Eyelash-cosmetic applicator

Abstract

A mascara applicator head having a plurality of flat triangular projections, said projections being aligned preferably in three equidistantly spaced rows about the applicator shaft, with the projections from adjacent rows defining smooth circumferential discontinuous channels along the shaft.

Description

This invention relates to an improved device for applying cosmetic to beautify and enhancingly emphasize the eyelashes. More particularly the invention relates to a mascara applicator of unique design that withdraws from a mascara reservoir a predetermined amount of mascara and provides means for controlled dispensing thereof.

In the past, certain applicator devices for dispensing eyelash cosmetics have been developed to overcome problems such as lack of control of amount of mascara withdrawn from the reservoir and insufficient eyelash separation. Other valve devices have been developed to overcome problems of retarding loss of volatile solvents and of leakproof containment of the cosmetic.

In recent years new eyelash cosmetics have entered the market, including mascara-type preparations with various additives to produce thicker-and longer-appearing eyelashes. Typical of such preparations are those taught by Palmerio, U.S. Pat. No. 3,384,547. Even though advances in the art permitted control against leakage and provided some degree of wiping (cf. Ziegler, U.S. Pat. No. 3,084,374; Lederberg, U.S. Pat. No. 3,195,545; and, Vasas, U.S. Pat. No. 3,662,769) none of the devices seemed able to control withdrawal from reservoir while also providing for separation of eyelashes and for control of the quantity of cosmetic placed about each eyelash.

With the new eyelash cosmetics, ease of control of application has been found to be an important factor in consumer acceptance. It is also desirable from the standpoint of consumer acceptance to provide for product changes without requiring reeducation of the consumer by detailed how-to-use instructions. In essence, the cosmetic industry requires a means for systematically changing applicator configurations with concomitant changes in eyelash cosmetic formulations, whereby the consumer may apply the cosmetic without having to learn new techniques.

In this invention various mascara applicator geometries are described. Each applicator provides for a controlled amount of eyelash cosmetic to be withdrawn from the reservoir, while providing means for separation of adjacent eyelashes and for placing a predetermined amount of cosmetic about each eyelash.

Described herein is an improved mascara-applying means consisting of a series of parallel surfaces of basically triangular plates, such plates being similarly oriented about a common central shaft and having equal spaces therebetween. The alined sides of the plates together form a smooth, discontinuous surface suited to assist wiping. When used as an applicator, the plates function similar to comb teeth in that they separate the eyelashes for coating thereof with mascara. The thickness of the individual plates provides for control of the quantity of eyelash cosmetic withdrawn from the reservoir, by providing flat edges for cooperation with wiper surfaces. The container as shown herein presents sealing and wiping arrangement that is effective for use with the aforementioned mascara-applying means.

In the preferred embodiment of invention the applicator is formed into a trifurcated elongated body. Each of the furcations or tines extends axially along the applicator shaft and is tapered so that the narrowest portion of the applicator is furthest away from the applicator handle. Between each two adjacent tines a smooth curve, generally parabolic in nature, extends. This smooth curve enables the wiping of the applicator by mechanical means to minimize the amount of mascara carried thereby. In order to carry desired amounts of cosmetic, the individual tines have indentions extending radially from the central shaft or wand portion. These indentions cause a cross-section of a given tine to take on a serrated form. The indentions are equally spaced to roughly correspond with desired eyelash separation. The indentions of adjacent tines are in alinement so that upon rotatory motion of the applicator, the cosmetic in corresponding indentions successively coat the same lash or lashes.

The overall diameter of the device is maintained at a minimum so that the view of the individual user is not obscured by the applicator. The tapered construction of the applicator enables the skillful coating of the smaller lashes at either side of an eye.

This invention for an eyelash cosmetic-applicator comprises a shaft; handle means attached to one end of the shaft; and, an applicator head with a plurality of flat, substantially triangular projections each extending to a vertex at most 1 centimeter from the shaft, the triangular surfaces of these projections being normal to the axis of the shaft, at least three of the projections spaced about the shaft in a coplanar arrangement forming a regular geometric pattern, the pattern repeated axially starting from the shaft end opposite the handle means with corresponding vertices of adjacent patterns being coplanar with said axis, adjacent sides of said corresponding coplanar projections defining smooth, discontinuous channels along said shaft, the adjacent patterns leaving axial spaces therebetween of not less than 0.25 millimeters.

