 and 11, the cosmetic dispenser 180 has a storage compartment
forming as a bladder 182. At least a portion of the bladder 182 is
placed or mounted on a support 184 and another portion of the
bladder is connected to the orifice 186 of a transfer chamber 188.
A lever 190 is positioned proximate the bladder 182 such that when
the lever 190 is depressed or plunged, the bladder 182 is squeezed
between the lever 190 and the support 184 causing material 192 in
the bladder to flow through the orifice 186 and into the transfer
chamber 188 where the material flows or is injected onto the
applicator head 196. In this embodiment, the lever 190 also serves
as a handle for the applicator head 196. In other words, the lever
190 connects to a proximal end of the stem 198 and the distal end
of the stem connects to the applicator head 196. Noteworthy is the
shape of the stem 198 which need not be longitudinal straight along
its entire length as found in conventional cosmetic dispensers.
Thus, the applicator head 196 can be at an angle, in FIGS. 10 and
11 a 90 degree angle, with respect to the proximal end of the stem
198.
[0060] In FIGS. 12A and 13, the cosmetic dispenser 200 has a
bladder 202 connected to the orifice 203 of a curved transfer
chamber 204 placed or mounted inside a clam-shell or make-up
compact housing 206. When one side 208 of the housing 206 is
pressed toward the other side 210 of the housing, material 211 in
the bladder flows through the orifice 203 into the receiving space
209 of the transfer chamber 204 and then onto the curved applicator
head 207. The sides 208, 210 of the housing 206 allow for the
housing to be opened so that when the handle 212 connected to the
stem 214 is rotated out of the receiving space 209 the applicator
can be removed for application of the material 211 by the user.
[0061] FIGS. 12B, 12C, and 12D illustrate other embodiments similar
to the embodiment of FIG. 12A, but with a roller 212 for causing
the material 211 to flow from the bladder 202 through the orifice
203 and into the transfer chamber 204.
[0062] In the embodiment of FIG. 12C, the roller 212 connects to a
hinge axis 213 in the center of the housing 206 and can be rotated
by sliding over the curved bladder 202 thereby pressing or
flattening the flexible walls of the bladder toward each other.
This pressure causes the material 211 to flow out of the bladder
202 and into the transfer chamber 204. The roller 212 can be slid
by a user using a knob 217 connected to the roller.
[0063] In the embodiment of FIG. 12D the bladder 202 rolls up onto
the roller 212 as the roller is pivoted about the hinge axis 213
thereby pressing the walls of the bladder 202 together which
pressurizes the material 211. In this embodiment, the connection
between the roller 212 and the hinge axis 213 permits the roller,
which is connected to knob 217, to spin about the roller axis.
[0064] In another embodiment, stop positions 215 for the roller 212
can be built into, or marked on, the housing 206 to indicate to the
user when a sufficient amount of material 211 has flowed into the
transfer chamber 204.
[0065] In FIGS. 14A and 14B, the cosmetic dispenser 220 has a
storage compartment 222 with a plunger 224. When depressed, the
plunger 224 pressurizes the material 226 pushing the material
toward the distal end of the storage compartment 222 which is
connected to the orifice 227 of a transfer chamber 228 thereby
causing the material 226 to flow into the transfer chamber 228.
[0066] In one embodiment of the invention, a valve 225 which can
have a resettable trigger 223 is provided to prevent the flow of
material 226 from the storage compartment 222 into the transfer
chamber 228 until the valve is opened. The valve 225 allows greater
pressure to build in the storage compartment 222.
[0067] One advantage in employing a transfer chamber is that an
applicator can pass through the transfer chamber in various
directions and along various paths. Thus, in FIGS. 14A and 14B,
transfer chamber 228 has two openings 229, 230 into the receiving
space 231 for use with a syringe-type applicator 232. This
applicator 232 has an actuator 233 connected to the stem 234 which
in turn is connected to the applicator head 236. The first opening
229 of the transfer chamber 228 is large enough to allow the stem
234 to move longitudinally through the receiving space 231. The
second opening 230 is large enough to allow the applicator head 236
to be moved out from the receiving space 231. When the actuator 233
is depressed the applicator head 236 which is connected to the
actuator 233 by the stem 234 is also depressed and moves out of the
transfer chamber 228 so the user can apply the material. Material
226 is applied to the applicator head 236 by depressing the plunger
224 while the applicator head 236 is positioned in the receiving
space 231. A glide 238 which slides along the storage compartment
222 independently of the plunger 224 is attached to the actuator
233 to guide the applicator 232 into and out of the receiving space
231.
