GB2132883A

GB2132883A - Self-propelled cosmetic applicator

Info

Publication number: GB2132883A
Application number: GB08326228A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Seidler
Original assignee: Revlon Inc
Current assignee: Revlon Inc
Priority date: 1982-09-30
Filing date: 1983-09-30
Publication date: 1984-07-18
Also published as: JPS59135011A; FR2536970A1; LU85025A1; BR8305336A; BE897850A; ZA837331B; AU1972283A; GB8326228D0; NL8303324A; IT8349083A0; DE3335093A1; IT8336124V0

Abstract

A cosmetic device comprises a squeezable and flexible outer container 2 for holding a cosmetic product therein, a rigid inner housing 5 being arranged in the container and having a common opening therewith, a rigid section 17 held between the outer container and the inner housing, a cosmetic applicator 8 arranged in the inner housing, and a spring 6 for forcing the cosmetic applicator out of the inner housing 5. A shoulder 12 is arranged on the cosmetic applicator 8 for pushing excess cosmetic product out through slots 15 arranged in the inner housing. A wiper 13 is arranged at the common opening for removing excess cosmetic product from a head of the applicator and for sealing tightly the common opening when the shoulder 12 abuts thereagainst. After being removed from the container, a closure cap 3 allows the head of the applicator 8 to come out of the housing. The closure cap 3 is also used to force the head 8 back into housing 5, when the cap is being reapplied thereon. Preferably, the cosmetic product is mascara and the head of the applicator is a foam brush. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Self-propelled cosmetic applicator in flexible package Background of the invention 1. Field ofinvention This invention relates to toilet kits and, in particular, to cosmetic applicators of the mascara brushtype for use on eye lashes or the like.

2. Description ofPriorArt The present invention is a substantial improvement over applicant's U.S. Patent No. 3,694,096 which is directed to a spring-loaded cosmetic applicator of the brush-type.

Earlier spring-loaded cosmetic devices are disclosed by U.S. Patent Nos. 3,268,939; 1,749,565 and Re. 21,757. Also of interest are U.S. Patent No.

3,311,941 which discloses a cosmetic container having a slot that allows cosmetic liquid to enter a dispensing well and U.S. Patent No. 3,298,054 which discloses a cosmetic container having lip seals that wipe off a brush whenever the brush is removed from a liquid container.

Summary ofthe invention The present invention relates to a cosmetic device comprising a spring which forces up an applicator and a closure which forces the applicator back down into a housing. Slots are provided in an upper section of the housing in order to allow ingress of the cosmetic product whenever the outer flexible container is squeezed. The slots also allow egress of the cosmetic product from the applicator housing whenever the closure forces the applicator back into the housing. A wiper is provided at the exit from the housing so that the applicator, which is preferably a brush made of plastic foam is cleaned every time it is forced out of the housing by the spring.

It is a primary object of the present invention to provide a cosmetic device with a flexible package body which enables the user to manipulate externally the product reservoir in order to force a cosmetic product of a viscous, and possibly non-flowing, nature into the applicator housing area for contact with an applicator head, such as a mascara brush.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a cosmetic device with a rigid section which renders the flexible package body stiff at the outlet end. This arrangement prevents the cosmetic product from being forced out of the flexible package body when the user is handling the cosmetic device with the closure cap removed.

These and other objects of the present invention will become readily apparent from the following description thereof.

Briefdescription ofthe drawings Figure lisa lengthwise sectional view which illustrates the cosmetic device of the present invention in a closed condition.

Figure 2 is a lengthwise sectional view which illustrates the cosmetic device of the present invention in an open condition ready for use.

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view which illustrates the interior of the applicator housing inside the cosmetic device of the present invention.

Brief description ofa preferred embodiment In Figure 1, the illustrated cosmetic device 1 includes a flexible or squeezable plastic outer package or container 2 and a a rigid plastic closure cap 3 thereon. Inside the container 2, a cosmetic product 4, such as a viscous mascara, is provided and surrounds applicator housing 5.

