AU2008201728A1 - Method and apparatus for manufacture of cosmetic applicator - Google Patents

Description

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AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION Invention Title: METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURE OF COSMETIC APPLICATOR 2103142_002 DOC 00 AN APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURE OF COSMETIC APPLICATOR Field of the invention o00 5 The invention relates to an apparatus and method for manufacture of cosmetics, and relates particularly, but not exclusively, to an apparatus for 00oo manufacture of cosmetic applicator and improvements in the method of manufacture of cosmetic applicators.

o00 10 Background of the invention SCosmetics preparations of various types have been in use for many years.

Accordingly, a wide range of application methods have been trialled, though primarily facial cosmetics are applied using a pencil, brush or stick, or other similar means.

This approach has been generally satisfactory. However, there are a number of problems associated with existing techniques of packaging and applying facial cosmetics. Among these problems is the difficulty some have in effectively applying cosmetics using conventional techniques. Also, some experience considerable difficulty in mastering the techniques required to successfully apply cosmetics preparations with sufficient competence to achieve the required effect.

Many individuals have particular difficulty with self application of eye-shadow.

This is typically applied with mixing brushes and the challenge is to achieve even shading or colouring of each eye without smudging and to make up both eyes without noticeable differences. This aspect of distinct separated zones that need to be matched does not arise with most other areas of cosmetics application.

Current methods of applying eye shadow can take up to 10 to 15 minutes for self application, and even then, for the reasons just mentioned, the result can be less than perfect, leaving the user doubtful about feeling confident about

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2103142_003 DOC 00 her eye make-up through the day. This combination of the time required, the

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Sdifficulty involved, and uncertain results, including worrying about smudging, colour outcome, messiness and an amateurish appearance, has led many women to avoid using eye make-up altogether.

00 The present applicant in its co-pending international application PCT 00 AU/01/00807 which has been published as WO 02/01982 has devised a cosmetics applicator which includes a material surface and a cosmetic Opreparation provided on the surface. In one aspect, the cosmetics preparation 00 10 is retained on the surface at least in part with the assistance of electrostatic Oattraction between the surface and the cosmetics preparation. In another aspect, a waxy or oily underlay is provided between the surface and the cosmetics preparation, and the material of the surface is selected to facilitate retention of the cosmetics preparation and the underlay while allowing a major proportion of the cosmetics preparation retained thereon to be transferred to a human skin surface in a single wiping pass of the cosmetics preparation across the skin surface.

Due to this new type of applicator it is important to create a new means of manufacture. It is, accordingly, an object of the present invention to attempt to address this aim relating to manufacture of cosmetics application.

Summary of the invention The inventive concept of the applicator resides in a recognition that cosmetics preparations are advantageously provided by retaining a suitable amount of a cosmetics preparation on a suitable surface, so that the surface can be used to conveniently apply the cosmetics preparation to an appropriate part of the face. It is therefore imperative to provide a means of applying the cosmetics preparation onto the substrate and in the required pattern.

In accordance with the invention there is provided a method of manufacturing a plurality of cosmetic applicators each of which includes a material surface and a cosmetics preparation provided on said surface; the method including 2 2103142_003.DOC 00 the steps of: providing a bulk powder storage vessel, providing an applicator

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Ohaving at least one powder applicator head for blowing powder in a controlled manner; providing a feed means from the bulk powder storage vessel to the applicator for providing powder to the applicator; providing a transport means 00 5 for transporting a material relative to the powder applicator head to enable application of the powder in a controlled manner onto the material surface 00oo wherein said cosmetics preparation is retained on said surface.

0 The method of manufacturing a plurality of cosmetic applicators can include 00 10 providing an electrostatic control means for dissipating electrostatic charge or localising electrostatic charge wherein the powder at least in part is retained on the cosmetic applicator surface with the assistance of electrostatic attraction between said surface and said cosmetics preparation. The electrostatic control means can have a ring structure attached to the applicator head.

The at least one powder applicator head can have a slit opening for simultaneous controlled spraying of a line of cosmetic applicators.

The at least one powder applicator head can use a venturi system to receive powder from the bulk powder storage vessel into a controlled air flow for applying the powder onto the cosmetic applicator surface material.

