U.S. patent number 3,896,823 [Application Number 05/438,578] was granted by the patent office on 1975-07-29 for cosmetic applicator.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Spatz Corporation. Invention is credited to Walter B. Spatz.
United States Patent |
3,896,823 |
Spatz |
July 29, 1975 |
Cosmetic applicator
Abstract
Applicators for coloring eyelashes, in which an applicator
member, wand or dipper is disposed in a container for a cosmetic,
such as mascara, and is pulled outwardly through an elastomer wiper
in the container when it is to be used, the wiper removing excess
mascara from the applicator member. The inner portion of the
applicator member comprises longitudinally spaced tines, with the
wiper contacting the entire perimeter or periphery of the
applicator member, including its tine portion, to remove
substantially all excess mascara from the perimeter of the
applicator member, including the entire perimeter of its tines, as
the member is pulled from the container. Mascara remains in the
spaces between the tines only for application to the eyelashes. The
tine portion is generally elliptical or oval in shape, effecting
deformation of the wiper when the tine portion is moved
therethrough with the deformed or stretched wiper remaining in
contact with the entire convex surface of the generally elliptical
tine portion.
Inventors: |
Spatz; Walter B. (Pacific
Palisades, CA) |
Assignee: |
Spatz Corporation (Venice,
CA)
|
Family
ID: |
23741178 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/438,578 |
Filed: |
February 1, 1974 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
132/218 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A46B
9/021 (20130101); A45D 40/267 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A46B
9/00 (20060101); A46B 9/02 (20060101); A45D
40/26 (20060101); A45d 040/26 () |
Field of
Search: |
;132/85,79,75,73,88.7,88.5 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: McNeill; G. E.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Kriegel; Bernard
Claims
I claim:
1. A cosmetic applicator: comprising a container for cosmetic
material; an elastic deformable wiper having an opening; an
applicator member movable through said opening into and from said
container, said member including an inner portion adapted to be
coated by the cosmetic material and having longitudinally spaced
tines, said inner portion and its tines being of oval shape in
cross-section and convex around their entire perimeter, whereby
said wiper engages and wipes the entire perimeter of said inner
portion and its tines as said inner portion is moved longitudinally
through said wiper opening.
2. A cosmetic applicator as defined in claim 1; said opening being
generally circular, the major axis of said oval shaped inner
portion being substantially greater than the diameter of said
opening.
3. A cosmetic applicator as defined in claim 1; said opening being
generally circular, the major axis of said oval shaped inner
portion being substantially greater than the diameter of said
opening, the minor axis of said oval shaped inner portion being
smaller than the diameter of said opening.
4. A cosmetic applicator as defined in claim 1; said member
including an outer rod portion from which said inner portion
extends, said rod portion being movable through said wiper opening
to be wiped around its entire periphery by said wiper.
5. A cosmetic applicator as defined in claim 1; said member
including an outer rod portion from which said inner portion
extends, said rod portion being movable through said wiper opening
to be wiped around its entire periphery by said wiper, said opening
being generally circular in shape and smaller in diameter than the
diameter of said outer rod portion.
6. A cosmetic applicator as defined in claim 1; said member
including an outer rod portion from which said inner portion
extends, said rod portion being movable through said wiper opening
to be wiped around its entire periphery by said wiper, said opening
being generally circular in shape and smaller in diameter than the
diameter of said outer rod portion, the major axis of said oval
shaped inner portion being substantially greater than the diameter
of said outer rod portion.
7. A cosmetic applicator as defined in claim 1; said member
including an outer rod portion from which said inner portion
extends, said rod portion being movable through said wiper opening
to be wiped around its entire periphery by said wiper, said opening
being generally circular in shape and smaller in diameter than the
diameter of said outer rod portion, the major axis of said oval
shaped inner portion being substantially greater than the diameter
of said outer rod portion, the minor axis of said oval shaped inner
portion being smaller than the diameter of said outer rod
portion.
8. A cosmetic applicator as defined in claim 1; said oval shape in
cross-section of said inner portion extending throughout
substantially the entire length of said inner portion.
9. A cosmetic applicator as defined in claim 1; said longitudinally
spaced tines extending in opposite directions transversely of said
inner portion.
10. A cosmetic applicator as defined in claim 1; said
longitudinally spaced tines extending in opposite directions
transversely of said inner portion; said opening being generally
circular, the major axis of said oval shaped inner portion being
substantially greater than the diameter of said opening, the minor
axis of said oval shaped inner portion being smaller than the
diameter of said opening.
11. A cosmetic applicator as defined in claim 1; said
longitudinally spaced tines extending in opposite directions
transversely of said inner portion; said member including an outer
rod portion from which said inner portion extends movable through
said wiper opening to be wiped around its entire perimeter by said
wiper.
12. A cosmetic applicator as defined in claim 1; said
longitudinally spaced tines extending in opposite directions
transversely of said inner portion; said member including an outer
rod portion from which said inner portion extends movable through
said wiper opening to be wiped around its entire perimeter by said
wiper, said opening being generally circular in shape and smaller
in diameter than the diameter of said outer rod portion.
