Cosmetic applicator and container

Abstract

An applicator for applying cosmetics, such as mascara, to eyelashes, including a container, the applicator having a handle and rod portion. The rod having at its end a comb, brush and a serrated end portion. The comb is adapted to apply the mascara to the lashes and the brush is used to thereafter separate and curl the lashes, the serrated end portion being used to apply the mascara to difficult areas, such as eyelashes adjacent the corners of the eyes. The container is constructed so that the rod can be inserted therein and withdrawn through an opening having a resilient flexible wiper for removing the mascara, on withdrawal, in the proper amounts from the comb, brush and serrated end portion. A coupling arrangement is provided for securing the applicator within the container and part of the wiper structure cooperates therewith to form a seal when the handle is coupled to the container.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the application of cosmetics, and more particularly to applicator devices for applying cosmetics, such as mascara, to the eyelashes.

In the prior art applicator devices have been used, but generally two or more separate devices had to be used in order to properly apply mascara to the eyelashes and to curl and fluff them thereafter. It is difficult to uniformly apply mascara to eyelashes with a single prior art device, and it is also difficult to prevent applying excessive mascara with a single device. When the latter occurs, a separate device has to be used to remove the excess mascara and to fluff and curl the eyelashes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved applicator for applying cosmetics, such as mascara and the like.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an applicator for applying mascara and the like to eyelashes, the applicator including a discrete comb, brush and serrated end portion.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an applicator, as described in the previous paragraph, for applying mascara, including a container having a wiper for selectively removing desirable amounts of mascara from the discrete comb, brush and serrated end portions.

After withdrawing the applicator from the container, and through the wiper, the comb portion is used for combing the mascara on to the lashes, and then the brush portion is used to more evenly apply the mascara, separating the lashes, if necessary, and fluffing and curling the lashes. The serrated end portion is used, as necessary, to apply mascara to the lashes, particularly in difficult areas, such as at the corners of the eyes or lower lashes.

In withdrawing the serrated end portion from the container, and through the wiper, a substantial amount of mascara remains on the serrated end portion in that the wiper tends to snap over it and thereby not remove mascara from it as it does from the comb and brush portions. Very little or no mascara is removed from the serrations per se.

Further objects and advantages of the invention may be brought out in the following part of the specification wherein small details have been described for the competence of disclosure, without intending to limit the scope of the invention which is set forth in the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring to the accompanying drawings, which are for illustrative purposes:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the applicator and handle, the applicator being within the container and the handle being secure thereto, and showing the container in cross section;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary view of the container in cross section, illustrating the rod as it is being withdrawn from the container just before the applicator portions are being drawn through the wiper;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view, similar to FIG. 2, illustrating the action of the wiper on the brush and comb portions during withdrawal;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary view of the applicator illustrating an end view of the comb teeth and a portion of the rod adjacent thereto, taken along the lines 4--4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a view of the brush and comb portions taken along the lines 5--5 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary, partially cross-sectional view of the serrated end portion and comb teeth, taken along the lines 6--6 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view, taken along the lines 7--7 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view, taken along the lines 8--8 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the wiping of the brush and comb portions, taken along the lines 9--9 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 10 is a side view of an eye illustrating the operation of the comb portion on the lashes;

FIG. 11 is a side view of an eye illustrating the operation of the brush portion on the eyelashes; and

FIG. 12 is a front view of an eye illustrating the use of the brush portion and the serrated end portion on the eyelashes.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring again to the drawings, there is shown a cosmetic application system, generally designated as 10, including a container 12 and an applicator 14. The applicator is comprised of a handle 16, and extending therefrom conventionally secured thereto, a rod 18, having on its end a brush portion 20, a comb portion 22 and a serrated end portion 24.

As shown in FIGS. 1-3, the container 12 is a hollow, cylindrical structure having a closed end portion 26 and an open end having an annular neck 28. External threads 30 on the neck are engaged with internal threads 32 on the handle when it is secured on the container, as shown in FIG. 1. Secured within the neck 28 is a resilient and flexible rubber sealing and wiping fitting, generally designated as 34, snugly and sealingly mated to the neck structure. At the outer end of the fitting 34, overlapping the neck end of the container, is an annular flange 36 forming a seal at the neck at 38 and on an inner annular surface 40 of the handle when it is secured on the container.

Extending axially inwardly from the flange 36 is a cylindrical portion 42 joined by a radially outwardly projecting inner sealing and supporting flange 44, snapingly engaged with a shoulder 46 on the inner end of the neck. On the inner end of the cylindrical portion 42, radially inwardly of the flange 44 is an approximately frusto-conical-shaped wiper 48, having an inner slightly convex, outer slightly concave wall 50. The wall 50 terminates in an annular lip 52 extending around a relatively small, centrally positioned opening 54, as shown in FIG. 1, in a slightly stretched position in complete contact, wiping encirclement of an annular portion 56 of the rod 18.