The method of manufacturing a plurality of cosmetic applicators can include providing a powder recovery means comprising a shroud having a first opening for receiving the powder applicator head and a second larger opening enabling substantially close overfitting over the material surface to which the powder is to be applied, the shroud including a third opening for connection to a vacuum system for substantial recovery of unrequired material. The vacuum system can be connected to the bulk powder storage vessel enabling reuse of excess powder. The bulk powder storage vessel can include a filtering system for filtering and sifting powder entering the bulk powder storage vessel to ensure consistent granular sizing.

3 2103142_003 DOC 00

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O The method can provide a plurality of bulk powder storage vessels each able to include a different coloured powder and each connected to and able to feed to at least one powder applicator head for blowing powder in a controlled 00 5 manner.

o00 The transport means allows relative location of the material to enable

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application of the powder from the plurality of bulk powder storage vessels in 0 a controlled manner onto the material surface. This can allow sequential

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00 10 application of the different coloured powders.

The method of manufacturing a plurality of cosmetic applicators can include an initial step of applying a moisturising solution to the cosmetic powder on the surface material of the cosmetic applicator wherein the moisturising solution allows bonding of various powders applied thereon.

The method can also include a final step of applying a protection solution to the cosmetic powder on the surface material of the cosmetic applicator wherein the protection solution is applied directly to the user's skin with the cosmetic powder thereon.

The method of manufacturing a plurality of cosmetic applicators has material of said surface of the cosmetic applicator selected to facilitate retention of said cosmetics preparation thereon at least in part by said electrostatic attraction while allowing a major proportion of the cosmetics preparation retained thereon to be transferred to a human skin surface in a single wiping pass of the cosmetics preparation across the skin surface.

Therefore the apparatus provides manufacture of a cosmetics applicator including a material surface and a cosmetics preparation provided on the surface. The cosmetics preparation is retained on, and can be initially attracted to, the surface at least in part with the assistance of electrostatic attraction between the surface and the cosmetics preparation. The material of 4 2103142_003.DOC 00 the surface is preferably selected to facilitate retention of the cosmetics 0 preparation thereon by said electrostatic attraction while allowing a major k proportion of the cosmetics preparation retained thereon to be transferred to a human skin surface in a single wiping pass of the cosmetics preparation 00oo 5 across the skin surface.

00oo The invention also provides a means of manufacturing a cosmetics applicator including: a material surface, a cosmetics preparation provided on said 0surface, and a waxy or oily underlay between said surface and said cosmetics 00o 10 preparation, wherein the material of said surface is selected to facilitate retention of said cosmetics preparation and said underlay while allowing a major proportion of the cosmetics preparation retained thereon to be transferred to a human skin surface in a single wiping pass of the cosmetics preparation across the skin surface.

Advantageously, said waxy or oily underlay is cosmetic foundation.

Preferably, the underlay transfers with said cosmetics preparation during said wiping pass to provide an outer protective coating therefor.

Advantageously, said material surface is provided on a planar sheet shaped to provide a first portion defining said surface and a second portion to be gripped between fingers or thumb and a finger, for executing said single wiping pass. The first portion can typically be larger than the second portion.

Preferably, said material is provided as a planar sheet. Preferably, the planar sheet of material is cut to an appropriate shape and size to allow said cosmetics applicator to be conveniently used as required.

The surface preferably has a relatively low coefficient of friction. For this purpose, the surface can be substantially formed of PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene), otherwise known as Teflon@, or of a PTFE-containing composite.

2103142 003.DOC OO Preferably, the aforesaid electrostatic attraction is achieved by the surface of

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Othe material being electrostatically charged.

The cosmetics preparation can be, eg, a granular, dust-like or powder-based 00 5 substance such as, for example, as eyeshadow; or a creme, wax or other liquid based preparation such as, for example, lipstick, or foundation.

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When the cosmetics preparation is a powder, it can be applied to the surface 0 of the material using a spray directed towards the surface. Preferably, the 00 10 spray of the cosmetics preparation is efficiently directed to the material by Ovirtue of the electrostatic attraction between the surface and the cosmetics preparation.

Preferably, the surface is shaped and sized to allow convenient use of the cosmetics preparation. Preferably, the surface includes a covered region to which the cosmetics preparation is applied, and a clear region to which the cosmetics preparation is not applied. Advantageously, the cosmetics preparation includes different colours of the preparation in distinct areas of the surface to facilitate different colour effects when the cosmetics applicator is used.