[0068] FIGS. 15A and 15B show an embodiment employing a traveling
disc for a cosmetic dispenser 240 according to the invention.
Similar to the plunger 224 shown in FIGS. 14A and 14B, the
traveling disc 242 pushes the material 244 toward the distal end of
the storage compartment 246 which is connected to the orifice 248
of a transfer chamber 250. However, unlike the plunger 224, the
traveling disc 242 is rotated along a threaded screw 251 which
provides a spiral or helical path 252 for the traveling disc 242.
Similar to the embodiment of FIGS. 14A and 14B, this embodiment can
have a valve 247 which also can have a resettable trigger 249 to
prevent material 244 from flowing from the storage compartment 246
into the transfer chamber 250 until the valve is opened.
[0069] FIGS. 16A and 16B show an embodiment employing a pump
according to the invention. In FIGS. 16A and 16B, the cosmetic
dispenser 260 has a pump handle 262 connected to a piston 264
which, when depressed, forces air through a valve (not shown) into
the storage compartment 266. The storage compartment 266 also has a
transfer valve 268 which, when open, connects the storage
compartment 266 to the outer orifice 269 of the transfer chamber
270. When the user repeatedly presses the pump handle 262 and the
transfer valve 268 is closed, the material 272 in the storage
compartment 266 becomes pressurized from the air forced into the
compartment. As shown in FIG. 16A, the transfer valve 268 is closed
when the storage compartment 266 is folded adjacent the transfer
chamber 270. When the storage compartment 266 is rotated away from
the transfer chamber 270 as in FIG. 16B, the transfer valve 268
opens and the pressurized material 272 flows through the outer
orifice 269 into the outer chamber 274 and through the inner
orifices 276 onto the applicator head 278 in the receiving space
279. Alternatively, the wall of the transfer valve 268 can be
provided with a trigger accessible by the user for actuating the
valve similar to the triggers 223, 249 shown in FIGS. 14B and
15B.
[0070] FIG. 17 shows another embodiment similar to FIGS. 16A and
16B in which the material 272 is enclosed within a bladder 263
which is placed in the storage compartment 266. In this embodiment,
as air is pumped into the air chamber 261 that forms the remainder
of the storage compartment 266, the pressure rises and the bladder
walls compress pushing the material 272 through the orifice 265,
and when open, through the transfer valve 268 into the transfer
chamber 270. Because the material is separated by the bladder 263
from the air in this embodiment, the material 272 can be protected
from contamination until use. The material 272 can also be
separated from the air chamber 261 by a movable disk.
[0071] While the embodiments of FIGS. 16A, 16B, and 17 employ a
transfer valve 268, these embodiments can instead have a separate
valve located elsewhere on the cosmetic dispenser, such as the
valves 225, 247 in the storage compartments 222, 246 shown in FIGS.
14B and 15B. In such embodiments, the transfer valve can be
replaced with a transfer joint to provide: (1) the passageway for
the material between the storage compartment and the transfer
chamber; and (2) rotation of the transfer chamber with respect to
the storage compartment. Thus, the transfer joint need not include
a valve, and for ergonometric reasons, such as better control of
the flow rate when dispensing the product and better precision in
positioning the brush, the valve can be located elsewhere on the
cosmetic dispenser.