A rigid plastic section 17 is held at one end between the container 2 and a cup-like plastic section 18. A portion 1 7a of section 17 extends below the cup-like section 18 in order to give rigidity to the flexible container 2 at the outlet end thereof.

Although the rigid plastic section 17 is shown to be formed as a separate element arranged in the cosmetic device 1, section 17 may also be formed as an integral part of either container 2 or cup-like section 18.

Applicator housing 5 is made of rigid plastic in twp sections 5a, 5b fused together at their contact area 19. A spring 6 is releasably compressed in the lower section 5b of the housing 5 when the device 1 is in its closed condition, as shown in Figure 1. Applicator 8 includes a generally tapered head or flexible brush 9 for carrying the mascara supported on an elongated stem 10 actuated by the coiled spring 6 which surrounds stem 10 along its length. Spring 6 is positioned between the lower end 11 of lower housing section 5b and the undesirable portion 7 of a conically shaped shoulder member 12 which is secured to applicator stem 10. The top side portion 7a of shoulder 12 is designed to cooperate with wiper 13 when the spring 6 is fully extended.The outer diameter of the shoulder 12 is only slightly less than the inner diameter of the lower part 5b of the two-part applicator housing 5. Openings or slots 15 are provided along the length of the upper part 5a of the housing 5 to facilitate the movement of cosmetic product 4 from the space surrounding applicator housing 5 into and out of the slots 15 of upper part 5a.

The procedure for using the cosmetic device 1 may be best understood by viewing Figures 1 and 2 together. With the closure cap 3 secured on the container 2, the user squeezes the container 2 which causes the cosmetic product 4 to flow, as shown by the arrows in Figure 1,through slots 15 past the upper portion 5a of housing 5 where it contacts the brush 9 of the applicator 8. Generally, brush 9 is porous and will absorb or otherwise retain the cosmetic product 4 to be applied by the user. When the closure cap 3 is unscrewed, spring 6 is relieved of its restraining pressure and propels the applicator 8 out of the rigid inner housing 5 to a predetermined position established by abutment of stem shoulder 12 with wiper element 13. As the applicator brush 9 passes through the wiper 13, any excess mascara or other cosmetic product 4 is removed therefrom.As the stem shoulder 12 moves towards wiping element 13 located attheterminal end of upper section 5a of housing 5, it pushes any cosmetic product 4 ahead of it and through the slots 15, as shown by the arrows in Figure 2. When the top side 7a of shoulder 12 abuts against the bottom side of wiper 13, a relatively tight seal is formed therebetween to prevent the accidental egress of cosmetic product 4 from the container 2 during use of the applicator brush 9. The accidental ingress of dirt or other adulterants into the container 2 is also prevented.

Furthermore, the accidental egress of cosmetic product4 is prevented when a person is using the flexible package body 2 as a handle to apply the cosmetic product 4 because the rigid section 17 does not allow any squeezing force to be transmitted to the cosmetic product 4 remaining in the container space.

Should the user desire either two replenish the cosmetic product 4 on the brush 9 or to store the brush for later use, the flat top of the brush 9 is depressed using the inside plug portion 16 of the closure cap 3. In this manner, the applicator 8 can be completely restored into the inner housing 5 and the spring 6 is returned to compressed condition and remains there so long as the closure cap 3 is secured on the container 2.

As shoulder member 12 of applicator stem 10 is moved back through the upper part 5a of housing 5, it pushes any cosmetic product 4 which may be present therein back out through the slots 15 in upper part 5a of housing 5 and into the container space surrounding the applicator housing 5.

It should be understood that brush 9 may be made of a fibrous material such as natural or synthetic fibres or of soft porous plastic. Moreover, the shape of the brush is not critical.

The foregoing preferred embodiment is considered illustrative only and is not intended to limit the construction of the device as illustrated. Many other constructions would be quite evident from this disclosure to those of ordinary skill in the toiletry art.