The invention further provides a method of providing a cosmetics applicator, the method including: providing a material having a surface; and applying a cosmetics preparation to at least part of the surface; wherein the cosmetics preparation is attracted to and/or retained on the surface at least in part with the assistance of electrostatic attraction between the surface and the cosmetics preparation.

The cosmetics preparation can be applied to the surface by spraying.

Preferably, the method further includes applying on said surface, a stencil to confine the cosmetics preparation to one or more predetermined areas of the surface.

6 2103142_003DOC r 00 The invention still further provides a method of applying a cosmetics Spreparation to a skin surface from a cosmetics applicator as described hereafter, comprising transferring said cosmetics preparation from the 00 5 applicator surface to the skin surface in a single wiping pass of the cosmetics preparation across the skin surface.

00 Description of drawings Figure 1 is a diagrammatic representation of a cosmetics applicator 00 10 especially suitable for retaining and applying eyeshadow to be manufactured Sby an apparatus and method for manufacture according to an embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 is a representation of a plurality of shaped cosmetic applicators produced by apparatus and method for manufacture according to an embodiment of the invention; Figure 3a and Figure 3b are schematic representations of a fundamental part of a production facility used to manufacture cosmetic applicators of the kind depicted in Figure 1 comprising an cosmetic application system for applying cosmetics to an applicator structure; Figure 4 is a schematic representation of an application facility used to manufacture cosmetic applicators of the kind depicted in Figure 1 including an excess powder recovery system; Figure 5 is a schematic representation of an applicator head for use in the application facility used to manufacture cosmetic applicators of the kind depicted in Figure 1; Figure 6 is a cross-sectional diagrammatic representation of a particularly preferred application facility used to manufacture cosmetic applicators of the kind depicted in Figure 1 including an excess powder recovery system and an electrostatic control system; Figures 7A and 7B are schematic representations of a production facility used to manufacture cosmetic applicators of the kind depicted in Figure 1; Figure 8 is a resultant pair of packaged cosmetics applicators for use.

7 2103142_003.DOC 00 Description of method of performing the invention k A cosmetics applicator 20 constructed by an embodiment of an apparatus and method for manufacture of cosmetic applicator of the invention will now be o00 5 described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

00oo The cosmetics applicator 20 to be constructed in one form by the production facility of the invention is illustrated on an enlarged scale with a magnification a little greater than 2, is represented in Figure 1, and includes a surface 21 of oo 10 a selected highly flexible PTFE containing material. The surface 21 can be 0considered as being divided into a relatively larger first portion 22 and a

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relatively smaller second portion 25. Larger portion 22 is covered with an underlay of a waxy or oily substance such as cosmetic foundation, overlaid with an outer layer of cosmetics preparation such as, for example, coloured make-up powder.

Relatively smaller second portion 25 is clear and uncovered. Portions 22, meet at a boundary 27 marked by an edge of the powder layer and are defined at least in part by generally curved edges 25 of sheet The portion 22 can be divided at a boundary 222 into a first region 23 and a second region 24, which are respectively overlaid with different colours and/or types of cosmetics preparation. The first and second regions 23, 24 of the portion 22 are positioned so that the two respective colours of these regions 23, 24 are similarly represented on the skin of the eyelid. While a simple arrangement of only two regions 23, 24 is depicted in Figure 1, intended to apply different colours respectively to the upper and lower portions of the eyelid, a wide variety of different colours, or of graded colour tones, of cosmetics preparation can be applied to the surface 21 of the applicator The "teardrop" shape of the surface 21 shown in Figure 3 is particularly suited for use of the cosmetics applicator 20 for applying cosmetic colouring, eg.

eyeshadow, to the eyelids. As the clear portion 25 of the surface 21 is not 8 2103142_003.DOC 00 covered with cosmetics preparation, it can be gripped between the thumb and forefinger. With the applicator 20 being held in this way, the index finger can Sbe used to apply pressure to the back of the applicator 20 (which is, of.

course, disposed opposite the surface 21 and not covered with cosmetics 00 5 preparation) so that most of the cosmetics preparation, together with the underlay, on the covered portion 22 of the applicator 20 rubs off onto, ie. is 00 transferred to, the skin of the eyelid in a single wiping pass or swipe of the cosmetics preparation across the skin surface. The actual proportion of eyeshadow transferred will typically depend on the actual finger pressure 00 10 applied to the applicator as it is wiped across the eyelid. The original underlay forms an outer protective and/or seal coating that assists in stabilising and maintaining the eyeshadow over subsequent hours.

