Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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SIZE-ADJUSTABLE COSMETIC APPLICATOR
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention:
This invention relates to cosmetic applicators, and in particular, cosmetic
applicators
for applying, for example, powdered blush or foundation to a user's skin. More
particularly,
the invention relates to cosmetic applicators that can be selectively adjusted
from a size
suitable for storage in a cosmetic compact case to a size suitable for
application of cosmetic.
2. Description of the Prior Art:
Applicators for applying cosmetics such as, for example, blush or foundation,
are well
known. The applicators generally have a body portion that serves as a handle,
with an end
that supports a suitable applicator medium, such as, for example, a sponge or
a tuft of bristles
extending from the body. Cosmetic applicators of this type are often provided
to consumers
as an accessory to a portable compact case (also referred to herein as a
compact) containing
cosmetic and, for the convenience of the consumer, may be provided in a recess
or
compartment in the compact. Examples of applicators included in compacts can
be found in
U.S. Pat. No. Des. 281,731, U.S. Pat. No. 4,726,387 and U.S. Pat. No.
6,298,863,
incorporated by reference herein in their entirety.
A problem associated with applicators provided in a cosmetic compact is that
the
minimal dimensions of a smaller, more convenient compact may not have
sufficient storage
space for an applicator with a suitably large applicator medium and/or a
conveniently sized
handle. Conversely, to store an applicator with a suitably dimensioned
applicator medium
and/or a conveniently sized handle may require increasing the external
dimensions of a
compact to a less desirable, larger size. In U.S. Pat. No. Des. 281,731, the
problem appears
to be addressed by making the compact wider to accommodate a broad brush, and
by
making the compact deeper to provide a drawer for storing additional cosmetics
and at least
one additional applicator. In U.S. Pat. No. 4,726,387, the problem appears to
be addressed
by allowing the handle of the applicator to extend partially outside the
compact case.
Although the latter arrangement appears to minimize the external dimension of
the compact
case once the applicator is removed, with the applicator stored in the compact
the overall
external dimensions of the compact case combined with the applicator handle
protruding
outside the case may be larger than desired.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,298,863 discloses a cosmetic case with a brush storage hole
and a
brush with a protective cap and a grip part. The protective cap moves, from a
position
covering the bristles, to a position covering the grip part (thus uncovering
the bristles). When
the protective cap is in the position covering the bristles, the grip part may
be pivoted at a
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right angle to the protective cap for more compact storage in a groove on the
side of the
cosmetic case. With the brush in the brush storage hole, this arrangement
appears to
minimize the external dimensions of the cosmetic case, but the application
portion of the
brush does not appear to be adjustable in size for application or storage
purposes.
Accordingly, there is a need for an applicator with an applicator medium
portion and a
handle portion that can be adjusted from a size and configuration best suited
for application to
a size and configuration best suited for storage in a compact.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
To overcome the deficiencies of the prior art, an applicator is provided that
is
adjustable in size for application and storage purposes. The applicator has
first and second
bodies each supporting an applicator medium (e.g., a plurality of bristles or
a sponge)
adapted for applying a cosmetic (e.g., blush, foundation, eye shadow, etc.).
In addition to
supporting the applicator medium, at least one of the first and second bodies
may serve as a
handle for the applicator. The bodies are provided with connection means to
allow them to be
selectively repositioned to change the relative dimensions of the applicator
and/or applicator
medium. The connection means are provided such that the second body is
selectively
movable relative to the first body from a first position, illustrated in FIG.
1, wherein the depth
of the second body applicator medium is adjacent to and increases the relative
depth of the
first body applicator medium, to a second position, illustrated in FIG. 3,
wherein the width of
the second body applicator medium is adjacent to and increases the relative
width of the first
body applicator medium. The connection means may, for example, be a hinge or
other
suitable connecting mechanism that permits the first body and second body to
be rearranged
relative to each other. If hinged, the bodies may be selectively moved from a
folded
configuration (the first position) with a relatively greater depth and a
smaller width, to an
unfolded configuration (the second position) to provide a relatively smaller
depth and greater
width. In a relatively smaller but deeper compact, for example, the folded
configuration
would in most cases be better suited for the storage in a narrow but
relatively deeper
compartment, while the unfolded configuration would provide a wider applicator
better suited
for application of cosmetic to a larger area (e.g., cheeks). Conversely, if a
wider, shallower
compact design is preferred, the unfolded configuration could be better suited
for storage in
the compact while the folded configuration would provide a narrower applicator
for application
of cosmetic to relatively smaller areas (e.g., eyelids. The application medium
is preferably a
plurality of bristles. Alternatively, a woven or non-woven fibrous medium, a
sponge type
material, a flocked substrate or other material suitable for applying cosmetic
may be provided
as the applicator medium.