The invention itself, however, will be best understood from the following detailed description of certain specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a fully assembled mascara container and applicator of this invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged partial cross-section of FIG. 1 showing the relationship of the applicator, wiper assembly and container;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the mascara-applying element of the applicator of this invention;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged end view for showing the applicator geometry of the mascara-applying element of FIG. 3 as viewed from its lowermost end;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of FIG. 3 for showing the relationship of the triangular projections thereof;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the wiper assembly of FIG. 1 through the longitudinal axis and the center of an inwardly extending buttress projection;

FIG. 7 is an end view of FIG. 6 as viewed from the uppermost (when assembled) end thereof;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged end view for showing the applicator geometry of the mascara-applying element as viewed from its lowermost end for a 4-tined embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged end view for showing the applicator geometry of the mascara-applying element as viewed from its lowermost end for a 5-tined embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged end view for showing the applicator geometry of the mascara-applying element as viewed from its lowermost end for a 6-tined embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the wiper assembly taken through its longitudinal axis for a segmented-type wiper embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 12 is an end view of FIG. 11 as viewed from the uppermost (when assembled) end thereof;

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of the wiper assembly taken through its longitudinal axis for a resilient-type wiper embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 14 is an end view of FIG. 13 as viewed from the uppermost (when assembled) end thereof;

FIG. 15 is a partial cross-sectional view of FIG. 5 with mascara held between the projection thereof and showing the relationship to eyelashes during application; and

FIG. 16 is a partial cross-sectional view of FIG. 15 showing the relationship between the mascara-holding projections and the eyelashes being treated.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 there is illustrated an eyelash-cosmetic applicator or dispenser, designated as 20, that consists generally of a bottle or tubular reservoir 22 and a cap or applicator handle means 24. The cap has fluted member 26 for facilitating removal of the cap from the bottle. The cap 24 consists of an outer shell 28 being closed at one end and having internal threads 30 adjacent to the rim of the opening.

Anterior to the threads is attachment means for holding the upper end of applicator shaft 32. In the embodiment shown, the upper end of an applicator shaft is formed into a cup-like member 34 which is dimensioned so as to press fit into shell 28 and has its rearward position with relation to the closed end of shell limited by flange 36. The attachment means consists of the mating relationship between the retaining groove 38 of shell 28 and external bead 40 of cup-like member 34. While many other attachment arrangements are feasible, this has proved to be a simple, yet effective, structure for retaining the applicator shaft and the reservoir in a coaxial relationship when assembled.

The closure of eyelash-cosmetic applicator or dispenser 20 is provided with external threads 42 about neck 44 for engagement with internal threads 30. Wiper assembly 48 has lip 50 that extends above neck 44 and, upon closure of the bottle, the outer surface 46 of member 34 is mated therewith. Full engagement of threads 30 and 42 and compressive seating of surface 46 onto lip 50 yields a cosmetic-retaining dispenser for retarding evaporative loss of solvent. For additional sealing, upon closure, flexible webs 52 are compressively urged against applicator shaft 32.

The cosmetic applicator is illustrated in detail in FIGS. 3, 4, and 5. The applicator head 31 has a central shaft or core 54 reduced dimensionally from and coaxial with applicator shaft 32. About the central shaft are a plurality of flat, substantially triangular projections or teeth 56 that extend normal to the shaft axis to vertices 58. The projections have a height between adjacent triangular surfaces 60, as measured along a line parallel to the shaft axis, that is slightly less than the average spacing between eyelashes. The height of the openings 62 between surfaces 60 of adjacent projections is slightly greater than the average thickness of the cosmetically-treated eyelash. The projections are uniformly distributed about shaft 54 with axially adjacent ones aligned so as to form smooth channels 62 therebetween. Coplanar adjacent projections are shaped so that a smooth curve extends between the respective apices. The smoothness of the channels provides for efficient wiping thereof by wiper assembly 48.