The transfer efficiency of this wiping action is facilitated by the generally curved edges of applicator 20, by the elongated shape of the applicator, and by portion 22 being of a length and width to generally match an eyelid.

The surface 21 is of a PTFE-containing material having a low coefficient of friction, selected to facilitate retention of the cosmetics preparation and underlay thereon, preferably at least in part by electrostatic attraction, while allowing the major proportion of the cosmetics preparation retained thereon to be transferred to a human skin surface in a single wiping pass or swipe of the cosmetics preparation across the skin surface. The cosmetics preparation thus readily wipes off the surface 21 and onto the skin. The material should thus preferably be suitable both for being electrostatically charged at its surface and for having friction properties such that the cosmetics preparation, and preferably also the underlay, easily transfer by wiping action to the skin.

A suitable PTFE-containing material for applicators 20 is FL100 Virgin PTFE supplied by Dotmar EPP, preferably of thickness 4 to 5 thousandths of an inch (about 0.100 to 0.125 mm), having a static co-efficient of friction at 0.23MPa of 0.04 and a dynamic co-efficient of friction at 0.23MPa, 0.75 m/sec of 0.05.

The specific gravity is 2.16, tensile strength 30.0 MPa, flexural modulus 690 9 2103142_003.DOC I I 00 MPa, and compressive strength under 5% strain 12.1. Shore D Hardness is in the range 5065.

Other PTFE-containing materials that can be suitable include PTFE- 00oo 5 impregnated or coated paper or fibre, eg. glass fibre, mesh, or PTFE-coated plastics substrates.

00 (No Electrostatic attraction between the cosmetics preparation and the surface 21, Cat least partly assists in retaining the cosmetics preparation to the surface 21

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o00 10 prior to it being wiped off. The waxy or oily underlay further assists in this retention.

There is typically no outer protection film but such can be included if necessary for additional protection of the cosmetic.

The principal dimensions of applicator 20 are, with reference to Figure 1, about 60 to 75mm for x and about 15 to 25mm for y. Thus, the applicator is elongate with a length to width ratio in the region of 3 to 4.

Manufacture of the cosmetics applicators is achieved using an overall production facility 10 is schematically represented in two Figures 7A and 7B.

A sheet of cosmetics applicators 20 that are produced using this facility 10 are represented in Figure 2. An enlarged presentation of a cosmetic applicator is provided by Figure 1. However a significant fundamental part of the production facility is shown in various forms in Figures 3a, 3b, 4, 5 and 6.

Referring particularly to various forms of significant fundamental part of the production facility shown in Figures 3a, 3b, 4, 5 and 6 there is shown various forms of an individual cosmetic application system that can be used in the production facility of cosmetic applicators.

Each of these forms include a structure to provide a method of manufacturing a plurality of cosmetic applicators each of which includes a material surface 2103142_003.DOC 00 and a cosmetics preparation provided on said surface. The system has a bulk powder storage vessel 105, an applicator 110 having at least one powder k applicator head 115 for blowing cosmetic powder in a controlled manner. A feed means 107 extends from the bulk powder storage vessel 105 to the 00oo 5 applicator 110 for providing powder to the applicator head 115 and a transport means such as positive air flow 108 along feed means 107 as shown in Figure o00 3A or an auger 109 within feed means 107 as shown in Figure 3B or 4. This

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transport means further includes syphon air (also known as venturi feed) for creating an air flow that drags the cosmetic material from the feed means 107 00o 10 and transports the cosmetic material to the powder applicator head 115 to enable application of the powder in a controlled manner onto the material surface 50 wherein said cosmetics preparation is retained on said surface.