[0072] FIG. 18 shows another embodiment of the invention in which a
curved transfer chamber 280 is formed with a side slit opening 282
for receiving the applicator head 284. Unlike most conventional
cosmetic applicators which are connected to the stem, this
applicator head 284 is connected to two supports 286, one on each
end of the applicator head which are then connected to a stem or
handle 288. This embodiment allows a user to insert the applicator
head 284 `sideways` through the side slit 282 instead of
longitudinally. Once inserted, the user can inject material from a
bladder or other storage compartment (not shown) into the receiving
space 290 through the orifice 292 and onto the applicator head 284.
In a variation of this embodiment, the applicator head 284 can be
inserted and/or removed from the receiving space 290 through an end
opening 294 in the transfer chamber 280.
[0073] As discussed above with respect to the embodiment shown in
FIG. 7, the storage compartment can have two sections for storing
different material. Indeed, the invention also contemplates that
the storage compartment can have more than two sections for more
than two different corresponding materials.
[0074] FIGS. 19A and 19B illustrate one embodiment in which a tube
storage compartment 300 has an inner section 302 and an outer
section 304. One material 306 is stored in the inner section 302
and another material 308 is stored in the outer section 304. The
materials 306, 308 are separated by an inner wall 310 which is
supported from the walls 312 of the storage compartment 300 by
support webbing 314. When squeezed, the materials 306, 308 will
flow through orifice 316 into a transfer chamber and then onto an
applicator head 318. If the orifice of the transfer chamber
receiving material is centered with respect to the core of the
applicator head 318, the material 306 from the inner section 302 of
the storage compartment 300 will flow through the fibers of the
applicator head 318 to surround the center 320 of the applicator
head 318 and the material 304 in the outer section 308 of the
storage compartment 300 will flow through the edges of the fibers
of the applicator head 318 thereby surrounding the material 306
surrounding the center of the applicator head.
[0075] Alternatively, as shown in FIGS. 20A-20E, a transfer chamber
330 can redirect material 306 from the inner section 302 toward the
edges of the fibers. In this embodiment, the material 306 from the
inner section 302 flows through a central orifice 334 into a
distribution chamber 332 and then to one or more longitudinal
chambers 336 extending along the transfer chamber 330. Similarly,
the material 304 from the outer section 308 can also be directed
through separate orifices 338 into one or more separate
longitudinal chambers 340. This separated, but redirected flow of
materials 306, 308 results, as shown in FIG. 20E, in alternating
beads of different materials on the applicator head 342.
[0076] FIG. 20B shows the longitudinal chambers or channels 336,
340 in cross-section. The material 304, 306 enters these channels
336, 340 from the distribution chamber 332 or central orifice 334
at the bottom of the transfer chamber 330 and, under pressure, the
material travels up the respective channel. The channels 336, 340
are formed so that the longitudinal slots 341 which open the
channels to the receiving area are narrow enough so that the
viscosity of the material 304, 306 prevents the material alone from
exiting the channels. However, the slots 341 are also wide enough
to permit entry of the fibers of the applicator head 342 into the
channels. Accordingly, when the fibers of the applicator head 342
are inserted into the channels 336, 340, the material 304, 306
attaches to the fibers of the applicator head which can then be
removed from the channels with the fibers. These slotted
longitudinal chambers can also be employed in other embodiments of
this invention, see for example, FIGS. 6, 7, 10-13, and 16A-17.
[0077] FIGS. 21A-21C illustrate one embodiment in which a
plunger-type storage compartment 360 has two adjacent sections 362,
364. One material 366 is stored in one section 362 and another
material 368 is stored in the other section 364. The materials 366,
368 are separated by one or more walls 370. In FIG. 21B, as the
dual plunger 372 is depressed, materials 366, 368 flow through
respective orifices 374, 376 into a transfer chamber. If the
orifice of the transfer chamber receiving material is centered with
respect to the core of the applicator head 378, the materials 366,
368 will flow longitudinally through the fibers of the applicator
head 378 corresponding to the respective cross-sectional portion of
the storage chamber orifices 374, 376. Thus, if the wall 370 evenly
divides the output material from the storage compartment 360, the
applicator head 378 will have one longitudinal half receiving one
material 366 and the other longitudinal half receiving the other
material 368.
[0078] In some embodiments of this invention, see for example FIGS.