As shown in FIGS. 1-4, the major length of the rod is comprised of the annular cross section portion 56 and extending therefrom toward the outer end is a minor transition length, generally designated as 58, merging from the annular cross section to a flattened and tapered cross section portion 60, adjacent the comb, having a thin edge 61, and to a flat cross section portion 62 adjacent the brush portion and having a relieved portion 63. The flattened portion 60 and the flat portion 62, together, have a length greater than the diameter of the rod portion 56. From the flat portion 62 continues a flat parallel-walled spacer portion 64 forming a base 66 for the brush portion and a base 68 for the comb portion.

Teeth 70 extend from the comb base portion, having flat parallel facing sides 71 and tapering edges 73, terminating at their outer ends in a narrow flat tip 72. Axially outwardly of the comb teeth, the end portion 24 has tapering side walls 74 and 76, for wiping purposes having substantially the same taper as the comb teeth and the walls of the flattened area 60 between its edge 61 and the flat portion 62. The walls 74 and 76 terminate at an edge 75 having a width slightly less than the teeth tips 72, which extend slightly beyond the edges 61 and 75, permitting the comb teeth to flex slightly while passing through the wiper.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, bristles 80 of the brush are secured within twisted wires 82 fitted in a semicircular elongated groove 84 in the brush base 66, the wires being secured at their ends within set plastic brush holding portions 86 and 88, having side walls which are generally continuous with the walls of the spacer 64 and with the surface of the flat portion 62. The bristles have an approximate semicircular cross section at their outer ends, extending generally away from the comb portion, the brush being positioned so that the bristles extend transversely and radially outwardly beyond the annular surface of the rod portion 18, having only small inner parts of the bristles in direct axial alignment with the adjacent annular rod portion.

Extending outwardly from the side walls 74 and 76 of the end portion are serrations 90 having pointed ends 92 axially outwardly relative to the rod portion. As may be seen in FIGS. 1 and 4-6, the teeth points of the serrations, the tips of the comb teeth, the longitudinal center of the brush portion, and the brush support portions, and the axis of the rod lie in substantially the same plane, not shown. The end portion 24, in the direction perpendicular to the said plane, extends substantially within the peripheries defining the brush base and the comb portion, and in the elongated direction and in the direction of the said plane, extends substantially within the peripheries defining the brush holding portions and the comb teeth. Further, in the direction of the said plane, the serrations are narrower than the remainder of the end portion.

Commercially, the applicator system 10 is typically sold in a closed, assembled form, as shown in FIG. 1, and containing a liquid cosmetic, such as mascara, immersing the rod, brush, comb and end portions, and tending to adhere thereto. A woman may apply mascara to her eyelashes in the following manner: The applicator handle 16 is unscrewed from the neck of the container 12 and then is withdrawn from the container by pulling the rod, comb, brush and serrated portions of the applicator through the wiping fitting 34.

As the rod is withdrawn, the wiper in the position shown in FIG. 1 wipes the annular part of the rod dry and then, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 8, when the flattened portions of the rod are withdrawn to be moved through the wiper, the conical wall 50 is reversed and pulled in the direction shown in FIG. 2 with the lip 52 and portions of the wall 50 in engagement with the flattened portions of the rod in approximate tear drop cross section so as to wipe them to be clean and dry.

As the withdrawal is continued, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 9, the comb and brush portions are engaged by the wall 50 and the lip 52 so as to slightly flex the resilient comb teeth and to depress the bristles against the brush wire 82 and surrounding surfaces, such as portions of the spacer 64 and the brush supporting means 86. In cross section the wall 50 is stretched to form a V-shaped slot on the comb teeth and an approximate semicircle around the bristles.

In this part of the wiping operation the brush and comb portions are wiped selectively. The tapered sides 73 of the comb teeth have a considerable amount of mascara removed therefrom but the mascara remains between the teeth. The walls of the spacer portion 64 and brush holding portions are wiped to be substantially clean and the bristles are also wiped to be relatively dry, all, or substantially all, of the mascara being removed therefrom.

As the withdrawal is continued, the wiper engages and wipes the tapered surfaces 74 and 76 and the edge 75 of the end portion. As the applicator is further withdrawn to position the serrated area within the wall 50, it snaps over the serrated area so as to leave the mascara within the serrations.