The wiper assembly 48, illustrated in detail in FIGS. 6 and 7, has a central aperture 66 that is adapted to seal against the outer surface of applicator shaft 32. Surrounding this aperture are flexible webs 52 which upon insertion of the applicator are stretched to conform to the outer surface of channel 64. Upon insertion triangular projections 56 extend radially into the flexible web areas. The buttress projections 68 mate with channels 64 and together with flexible webs 52 form squeegees that force mascara-like cosmetic 69 into the openings 62 between triangular projections 56. The wiper assembly is retained in bottle 22, FIG. 1, by external wiper bead 70 which mates with bottle neck 44 and groove 72. The assembly is further secured by wiper flange 74 which mates with corresponding neck flange 76 on bottle neck 44. In the embodiment shown the wiper assembly 48 is constructed of a neoprene material so as to afford resistance to organic solvents. Such construction forms webs 52 that are flexible along radial lines bisecting each web. The neoprene is undercut along the dashed lines 78 so as to direct the line of fracture.

Referring now to FIGS. 8, 9 and 10, the variety of applicator geometries are shown. In each of the illustrations, a plurality of flat, substantially triangular projections or teeth 56 that extend normal to the shaft axis to vertices 58. The projections have a height between adjacent triangular surfaces 60, as measured along a line parallel to the shaft axis, that is slightly less than the average spacing between eyelashes. The projections in the 4-5- and 6-tine geometries are uniformly distributed about shaft 54 with axially adjacent tines alined so that to form smooth channels 64 therebetween.

The first alternate wiper assembly 88 illustrated in detail in FIGS. 11 and 12 has a central aperture 106 that is adapted to seal against the surfaces of applicator shaft 32. Surrounding this aperture are flexible segments 92 which upon insertion of the applicator, flex to conform to the outer surface of channel 64. Upon insertion triangular projections 56 extend radially into the flexible segment areas. The segmented wiper 88 is not a form that has two tiers of wiper segments each out of phase with the other so that no matter what angle the applicator element is inserted, flexible segments 92 conform to the smooth surface of channel 64. During removal of the applicator element from the mascara reservoir, mascara is forced into the openings 62 between triangular projections 56. The wiper assembly 88 is retained in bottle 22 by external wiper bead 110 which mates with bottle neck 44 and groove 72. The assembly is further secured by wiper flange 114 which mates with corresponding neck flange 76 on bottle neck 44. In the embodiment shown the segmented wiper assembly 88 is constructed of a neoprene material that affords resistance to organic solvents.

The second alternate wiper assembly 128, illustrated in detail in FIGS. 13 and 14 has a central aperture 146 that is adapted to seal against the outer surface of applicator shaft 32. Surrounding this aperture is a resilient body 132 which upon insertion of the applicator is compressed to conform to the outer surface of channel 64. Upon insertion triangular projections 56 extend radially into the resilient material 132. The resilient material 132 is deformed in a manner that holds it against channel 64 and squeezes cosmetic material into the openings 62 between triangular projections 56. The wiper assembly 128 is retained in bottle 22 by external wiper bead 150 which mates with bottle 44 and groove 72. The assembly is further secured by wiper flange 154 which mates with corresponding neck flange 76 on bottle neck 44. In the embodiment shown, the wiper assembly 128 is constructed of a neoprene material so as to afford resistance to the organic solvent of the cosmetic. The resilient mass 132 constructed from a foamed plastic material having a similar resistance to organic solvents.

Upon removal from the reservoir and passing the applicator element through the wiper assembly, the applicator is loaded with mascara for application to the eyelashes. FIGS. 15 and 16 show a partial cross-section of the several teeth such as are shown in FIG. 5. FIG. 15 shows a cross-section taken through a plane including the axis to applicator shaft 32. It illustrates the relationship between projections 56, mascara 160 and eyelashes 162. FIG. 15 clearly shows the manner in which each eyelash 162 is completely surrounded by mascara 160 during application. Similar FIG. 16, which is a partial cross-section normal to that of FIG. 15, shows how the separation between adjacent eyelashes 162 is maintained.