13. A cosmetic applicator as defined in claim 1; said
longitudinally spaced tines extending in opposite directions
transversely of said inner portion; said member including an outer
rod portion from which said inner portion extends movable through
said wiper opening to be wiped around its entire perimeter by said
wiper, said opening being generally circular in shape and smaller
in diameter than the diameter of said outer rod portion, the major
axis of said oval shaped inner portion being substantially greater
than the diameter of said outer rod portion, the minor axis of said
oval shaped inner portion being smaller than the diameter of said
outer rod portion.
14. A cosmetic applicator as defined in claim 1; said
longitudinally spaced tines extending in opposite directions
transversely of said inner portion; said member including an outer
rod portion from which said inner portion extends movable through
said wiper opening to be wiped around its entire perimeter by said
wiper, said opening being generally circular in shape and smaller
in diameter than the diameter of said outer rod portion, the major
axis of said oval shaped inner portion being substantially greater
than the diameter of said outer rod portion, the minor axis of said
oval shaped inner portion being smaller than the diameter of said
outer rod portion; said oval shape in cross-section of said inner
portion extending throughout substantially the entire length of
said inner portion.
Description
The present invention relates to cosmetic applicators, and more
particularly to applicators for applying coloring or other material
to eyelashes.
Mascara applicators have included a threaded rod, helical brush, or
small comb as applicator members, the applicator members normally
being disposed in a cosmetic or mascara mass within a container.
Pulling the member from the container forces it through an elastic
wiper to remove excess cosmetic, some cosmetic still remaining
between the threads, brush hairs, or comb teeth for application to
the eyelashes. With the comb type of applicator member, its pulling
through a rather small opening in the wiper greatly enlarges such
opening at the peaks or crests of the comb teeth. However, the
stretched or deformed wiper leaves straight sides of the comb
relatively unwiped, resulting in the applicator member attaining a
rather messy state. In addition, the comb teeth are very deep,
containing too much cosmetic.
In accordance with the present invention, a tine applicator member
is provided in which the entire surface of its periphery is wiped
clean as a result of its being pulled through an elastic wiper
during withdrawal from the mascara or cosmetic container. The tine
portion of the applicator member is of oval or generally elliptical
cross-section, being convex around its entire perimeter, so that
the wiper remains in wiping engagement with the full perimeter of
the tine portion during movement of the applicator member through
the wiper, insuring removal of all excess cosmetic from the tine
portion, with the cosmetic remaining between the teeth or tines
only for application to the eyelashes.
More specifically, the applicator member comprises a generally
cylindrical rod portion and a tine portion of oval cross-section,
the minor axis of the tine portion being smaller than the diameter
of the rod portion, and its major axis much larger. As a result,
the pulling of the applicator member through the wiper opening,
which is less in diameter than the diameter of the rod portion,
insures the cleaning of the rod portion, the wiper stretching or
enlarging considerably along the major axis of the tine portion and
contracting along its minor axis, remaining in full engagement with
the entire convex surface of the tine portion, to insure full
removal of cosmetic from the convex surface.
This invention possesses many other advantages, and has other
purposes which may be made more clearly apparent from a
consideration of several forms in which it may be embodied. Such
forms are shown in the drawings accompanying and forming part of
the present specification. These forms will now be described in
detail for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of
the invention; but it is to be understood that such detailed
description is not to be taken in a limiting sense.
Referring to the drawings:
FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of an applicator embodying the
invention;
FIG. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal section through the applicator,
parts being shown in elevation;
FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-section taken along the line 3--3 on
FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-section taken along the line 4--4 on
FIG. 2;
FIG. 5 is a side elevation of the inner portion of a modified form
of applicator member; and
FIG. 6 is a cross-section taken along the line 6--6 on FIG. 5.
As specifically illustrated in the drawings, a cosmetic applicator
is provided, particularly designed for use in applying coloring
material to eyelashes. The applicator includes a container 10 of
suitable shape, having a rear end wall 11 welded or cemented to the
adjacent portion of the container. If desired, the container and
its end wall could be made integral with one another. The forward
portion of the container has an externally threaded neck 12 on
which a companion internally threaded cap 13 can be disposed for
opening and closing the container. Secured to the cap is a wand or
dipper 14 adapted to be disposed within the container and having a
forward head 15 suitably secured to the cap, as by means of
circumferential ribs 16 in the cap received within companion
circumferential grooves 17 in the head. The wand or dipper includes
a forward cylindrical rod portion 18 extending from the head 15
into the container, and a rearward cosmetic applicator or tine
portion 19 secured to the rod portion, as by press-fitting a stud
20 of the tine portion within a companion socket 21 in the rod
portion. If desired, the forward and rearward portions 18, 19 could
be made integral with one another.