The applicator is then in condition for applying the mascara to the eyelashes. As shown in FIG. 10, the mascara is applied to the lashes by combing it thereon, rotating the comb teeth through the lashes. After this has been accomplished, if an excess amount of mascara has been applied, or some of the lashes stick together, or whether neither of the latter conditions exist, the substantially dry brush portions may be used to fluff, curl and arrange the lashes leaving the proper amount of mascara thereon and in condition and appearance desired.

For areas in which it is difficult to apply the mascara, such as in the corners of the eye, the serrated end portion may be used, and as well as for other areas, and after such application, the brush portion may be again used to shape and remove excess mascara as desired.

After the mascara has been applied, the applicator is reinserted into the container through the wiper causing it to assume the position shown in FIG. 1. The handle 16 is then rotated so that the threads are engaged and it is tightened on the neck. The tightening provides a seal between the flange 36 and the annular handle surface 40 and a second seal is provided by the wiper lip 52 engaging the cylindrical surface of the rod. Further, the resilient flange 44 functions like a washer to prevent mascara leakage between the cylindrical portion 42 of the wiper fitting and the container neck.

The cosmetic container 12 and the applicator parts, other than the bristles and wire, are preferably formed of plastic by a relatively inexpensive molding process so that the entire apparatus may be discarded after the mascara contained therein has been used.

As is understood from the foregoing, a unique, inexpensive and efficient mascara applicator system has been provided in the present invention.

The invention and its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form construction and arrangement of the parts of the invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof or sacrificing its material advantages, the arrangement hereinbefore described being merely by way of example, and I do not wish to be restricted to the specific form shown or uses mentioned except as defined in the accompanying claims, wherein various portions have been separated for clarity of reading and not for emphasis.

Claims

I claim:

1. In a cosmetic package for use in the application of mascara to eyelashes,

a container having mascara therein, said container being provided with access opening;

an applicator including a comb portion, a handle portion, and a rod portion interconnecting said handle and comb portions,

said comb and rod portions being removably inserted in said container through said opening to immerse said comb portion in said mascara,

said comb portion having plurality of elongated teeth extending from a base portion to the tips of said teeth to define a cross-sectional configuration which is relatively elongated in one dimension and relatively thin in the other dimension;

wiper means mounted on said container adjacent said container opening for wiping the rod and comb portions of said applicator as they are withdrawn from said container,

said wiper means including an approximate frusto-conical annular lip of a resilient, elastic and flexible material converging inwardly of the container with its terminal inner edge surface in complete contact encirclement of the rod when the applicator is in place in the container and defining a stretchable opening through which said applicator is inserted and withdrawn,

said lip being axially reversible by withdrawal of the applicator to position the reversed surface of the lip in complete wiping encirclement of the rod;

the improvment comprising:

a brush portion having bristles extending from a brush base adjacent the base portion of the comb,

said wiper means by withdrawal beyond the rod being resiliently deformed and stretched by the brush and comb portions to an elongated configuration conforming generally to the peripheral surfaces of the comb portion and of depressed brush portion in contact wiping relationship with the tips of the comb teeth and the brush brisles and in general wiping relationship with the edges of the comb teeth as the comb and brush portions pass outwardly through the wiper means,

whereby excess mascara is removed from said comb portion and substantially all mascara is removed from said bristles.

2. The invention according to claim 1 in which:

the tips of said comb teeth are approximately aligned with the periphery of a portion of the rod adjacent the comb portion whereby the wiper means assumes the rod configuration adjacent the comb portion and tends to control the amount of flexing of the teeth when the applicator is withdrawn through said wiper means.

3. The invention according to claim 1 in which:

the bristles of said brush portion extend transversely with respect to the rod axis a substantial amount beyond the rod surface and having only small inner portions of the bristles in alignment with adjacent rod surface,

whereby said wiper means removes mascara from the entire exposed brush so that it can be used to fluff and curl the eyelashes after the mascara has been otherwise applied.

4. The invention according to claim 1 in which:

serrations extend axially outwardly from an end portion of the applicator adjacent outer ends of the comb and brush portions;

whereby during said withdrawal said wiper means snaps off the applicator end leaving the mascara substantially unwiped on the serrations.

5. The invention according to claim 4 in which:

the rod portion includes a major length of the annular cross section and minor transition length merging from the annular cross section to a flattened cross section portion at the comb portion and to a flat cross section portion at the brush portion, the comb and brush portions being elongated,

the tips of the comb teeth and the longitudinal center of the brush portion lying substantially in the same plane,

the bristles extending from the brush base in directions generally away from the comb portion and at their outer ends having an approximate semicircular cross section, the brush portion being positioned so that the bristles extend radially outwardly beyond part of the annular rod surface.