As shown in Figure 4 there is a powder recovery means 150 comprising a shroud 130 having a first opening for receiving the powder applicator head 115 and a second larger opening enabling substantially close overfitting over the material surface 50 to which the powder is to be applied. The shroud 130 includes a third opening for connection to a vacuum system 140 for substantial recovery of unrequired material. The vacuum system 140 is connected to the bulk powder storage vessel 105 enabling reuse of excess powder. The bulk powder storage vessel 105 also includes a filtering system 152 for filtering and sifting powder entering the bulk powder storage vessel 105 to ensure consistent granular sizing.

As shown in Figure 5 the powder applicator head 115 has a rectangular slit opening for simultaneous controlled spraying of a line of cosmetic applicators on the sheet of material As shown in Figure 6 there is included an electrostatic control means including an electrostatic ring 161 in the feed to the applicator for dissipating electrostatic charge or localising electrostatic charge wherein the powder at least in part is retained on the cosmetic applicator surface with the assistance of electrostatic attraction between said surface and said cosmetics 11 2103142_003.DOC 00 preparation.

SIn the production facility of Figure 7A the surface 21 is cut from a sheet of the PTFE-containing material, and electrostatic attraction between the surface 21 00 5 and the cosmetics preparation assists in attracting the preparation to, and retaining it on, the portion 22 of the surface 21.

00 The cosmetics applicator 20 can be manufactured by means of the production 0facility illustrated schematically in Figure 7A. A roll of sheet comprising the 00 10 selected PTFE-containing material is spooled, using rolls 30, between Sopposed friction plates 40 that develop an electrostatic charge on the material as the material 20 runs between the plates 40. The sheet 20 is cut into individual rectangular sheets 50, which are fed along a conveyor line towards a robotic applicator 60. A stencil, which has holes for the covered portions 22 of each of the applicators 20 placed on a given sheet 50, is placed over each sheet.

The robotic applicator 60 is used to apply the waxy or oily underlay and then the cosmetics preparation onto each sheet 50. The cosmetics preparation, a coloured powder material, is supplied to a mixing vat 70 for colour tanks and mixed with air from an air tank 80. Various colours of aerated powder of the cosmetics preparation are supplied to the robotic applicator 60 though powder lines 100. The air nozzles 110 deliver the actual aerated power to the stencil covered sheets 50 after application of the waxy or oily underlay. A computer control programme in controller 55 is used to control the actions of the robotic applicator 60 to ensure appropriate delivery of the aerated powder to the sheets After the cosmetics preparation has been applied to the stencil-covered sheets 50, the stencil can be removed, and a guillotine press used to stamp out individual applicators 20 according to the pattern shown in Figure 8. Each block 205 of applicators 20 depicted in Figure 8 can be supplied in a convenient package as required, for example laid out in a moulded tray 310 12 2103142_003 DOC 00 for easy grasping and use.

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The package thus forms a cosmetics application kit comprising an array of applicators 20 in a manually accessible receptacle. It will be seen that the 00 5 applicators are stamped out in complementary pairs 207 of "left" and "right" applicators 208,209, i.e. the applicators are handed to facilitate application of 00 the preparation to the left or right eye respectively.

OIn an alternative approach, instead of or in addition to application of the waxy 00 10 or oily underlay, the surface of sheet 20 is prepared by being wiped with a Osuitable alcohol.

In the production facility of Figure 7B a roll of film 180 comprising a foam backing and a PTFE surface material is provided and fed onto a transport means below a plurality of powder applicator heads 115 each connected to a respective bulk powder storage vessel 105. After being spooled from the roll of film 180 the sheet is vacuum held on the transport means 185 and cut into the relative shapes 20 such as the continuous sheet 50 of plurality of pairs of cosmetic applicators shown in Figure 2. These cut-outs 20 are retained in skeleton form within the sheet 50 as it passes under the plurality of powder applicator heads 115.

However initially in the method of application of the cosmetics powder there is an initial applicator 190 for applying a moisturising solution to the cosmetic powder or the surface material of the cosmetic applicator 20 wherein the moisturising solution allows bonding of various powders applied thereon. The individual coloured powders from each of the plurality of powder applicator heads 115 then applies coloured powder at required positions on the surface material of the plurality of cosmetic applicators.

A final step in the application of cosmetic powder is by applicator 195 for applying a protection solution to the applied cosmetic powder on the surface material of the cosmetic applicator 20. Since the protection solution is the last 13 2103142_003 D0C 00 layer on the cosmetic applicator, it becomes the first layer when used wherein the protection solution is applied directly to the user's skin with the cosmetic k powder thereover.