22A-26, the chamber 404 provides the functionality of both the
receiving chamber and the storage compartment. In one such
embodiment, the material 406 initially is sealed in the chamber 404
by a removable or breachable barrier 408 which blocks access to the
chamber 404 from the orifice 410 of the chamber 404 through which
an applicator 420 will pass to receive the material 406. In this
embodiment, the breachable barrier 408 is formed from aluminum foil
which is applied across the orifice 410 by induction. However,
barriers 408 made of plastics, other metals, plastic-metal
laminates, paper, etcetera also can be used. To access the material
406, a user can remove the barrier 408 or, preferably, puncture,
punch, poke or otherwise breach the barrier. The barrier 408 can be
breached by any instrument which provides sufficient pressure to
push through the barrier and allow access to the chamber 404. For
example, a portion of the applicator such as the brush or head 422,
the grip of the applicator 424, a user's fingernail, a punch,
etcetera can be used. Use of the applicator brush 422 as the
breacher, however, allows for immediate insertion of the applicator
into the receiving space as the barrier 408 is breached.
[0079] Once breached, at least a portion of the applicator 420 is
inserted into the chamber 404 where the material 406 transfers to
at least a portion of the applicator, such as the brush or head 422
of the applicator. Thus, before the barrier 408 is breached, the
chamber 404 acts as storage compartment, and after the applicator
420 is inserted through the breached barrier, the chamber 404 acts
as the receiving space. Since the material 406 is already in the
effective receiving space of the chamber 404, the material need not
be transferred from a separate storage compartment by the user into
the chamber by pressure or other means as provided by other
embodiments.
[0080] In one embodiment, the portion of the applicator 420 which
has received material 406 can be withdrawn from the chamber 404
through the orifice 410 so that the applicator can be used by the
user to apply the material 406 to a surface. However, the chamber
404 can have an additional orifice 412 through which at least a
portion of the applicator 420 can pass out from the chamber 404
after receiving the material 406 for use. As with the first orifice
410, in one embodiment, this additional orifice 412 is sealed with
an additional breachable barrier 414, which is removed or breached
to allow a portion of the applicator to pass from the chamber 404
for use. While any breacher can be used to breach the additional
barrier 414, if the applicator head 422 used, the applicator head
can breach the barrier 408 through the first orifice 410, receive
the material 406 as the head passes through the chamber 404, and
breach the additional barrier 414 from inside the chamber to pass
out of the chamber through the additional orifice 412 with the
material ready for application by the user. This embodiment allows
the user to have the material 406 sealed in the chamber 404 applied
to the applicator head 422 simply by pushing the applicator 420 in
one direction.
[0081] To prevent the applicator 420 from being pushed completely
through the chamber 404, as shown in FIGS. 22A-26, the chamber can
be provided with a stop 428 which blocks the applicator grip 424
from passing though the orifice 410. In this embodiment, the
applicator grip 424 is wider than the orifice 410 where the stop
428 is positioned. The applicator grip 428 can also be made longer
than longitudinal length of the orifice 410 behind the stop 428 to
allow the user to pull the applicator head 422 back into or through
the chamber 404 to have more material 406 transferred to the
applicator brush 422.
[0082] In another embodiment, the chamber 404 can be placed within
a dispenser which guides the applicator 420. For example, the
chamber 404 could attach to the ring 142 shown in FIG. 8. In such
an embodiment, the ring 142 could provide one type of material from
the tube 148 to the applicator head 422 while the chamber 404 would
provides another material. Alternatively, the ring 142 need not
provide an additional material, but only act as a support for the
chamber. Also, the tube 148 could be replaced by a simple handle
which attaches to the chamber.
[0083] While this invention has been described with various
examples, combining of the these examples and inclusion of various
features from one to the other are contemplated by this invention.
For example, the pump of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 16A, 16B,
and 17 can be replaced by the plunger of the embodiment shown in
FIGS. 14A and 14B and vice versa.
[0084] It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to
the features and embodiments hereinabove specifically set forth,
but may be carried out in other ways without departure from its
spirit.
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