In the preferred embodiment, the design parameters have been found to be satisfied by the following dimensional considerations. An applicator head (the end opposite the handle means) is formed within a diameter of 6mm. Such an overall dimension is within the 1cm. found to be the optimum maximium for width of applicators on the basis that wider applicators obstruct vision too much. A three-tined applicator is formed having individual teeth from triangular plates approximately 0.5 mm. thick for providing separation between eyelashes during application and 2 mm. in height for sufficient engagement of the lashes. The shaft diameter of about 3 mm. is reduced to a core (reduced shaft) of about 2 mm. in the head area so as to regulate withdrawal from reservoirs of cosmetic material. Efficient wiping is accomplished by having a smooth curve of 4mm. radius forming an arc between adjacent vertices and being tangential to a diameter slightly greater than the central core.

While several embodiments have been shown to illustrate the invention, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made without departing if defined in the appended claims.

Claims

I claim:

1. An eyelash-cosmetic applicator comprising:

a. a shaft;

b. handle means attached to one end of said shaft; and

c. an applicator head with a plurality of flat, substantially triangular projections each extending to a vertex at most one centimeter from said shaft, the triangular surfaces of said projections being normal to the axis of said shaft, at least three of said projections spaced circumferentially about said shaft in a coplanar arrangement forming a regular geometric pattern, said pattern repeated axially starting from the shaft end opposite said handle means with corresponding vertices of adjacent patterns being coplanar with said axis, adjacent sides of said corresponding coplanar projections defining smooth, discontinuous channels along said shaft, said adjacent patterns leaving axial spaces therebetween of not less than 0.25 millimeter.

2. An eyelash-cosmetic applicator as described in claim 1, wherein said applicator further comprises:

d. a tubular reservoir having an opening at one end thereof for receiving said applicator head;

e. a mascara-like cosmetic partially filling said tubular reservoir of a viscosity permitting partial removal thereof from said reservoir by engagement between axially adjacent projections of said applicator head;

f. wiper means for clearing excess of said cosmetic from said smooth channels.

3. An eyelash-cosmetic applicator as described in claim 2, wherein said applicator further comprises:

g. seal means cooperating with said applicator shaft and forming a closure at said opening when said applicator head is inserted therethrough.

4. An eyelash-cosmetic applicator as described in claim 2, wherein said handle means includes cap means for engaging said tubular reservoir.

5. An eyelash-cosmetic applicator as described in claim 4, wherein said seal means is a neoprene washer engaged by the opening of said tubular reservoir and a flattened portion of said applicator shaft.

6. An eyelash-cosmetic applicator as described in claim 4, wherein said seal means is a neoprene washer having a central aperture resilient engaging said applicator shaft.

7. An eyelash-cosmetic applicator as described in claim 1, wherein said applicator head is formed within a diameter of about 6 mm. and wherein said triangular projections have a thickness of approximately 0.5 mm. and a radial dimension of about 2mm.

8. An applicator for eyelash cosmetics comprising:

a. a shaft;

b. handle means attached to one end of said shaft; and

c. an applicator head with a plurality of projections each extending at most one centimeter from said shaft, said projections being axially aligned in three equidistantly spaced rows about said shaft axis with the projections from adjacent rows being aligned to define smooth, circumferential discontinuous channels of not less than 0.25 millimeter along said shaft.

9. An applicator as in claim 8 wherein the surface of said projections diverge outwardly from said shaft.

10. An applicator as described in claim 9 wherein the surfaces of said projections are substantially triangular with the base of said triangle along said shaft.

11. An applicator as in claim 8 wherein the surfaces of said projections are substantially normal to the axis of said shaft.

12. An applicator as described in claim 8 wherein the applicator head is tapered so that the narrowest portion of the head is away from the applicator handle.

13. An applicator as in claim 8 wherein the non-applicator portion of the shaft is of smaller cross section than the applicator portion of the shaft.

14. An eyelash cosmetic container comprising;

a. a bottle;

b. a mascara-like composition partially filling said bottle;

c. a bottle closure;

d. an applicator as in claim 8 attached to said bottle closure and adapted to be immersed in said cosmetic when said bottle closure is attached to said bottle;

e. a wiper means within said bottle and positioned intermediate said applicator head and said bottle closure when said closure is attached to said bottle, said wiper adapted to clear excess cosmetic from said applicator head.