GB2530593A

GB2530593A - Applicator device

Info

Publication number: GB2530593A
Application number: GB1423124.5A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Mu-Chuan Shen
Original assignee: TJ PACKAGING CO Ltd
Current assignee: TJ PACKAGING CO Ltd
Priority date: 2014-09-24
Filing date: 2014-12-23
Publication date: 2016-03-30
Also published as: TWM493300U; FR3026000A3; US20160081455A1; FR3026000B3; DE202015001288U1

Abstract

An applicator device, suitable for massaging and applying a cosmetic onto a human body, includes an applicator head 1 made from a ceramic or metal material, and a handle 2. The applicator head 1 includes a first end 11, a second end 12 opposite to the first end 11, a contoured surface 13 and a groove unit 16 disposed on the contoured surface 13. The groove unit 16 is designed to retain a cosmetic compound and includes a series of grooves 161which might have a depth of between 0.3 and 0.5 mm. The contoured surface 13 has two rounded portions 131, 132 with the curvature of one portion being larger than that of the other. In use, the applicator may be used to apply eye cream (3, figure 5), the contoured surface portions being used to apply the cream and massage the skin of the user.

Description

APPLICATOR DEVICE

The invention relates to an applicator device, more particularly to an applicator device usabie fornassaging and applying a cosmetic to a human body.

Many types of cosmetic applicators can be found on the market. Most commonly seen is a brush, such as brow brushes, eyelashbrushes, lipbrushes, etc.Rowever, soft bristles usedon suchbrushes are incapable ofmassaging a human body when applying a cosmetic. On the other hand, when using a cosmetic applicator with a rigid applicator head, a user may not feel comfortable due to the rigid body of the applicator head. Moreover, an issue with this type of cosmetic applicator is that the sleek surface often does not allow the rigid applicator head to retain enough cosmetics.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided one type of applicator device usable for massaging and applying a cosmetic to a human body.

The applicator device includes an applicator head that is made from one of ceramic or metal material. The applicator head includes a first end, a second end oppositeto the first end, acontouredsurfaceandagroove unit disposed on the contoured surface for retaining the cosmeLic Llierein. The conboured surface has a rounded first surface portion that is formed at the first end, and a rounded second surface portion that connects the first surface portion and that extends to the second end.

The first surface portion has a curvature larger than that of the second surface portion.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided another type of applicator device. The applicator device includes an applicator head made from one of ceramic and metal material. The applicator head includes a first end, a second end opposite to the first end, a contoured surface, a back surface and a groove unit disposed on the surface for retaining the cosmetic therein. The contoured surface has a convex first surface portion formed at the first end, and a concave second surface portion extending from a periphery of the convex first surface portion to the second end. The back surface extends from the periphery of the convex first surface portion to the second end and has two opposite sides respectively connected to two opposite sides of the concave second surface portion.

Other features andadvantages of thepresent invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: Figure 1 is a fragmentary front side perspective view of a first embodiment of an applicator device of the preseriL invexiLion; Figure 2 is a fragmentary side view of the first embodiment; Figure 3 is another fragmentary side view of the first embodiment; Figure 4 is a fragmentary rear side perspective view of the first embodiment; Figure 5 is a schematic view showing how the first embodiment of the applicator device is nsed for massaging and applying a cosmetic to a human body; and Figure 6 is another schematic view similar to Figure showing another way of using the first embodiment; and Figure 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of a second embodiment of the applicator device of the present invention.

Before the present invention is described in greater detail with reference to he accompanying embodiments, it should be noted herein that like elements are denoted by the same reference numerals throughout the disclosure.

Referring to Figures 1, 2 and 3, a first embodiment cfanapplicatcrdeviceaccordingtothepresent invention usable for massaging and applying a cosmetic to a human body includes an applicator head 1 and a handle 2 connected to the applicator head 1.

The applicator head 1 is made from a metallic material that is selected from the group consisting of zinc, aluminum, copper, magnesium, iron, lead, cobalt, tin, and alloys Ltiereof. In Llie firs L embodirnenL, Ltie applicator head 1 is made of a zinc-aluminum alloy including 4 wt% of aluminum, 0.42 wt% of copper, 0.03 wt% of magnesium, 0.0043 wt% of iron, 0. 0019 wt% of lead, 0.00016 wt% of cobalt, 0.0089 wt% of tin, and the balance of zinc.

The applicator head 1 includes a first end 11, a seccnd end 12 opposite to the first end 11, a contoured surface 13, a back surface 14, a connecting surface 15 formed at the second end 12, and a groove unit 16 disposed on the contoured surface 13 for retaining the cosmetic therein.