Claims

1. A cosmetic device comprising: a squeezable outer container for hoiding a cosmetic product therein; an inner housing positioned inside said container; a rigid section held between said container and said inner housing; a cosmetic applicator arranged in said inner housing; spring means, arranged in the inner housing, for forcing the cosmetic applicator out of the inner housing.

2. The cosmetic device according to claim 1 further comprising: shoulder means, arranged on the cosmetic applicator, for pushing excess cosmetic product out of the inner housing.

3. The cosmetic device according to claims 1 or 2 further comprising: slot means, arranged in the inner housing, for permitting movement of the cosmetic product into and out of the inner housing.

4. The cosmetic device according to claim 2 wherein: said cosmetic applicator includes a head means for applying the cosmetic product.

5. The cosmetic device according to claim 4 further comprising: wiper means, arranged at a common opening for the outer container and the inner housing, for removing excess cosmetic product from the head means of the cosmetic applicator and for sealing tightly said common opening when said shoulder means abuts thereagainst.

6. The cosmetic device according to claim 4 further comprising: closure means, arranged at the common opening for the outer container and the inner housing, for allowing the head means of the cosmetic applicator to come out of the inner housing when being removed therefrom, and for forcing the head means of the cosmetic applicator back into the inner housing when being reapplied thereon.

7. The cosmetic device according to claim 4 wherein: said head means of the cosmetic applicator is a conically shaped brush.

8. The cosmetic device according to claim 1 wherein: said cosmetic applicator includes an elongated stem means for carrying the cosmetic product at one end thereof.

9. The cosmetic device according to claim 8 further including: shoulder means, secured to said stem means, for restraining said spring means.

10. The cosmetic device according to claim 9 wherein: said inner housing includes upper and lower portions, the upper portion having an inside dia-.

meter which is large than the inside diameter of the lower portion, the upper portion receiving head means for carrying the cosmetic product and the lower portion receiving said shoulder means.

11. The cosmetic device according to claim 10 wherein: said lower portion of said inner housing receives also said spring means when compressed and includes an opening which communicates with the cosmetic product surrounding said inner housing.

12. The cosmetic device according to claim 10 wherein: said head means includes brush means, carried on said elongated stem means, for applying the cosmetic product.

13. The cosmetic device according to claim 12 further including: wiper means, positioned adjacent a common opening for said outer container-and said inner housing, for removing excess cosmetic product contained on said brush means and stem means as they are propelled through said upper portion of the inner housing.

14. The cosmetic device according to claim 13 wherein: said shoulder means acts as a seal against said wiper means and prevents the cosmetic product from accidental egress out of the outer container when the brush means of the cosmetic applicator is being used outside of the container.

15. The cosmetic device according to claim 14 wherein: said rigid section acts to prevent squeezing of the outer container and accidental egress of the cosmetic product out of the outer container when the container is being used as a handle.

16. The cosmetic device according to claim 12 further including: opening means, carried by said upper portion of said inner housing, for permitting the cosmetic product to enter said inner housing and contact said brush means.

17. The cosmefic device according to claim 16 wherein: said opening means are slots extending lengthwise of said upper portion of said inner housing.

18. A self-propelled cosmetic applicator comprising: an outer housing for storing cosmetic therein; an inner housing for receiving said self-propelled cosmetic applicator; said inner housing including an opening for permitting ingress and egress of said cosmetic therein; a cosmetic applicator moveably secured within said inner housing and including and dispensing head; closure means for said outer housing includ ingan inner central plug memberforforcingsaid cosmetic applicator into said inner housing when not in use; means for automatically propelling said cosmetic applicator outwardly from said outer housing when said closure means is removed from said outer housing; whereby said cosmetic applicator dispensing head is renewed with cosmetic by forcing cosmetic into said inner housing so as to contact said dispensing head.

19. A self-propelled cosmetic applicator according to claim 18, wherein said outer housing is a flexible plastic material, said inner housing is a rigid plastic material and said means for automatically propelling said cosmetic applicator is a spring.

20. A self-propelled cosmetic applicator according to claim 19, further including liquid mascara stored within said outer housing.