00 5 This plurality of cosmetic applicators is then fed by the transfer device 198 to a packaging apparatus while the skeleton of sheet with holes from the plurality 00 of removed cosmetic applicators 20 is rolled back onto a disposal roll 180A.

0It is found that the use of a pair of cosmetic applicators formed by the

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00 10 invention to apply eyeshadow achieves very good balance between the two Ssides of the face and eyes, giving the user a high level of confidence in her appearance. The physical size of the required package for a set of the applicators is relatively compact and convenient. The applicators facilitate self-applications of eye makeup within seconds rather than the 10 or minutes presently required.

It should be understood that the above description is of preferred embodiments of the invention and included as illustration only. It is not limiting of the invention. Clearly variations of the apparatus and method for manufacture of cosmetic applicators would be understood by a person skilled in the art without any inventiveness and such variations are included within the scope of this invention as defined in the following claims.

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Claims (24)

1. A method of manufacturing a plurality of cosmetic applicators each of which includes a material surface and a cosmetics preparation provided on said surface; the method including the steps of: 00 5 providing a bulk powder storage vessel providing an applicator having at least one powder applicator 00 head for blowing powder in a controlled manner; providing a feed means from the bulk powder storage vessel to the applicator for providing powder to the applicator; 00 10 providing a transport means for transporting a material relative to the powder applicator head to enable application of the powder in a controlled manner onto the material surface wherein said cosmetics preparation is retained on said surface

2. A method of manufacturing a plurality of cosmetic applicators according to claim 1 including providing an electrostatic control means for dissipating electrostatic charge or localising electrostatic charge wherein the powder at least in part is retained on the cosmetic applicator surface with the assistance of electrostatic attraction between said surface and said cosmetics preparation.

3. A method of manufacturing a plurality of cosmetic applicators according to claim 2 including the electrostatic control means having a ring structure attached to the applicator head.

4. A method of manufacturing a plurality of cosmetic applicators according to claim 1, 2 or 3 including the at least one powder applicator head having a slit opening for simultaneous controlled spraying of a line of cosmetic applicators.

A method of manufacturing a plurality of cosmetic applicators according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 4 including the at least one powder applicator head using a venturi system to receive powder from the bulk 2103142_003.DOC 00 powder storage vessel into a controlled air flow for applying the O Opowder onto the cosmetic applicator surface material.

6. A method of manufacturing a plurality of cosmetic applicators 00 5 according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 4 including providing a powder recovery means comprising a shroud having a first opening for receiving the o00 powder applicator head and a second larger opening enabling substantially close overfitting over the material surface to which the Opowder is to be applied, the shroud including a third opening for 00 10 connection to a vacuum system for substantial recovery of unrequired Omaterial.

7. A method of manufacturing a plurality of cosmetic applicators according to claim 6 including the vacuum system being connected to the bulk powder storage vessel enabling reuse of excess powder.

8. A method of manufacturing a plurality of cosmetic applicators according to claim 6 or 7 including the bulk powder storage vessel including a filtering system for filtering and sifting powder entering the bulk powder storage vessel to ensure consistent granular sizing.

9. A method of manufacturing a plurality of cosmetic applicators according to any one of the preceding claims including providing a plurality of bulk powder storage vessels each able to include a different coloured powder and each connected to and able to feed to at least one powder applicator head for blowing powder in a controlled manner.

A method of manufacturing a plurality of cosmetic applicators according to any one of the preceding claims including the transport means allowing relative location of the material to enable application of the powder from the plurality of bulk powder storage vessels in a controlled manner onto the material surface. 16 2103142_003 DOC 00

011. A method of manufacturing a plurality of cosmetic applicators N according to claim 9 including the plurality of and the transport means can allow sequential application of the different coloured powders. 00

12. A method of manufacturing a plurality of cosmetic applicators 00 according to claim 9 or 10 including the respective bulk powder (N storage vessels including a vibration means for maintaining the 0powder in a granular form. 00

13. A method of manufacturing a plurality of cosmetic applicators according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the transport means includes an auger for transporting the powder material to the powder applicator head to enable application of the powder in a controlled manner onto the material surface.