The contoured surface 13 has a rounded first surface portion 131 formed at the first end 11, and a rounded secondsurfaceportion 132 that connects the first surface portion 131 and extends to the second end 12, and that has two opposite sides 133. In the first embodiment, the rounded first surface portion 131 is convex and the rounded second surface portion 132 is concave. The second surface portion 132 extends from a periphery of the first surface portion 131 to the second end 12. As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the applicator head 1 has a lengthwise axis (L) . The convex first surface portion 131 has a part with a largest width and a curvature that are respectively larger than a part with a largest width and a curvature of the concave second surface portion 132. The convex first surface portion 131 may have a sphere-like shape or oLlier spherical shapes. The concave second surface portion 132 gradually decreases in width from the first sllrface portion 131 to the second end 12. The concave second surface portion 132 is concaved gradually from the convex first surface portion 131 and the second end 12 toward the lengthwise axis (L) Referring to Figures 2, 3 and 4, the back surface 14 is connected to the convex first surface portion 131 and theconcavesecondsurfaceportionl32. Tnthisembodiment, the back surface 14 extends from the periphery of the convex first surface portion 131 to the second end 12.

The back surface 14 has a convex surface portion 141, a flat surface portion 142 and two opposite sides 143.

The convex surface portion 141 is proximal to the first surface portion 131 and is convexed in a direction away from the first surface portion 132. The flat surface portion 142 connects the convex surface portion 141 and is distal from the first surface portion 131. The opposite sidesl43arerespectivelyconnectedtotheoppositesides 133 of the concave second surface portion 132. The back surface 14 decreases in width from the part of the convex first surface 131 to the second end 12. The flat surface portion 142 of the back surface 14 is inclined inward and toward the axis (L) of the applicator head 1.

Alternatively, the back surface l4maynot have the convex surface portion 141 and the flat surface portion 142, and may be a flat surface.

The connec Ling s crface 15 in Lercorinec Ls Lhe concave second surface portion 132 and the flat surface portion 142 and allows the handle 2 to be connected thereto.

Referring to Figures 1, 2 and 3, the groove unit 16 includes a plurality of grooves 161 that extend from the convex first surface portion 131 to the concave second surface portion 132. Each of the grooves 161 has a width that gradually decreases from the convex first surface portion 131 toward the concave second surface portion 132, and has a wide groove portion 162 at the first surface portion 131 and a narrow groove portion 163 at the second surface portion 132. The distance between adjacent ones of the grooves 161 decreases from the convex first surface portion 131 toward the concave second surface portion 132. The grooves 161 are divided into two groups by a plane that extends along the lengthwise direction (L) and through the contoured surface 13 and the back surface 14. A distance Hi is defined as the distance between the twogroovesl6lwhicharerespectivelythegroovesclosest to the plane of the two groups. A distance H2 is defined as the distance between two adjacent ones of the grooves 161 in each of the two groups. The distance Hi is larger than the distance H2. Thereby, a user may feel more comfortable when massaging and applying the cosmetic to the human body of the user.

The cosmetic is retained in the grooves 161 of the groove unit 16. Therefore, it is essential to control Llie wldbh and depLh of Llie grooves 161 wiLhiri a cerLain range. When the wide groove portion 162 of each of the grooves 161 is too wide, too much cosmetic is retained therein. When the wide groove portion 162 of each of the grooves 161 istoonarrow, insufficientamountof cosmetic is retained therein. Therefore, the wide groove portion 162 of each of the grooves 161 might have a largest width ranging from 0.5 mm to 1 mm. In addition, when each of the grooves 161 is too deep, too much cosmetic is retained therein. When each of the grooves 161 is too shallow, insufficient amount of the cosmetic is retained therein.

Therefore, each of the grooves 161 might have a depth ranging from 0.3 mm to 0.5 mm.

The handle 2 is connected to the connecting surface at the second end 12, and lets the nser handle the applicator device therefrom. The handle 2 may also extend to the back surface 14. Alternatively, the handle 2 may be omitted. The user could nse the applicator device by handling a portion of the applicator head 1 that is proximate to the second end 12.