As disclosed in the drawings, the tines or teeth 22 extend
transversely of the axis of the wand or dipper in opposite
directions from the central body 23 of the tine portion, being
longitudinally spaced from one another to provide spaces 24 into
which the cosmetic or mascara can enter. The tine portion (which
includes the tines 22 and body 23) is of generally oval or
elliptical cross-section, being convex around its entire periphery,
as shown most clearly in FIG. 3. The minor axis 25 of the tine
portion is smaller than the diameter of the elliptical rod portion
18, while its major axis 26 is much larger, projecting radially in
opposite directions radially beyond the periphery of the
cylindrical rod portion. It is further to be noted that the tine
portion tapers toward its end, so that the tines 22a at such end
portion are smaller in transverse dimension, to facilitate
application of mascara to the eyelashes located at the outer
canthus at each side of the eye.
The applicator member 14 is movable through a circular opening 30
in an elastic wiper 31 secured within the forward portion of the
container. This elastic or elastomer wiper may be made of synthetic
rubber (such as Buna-N rubber of 70 Shore hardness), including a
base portion 32 terminating in a skirt 33, the base portion and
skirt being located within a circumferential recess 34 within the
container with the base portion abutting a transverse shoulder 35
in the container. A generally L-shaped retainer ring 36 has a skirt
37 located within the wiper skirt 33 and an outwardly directed
flange 38 disposed across the end of the skirt 33 and retained in
place by an internal circumferential rib 39 of the container.
The inner portion 40 of the wiper is frusto-conical, tapering in a
rearward direction toward the container axis. The unrestrained
diameter of its opening 30 is smaller than the diameter of the
cylindrical rod portion 18. The inner portion 40 terminates in a
wiper lip 41 adapted to engage the cylindrical rod portion 18 and
also the full periphery or perimeter of the tine portion 19.
As illustrated in the drawings, the cap 13 has been threaded onto
the neck 12 of the container, with the wand or dipper 14 disposed
within a cosmetic mass in the container, and with the
circumferential wiper lip 41 in wiping engagement with the
periphery of the rod portion 18. When the applicator member is to
be used for coloring or otherwise coating the eyelashes, the cap 13
is unthreaded from the container and pulled in an outward
direction, the cylindrical rod portion 18 sliding through the wiper
opening 30, followed by the tine portion 19, which also slides
through the wiper opening, to completely remove the applicator
member 14 from the container 10. During such outward movement, the
wiper 31 removes the excess cosmetic from the cylindrical rod
portion 18. When the oval or elliptical tine portion 19 moves
through the opening 30, it stretches the wiper considerably in the
direction of the major axis 26 of the tines 22, the wiper
contracting in the direction of the minor axis 25 of the tines, the
wiper lip 41 remaining in full wiping engagement with the entire
periphery or perimeter of the tines as the tine portion is moved
through the wiper. As a result, the deformed wiper lip (see broken
line in FIG. 4), which has conformed to the shape of the oval or
elliptical periphery of the tine portion, wipes the entire
periphery or perimeter of the tine portion 19, the wiper and its
lip automatically conforming to the progressively smaller tine
portion 22a present in the direction of its end.
The applicator member 14, after having been removed from the
container, will have the cosmetic material in the spaces 24 between
the tines 22 only, and not on the perimeter of the tine portion,
whereupon the cosmetic material can be applied to the eyelashes in
a known manner, the smaller eyelashes at the canthus of the eye
being readily colored without danger of contacting the eyelid or
the eye itself.
Following use of the applicator member, its wand or dipper portion
14 is reinserted through the wiper 31 and to the position
illustrated in the drawings, the cap 13 being rethreaded on the
threaded neck 12 of the container.
As disclosed in FIG. 5, in lieu of the tine portion of the
applicator member being tapered, as illustrated in FIG. 2, the
tines 22b can all be of uniform transverse dimension. Regardless of
the tapering or non-tapering configuration of the tine portion 19,
the latter is non-circular, but convex, around the entire periphery
of the tines 22 and body 23, and at each and all of its
cross-section, to insure effective wiping action around its entire
periphery at each and all of its cross-sections.
It is, accordingly, apparent that a cosmetic applicator has been
provided for coating eyelashes in which the cosmetic material,
which ordinarily has cream or gelatinous characteristics, will fill
the spaces 24 between the tines 22 and which will also coat the
cylindrical rod portion 18 and the periphery of the tine portion 19
as well. However, upon removal of the wand or dipper 14 from the
container 10, the wiper 31 will remove the cosmetic from the entire
periphery or perimeter of the cylindrical rod portion 18 and also
from the entire convex or oval periphery of the tine portion 19,
leaving the cosmetic remaining in the spaces 24 between the tines
22 only for application to the eyelashes, the remainder of the
applicator member being in an effectively wiped state. Although
oppositely directed tines are illustrated in the drawings, such
tines may, if desired, be disposed on one side only of the
applicator member. However, the tine portion of such member is
still non-circular, but convex, around its entire periphery and
each and all of its cross-sections, to insure the full wiping
action by the wiper on its entire periphery.
If desired, the tines 22 at one side of the dipper 14 can be spaced
from one another a different distance than the tines at the
opposite dipper side.
* * * * *