14. A method of manufacturing a plurality of cosmetic applicators according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the transport means includes a positive air flow forcing the powder material to the powder applicator head to enable application of the powder in a controlled manner onto the material surface.

A method of manufacturing a plurality of cosmetic applicators according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said material is a planar sheet.

16. A method of manufacturing a plurality of cosmetic applicators according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said sheet is a flexible sheet.

17. A method of manufacturing a plurality of cosmetic applicators according to any one of the preceding claims including an initial step of applying a moisturising solution to the cosmetic powder on the surface 17 2103142 003DOC 00 material of the cosmetic applicator wherein the moisturising solution 0 0allows bonding of various powders applied thereon.

18. A method of manufacturing a plurality of cosmetic applicators 00 5 according to any one of the preceding claims including a final step of applying a protection solution to the cosmetic powder on the surface o00 material of the cosmetic applicator wherein the protection solution is applied directly to the user's skin with the cosmetic powder thereon. 00o 10

19. A method of manufacturing a plurality of cosmetic applicators according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the cosmetics applicator further includes a waxy or oily underlay between said surface and said cosmetics preparation.

20. A method of manufacturing a plurality of cosmetic applicators according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said waxy or oily underlay is cosmetic foundation.

21. A method of manufacturing a plurality of cosmetic applicators according to claim 20 wherein said underlay transfers with said cosmetics preparation during said wiping pass to provide an outer protective coating therefor.

22. A method of manufacturing a plurality of cosmetic applicators according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the material of said surface of the cosmetic applicator is selected to facilitate retention of said cosmetics preparation thereon at least in part by said electrostatic attraction while allowing a major proportion of the cosmetics preparation retained thereon to be transferred to a human skin surface in a single wiping pass of the cosmetics preparation across the skin surface.

23. A method of manufacturing a plurality of cosmetic applicators 18

2103142003.DOC 1 00 according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said material surface is provided on a planar sheet shaped to provide a first portion k defining said surface and a second portion to be gripped between fingers or between thumb and a finger for executing said single wiping 00o 5 pass. 00oO

24. A method of manufacturing a plurality of cosmetic applicators according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said first portion is relatively larger than said second portion. 00 A method of manufacturing a plurality of cosmetic applicators according to claim 24 wherein said portions of the cosmetics applicator are defined at least in part by generally curved edges of said sheet material. 26. A method of manufacturing a plurality of cosmetic applicators according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said planar sheet is elongated and said first portion is of a length and width to generally match an eyelid. 27. A method of manufacturing a plurality of cosmetic applicators according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the cosmetics applicator surface has a relatively low coefficient of friction. 28. A method of manufacturing a plurality of cosmetic applicators according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said cosmetics applicator surface is substantially formed of PTFE (poly- tetrafluoroethylene) or of a PTFE-containing composite. 29. A method of manufacturing a plurality of cosmetic applicators according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said cosmetics applicator uses said electrostatic attraction achieved by said surface of said material being electrostatically charged. 19 2103142_003.DOC 00 30. A method of manufacturing a plurality of cosmetic applicators O 0 according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the cosmetics applicator has said cosmetics preparation applied in a granular, dust- like or powder-based substance. 00 31. A method of manufacturing a plurality of cosmetic applicators 00oo according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the cosmetics applicator has cosmetics preparation for use as eye shadow. 00 10 32. A method of manufacturing a plurality of cosmetic applicators Oaccording to any one of the preceding claims having cosmetics preparation in the form of a creme, wax or other liquid-based preparation. 33. A method of manufacturing a plurality of cosmetic applicators according to any one of the preceding claims for forming a cosmetics applicator with said cosmetics preparation including different colours of said preparation in distinct areas of said surface to facilitate different colour effects when the cosmetics applicator is used. 34. A method of manufacturing a plurality of cosmetic applicators according to any one of the preceding claims for forming a cosmetics applicator having said material surface provided on a planar sheet shaped to provide a first portion defining said surface and a second portion to be gripped between fingers or between thumb and a finger for executing said single wiping pass. A method of manufacturing a plurality of cosmetic applicators according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said planar sheet is elongated and said first portion is of a length and width to generally match an eyelid. 36. A method of manufacturing a plurality of cosmetic applicators 2103142_003 DOC 00 substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any one or Smore of the drawings. (N 00 00 21 2103142 003.DOC