6. The invention according to claim 5 in which:

said comb and brush portions are spaced from each other within said plane by a spacer flat portion extending the length of said comb and brush portions.

7. The invention according to claim 6 in which:

said wiper means, when withdrawn beyond said rod, has a configuration around said brush portion generally semicircular and around said comb portion generally V-shaped.

8. The invention according to claim 5 in which:

said end portion extends along the outer end of said comb portion,

said flattened cross section portion of said rod, said comb teeth, and said end portion axially inwardly of the serrations being tapered, the taper of each being substantially the same and in alignment for wiping.

9. The invention according to claim 4 in which:

said end portion is elongated and extends transversely with respect to the rod axis,

said serrations having pointed teeth directed outwardly from the brush and comb portions and the rod,

said brush base having brush holding means thereon at opposite ends of the brush,

the teeth points of the serrations, the tips of the comb teeth, and the longitudinal center of the brush portion being in substantially the same plane,

said end portion, in the direction perpendicular to said plane, extending substantially within the peripheries of the brush portion, the brush base, and the comb portion,

said end portion, in the elongated direction and in the direction of said plane, extending substantially within the peripheries of the brush holding means and the comb teeth.

10. The invention according to claim 9 in which:

said serrations are narrower in the directions perpendicular to said plane than the remainder of said end portion.

11. The invention according to claim 9 in which:

said serrations on said end portions are narrower in the direction perpendicular to said plane than said brush portion, said brush base, said brush holding means, said comb portion and said rod, and

said comb teeth and said brush bristles, in the direction of said plane and in the elongated direction of the end portion, terminate outwardly beyond the end portion.

12. The invention according to claim 6 in which:

said flattened cross section portion of the rod at the comb portion and said flat cross section portion of the rod at the brush portion, in the direction of said plane, together are greater in length than the diameter of the annular cross section of the rod,

said comb base and said brush base having a width substantially the same as said comb teeth at said comb base,

said spacer flat portion having substantially the same width as said flat cross section portion of the rod, the comb base and the brush base in the direction perpendicular to said plane,

said comb teeth tapering from their base to their tips,

said tips of said comb teeth extend slightly beyond said flat cross section of rod and said end portion in the direction of said plane.

13. The invention according to claim 12 in which:

said end portion is elongated and extends transversely with respect to the rod axis,

said serrations having pointed teeth directed outwardly from the brush and comb portions and the rod,

said brush base having brush holding means at opposite ends of the brush on said brush base,

the points of the serrations lying substantially in said plane,

said end portion, in the direction perpendicular to said plane, extending substantially within the peripheries of the brush portion, brush base, and comb portion,

said end portion, in the elongated direction and in the direction of said plane, extending substantially within the peripheries of the brush holding means and the comb teeth.

14. The invention according to claim 12 in which:

neck structure is formed on said container to define said container opening, and

said lip is recessed within said container and formed to protrude towards the interior of said container whereby as said comb and brush portions are withdrawn from said container through said lip opening, said lip is drawn into said container neck structure as it wipes said comb and brush portions.

15. The invention according to claim 14 in which:

there are coupling means for releasably securing said applicator on said container with its handle portion positioned exteriorly of said container and its rod,

comb and brush portions and serrations are positioned within said container so as to immerse the comb and brush portions and serrations in the mascara contained therein.

16. A cosmetic applicator for immersion in a container carrying fluid cosmetic and for being selectively wiped by a wiper in the opening of said container upon withdrawal therefrom, said applicator comprising:

a handle, cosmetic applying portion, a rod portion interconnecting said handle and applying portion,

said applying portion including a comb portion, a brush portion and an end portion having serrations,

said comb portion having a plurality of elongated teeth extending from a comb base portion,

said brush portion having bristles extending from a brush base adjacent said comb base portion,

said serrations extending axially outwardly from said end portion adjacent outer ends of the comb and brush portions,

said rod portion including a major length of annular cross section and minor transition length merging from the annular cross section to flattened cross section portions at the comb brush portions,

the comb and brush portions being elongated,

the tips of the comb teeth, the longitudinal center of the brush portion, and the serrations lying substantially in the same plane,

the bristles extending from the brush base in directions generally away from the comb portion and at their outer ends having an approximate semicircular cross section,

the brush portion being positioned so that the bristles extend radially outwardly beyond part of the annular rod surface,

said end portion, in the direction of said plane, extending substantially within the peripheries of the comb and brush portions,

said end portion, in the direction perpendicular to said plane, extending substantially within the peripheries of the brush and comb portions,

said serrations being narrower in the direction perpendicular to said plane than the remainder of said end portion.