Figures 5 and 6 show two ways of using the applicator device for applying an eye cream 3 to skin near the user! s eyes. The convex first surface portion 131 of the applicator head 1 is immersed into the eye cream 3 that is received in a container. When the applicator head 1 is drawn out, the eye cream 3 not only clings to the contoured surface 13, but is also retained in the grooves 161. The firs L and second sjrface por Lions 131, 132 are then brought into contact with the skin of the user with a back and forth movement for applying the eye cream 3 to and massaging the skin of the user. Alternatively, as shown in the Figure 6, the back surface 14 may be used for applying the part of the eye cream 3 to and massaging the skin of the user. When applying the eye cream 3 to and massaging the user' s skin, the un-grooved structure of the back surface 14 may distribute the eye cream 3 to the skin of the user more evenly than the grooved structure of the groove unit 16. Moreover, the un-grooved structure of the back surface 14 may also have a smoother touch on the skin than the grooved structure of the groove unit 16. The rigid metallic applicator head 1 may effectively massage acupuncture points near the userTs eyes. The metallic applicator head 1 may also convey a cool sensation to the user, so that the skin near the userTs eyes maybe soothed. In addition, appearances of the first and second surface portions 131, 132 and the grooves 161 make the applicator head 1 look like a catTs paw, which may aesthetically appeal to many users.

Referring to Figure 7, a second embodiment of the applicator device according to the present invention has a structure similar to that of the first embodiment. The differences reside in that the applicator head 1 is made from a ceramic material including a plurality of far infrared particles 17. When applying the eye cream 3 to and nassaglng Llie skin of Llie user, Llie far infrared particles 17 release far infrared that could warm the skin near the userTs eyes, healing bruises and fading black circles.

To sum up, by virtue of the structural arrangement and the material selection of the applicator head 1, the applicator device can simultaneously apply the cosmetic to and massage the human body.

Claims

CLAIMS: 1. An applicator device usable formassaging and applying a cosmetic onto a human body, said applicator device comprising: an applicator head that is made from one of ceramic and metal material, and that includes a first end, a second end opposite to said first end, a contoured surface having a rounded first surface portion that is formed at said first end, and a rounded second surface portion that connects said first surface portion and that extends to said second end, said first sllrface portion having a curvature larger than that of said second surface portion, and a groove unit disposed on said contoured surface for retaining the cosmetic therein.
2. The applicator device as claimed in Claim 1, wherein that said first surface portion has a largest width that is larger than a largest width of said second surface portion, said second surface portion gradually decreasing in width from said first surface portion to said second end.
3. The applicator device as claimed in Claim 2, wherein said first surface portion is convex, and said second surface portion is concave.
4. The applicator device as claimed in Claim 3, wherein said groove unit includes a plurality of grooves that extend from said first surface portion to said second surface portion.
5. The applicator as claimed in Claim 4, wherein each of said grooves has a width that gradually decreases from said first surface portion toward said second surface portion.
6. The applicator as claimed in Claim 5, wherein said grooves have a largest width ranging from 0.5 mm to 1 mm, each of said grooves having a depth ranging from 0.3 mm to 0.5 mm.
7. TheapplicatorasclaimedinClaim6, whereinadistance between adjacent ones of said grooves decreases from said first surface portion toward said second surface portion.
8. The applicator as claimed in Claim 1, further comprising aback surface that is connected to said first and second surface portions and that has a convex sorface porLiori LhaL is proximal Lo said firs L surface portion and that is convexed in a direction away from said first surface portion, and a flat surface portion connecting said convex surface portion and being distal from said first surface portion.
9. The applicator as claimed in Claim 8, wherein said flat surface portion of said back surface is inclined inward and toward an axis of said applicator head.
10. The applicator as claimed in Claim 1, further comprising a handle connected to said second end of said applicator head.
11. The applicator as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said applicator head is made from a metallic material that is selected from the group consisting of zinc, aluminum, copper, magnesium, iron, lead, cobalt, tin, and alloys thereof.
12. The applicator as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein said applicator head is made from a ceramic material that includes a plurality of far infrared particles.
13. An applicator device usable formassaging and applying a cosmetic to a human body, said applicator device comprIsing an applicator head made from one of ceramic and metal material, and including: a first end; 1 3 a second end opposite to said first end; a contoured surface that has a convex first surface portion formed at said first end, and a concave second surface portion that extends from a periphery of said convex first surface portion to said second end; a back surface that extends from said periphery of said convex first surface portion to said second end and that has two opposite sides respectively connected to two opposite sides of said concave second surface portion; and a groove unit disposed on said contoured surface for retaining the cosmetic therein.
14. The applicator as claimed in Claim 13, wherein said convexfirstsurfaceportionhasapartthathasaiargest width, said concave second surface portion and said back surface decreasing in width from said part of said convex first surface portion to said second end, said concave second surfaceportionbeing concavedgraduaily from said convex first surface portion and said second end toward an axis of said applicator head.
15. The applicator as claimed in Claim 13, wherein said back sorface has a convex sorface porbiori LhaL is proximal to said convex first surface portion and that is convexed ma direction away from said first surface portion, and a flat surface portion connecting said convex surface portion and being distal from said first surface portion.