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The advantages of the size-adjustable applicator are clear. In the first
position
(folded), the applicator may be readily stored in a relatively narrow, but
deeper compartment
in a compact with relatively smaller external dimensions, and unfolded to the
second position
to apply cosmetic to a relatively larger area. In the second position
(unfolded), the applicator
may be stored in a relatively shallow, but wider compartment in a compact with
relatively
larger external dimensions, but be folded to the first position to apply
cosmetic to a relatively
smaller area. Thus, the applicator may be stored or used to apply cosmetic in
either the first
position (folded) or in the second position (fully unfolded). In the first
position, the applicator
will deliver cosmetic via an increased applicator depth (thickness) to a
relatively narrow
application area, thus coating the area somewhat more heavily. In the second
position (fully
unfolded), the applicator will deliver the cosmetic via an increased
applicator width, thus
coating a wider application area somewhat less heavily. The applicator offers
other
advantages. For example, in the second position (open), each applicator medium
may be
loaded with a cosmetic having a different color or other characteristic, e.g.,
by drawing each
applicator medium of the open applicator simuitaneously through adjacent
cosmetic pans, or
by running each medium through a different cosmetic pan consecutively. The
open applicator
can then be used to apply the two different cosmetics to an application area
such that
immediately adjacent areas are treated differently, e.g., two different shades
are applied
simultaneously to adjacent zones of a cheek to emphasize the cheek structure.
Alternatively,
after loading a different cosmetic onto each applicator medium, the applicator
can be folded
to the first position to apply the two different cosmetics to one application
area, e.g., to blend
two different colors directly on the application area.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a size-adjustable
applicator according to
the invention in a first position (folded, contracted or closed);
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 between the first
position and a
second position, i.e., partially unfolded, expanded or open;
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2 in the second
position (fully
unfolded, expanded or open);
FIG. 4 is a partial sectional view of the hinge portion of the embodiment
shown in FIGS. 1-3;
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the applicator in the
first position;
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 5 in between the first
and second
position;
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the embodiment of FIGS. 5-6 in the second
position;
FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of the applicator in the
second position;
FIG. 9 is an end view of the applicator illustrated in FIG. 8 in the second
position;
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FIG. 10 is an end view of the applicator of FIGS. 8-9 in the first position;
FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the appiicator of FIGS 8-10 in the first
position;
FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the size-adjustable applicator in the first
position with another
embodiment of the connecting means;
FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the applicator of FIG. 12 in the second
position;
FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the size-adjustable applicator in the first
position with another
embodiment of the connecting means; and
FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the applicator of FIG. 14 in the second
position.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
An applicator that is selectively size-adjustable for storage and application
purposes
according to the invention is indicated generally by reference number I in the
FIGS. 1-3. The
applicator is provided with an applicator medium 3 suitable for applying
makeup in powder,
paste or liquid form, such as, for example, blush, foundation, eye shadow, lip
cosmetic, etc.
In the present application, a preferred embodiment is shown and described in
FIGS. 1-3 with
an applicator medium 3 comprised of bristles 5 (illustrated schematically)
adapted for
applying cosmetic. The bristles may be synthetic, e.g., nylon or other
suitable material, or
natural, e.g., goat hair, horse hair or china bristle. It will be understood
that the applicator
medium 3 may comprise media other than bristles suitable for applying
cosmetics, such as,
for example, sponge material, flocked material, fibrous material in woven or
non-woven form
or other suitable material. Accordingly, unless explicitly stated otherwise,
any reference to a
particular applicator medium (e.g., bristles) herein includes other types of
applicator media
(i.e., other than bristles).
A first body 7 is provided having a base end 9 supporting a first applicator
medium 11
in the form of a first plurality of bristles 13 (illustrated schematically)
adapted for applying
cosmetic. The first applicator medium extends from the base end 9 of the first
body 7 to a
free end 12. An opposite end 10 of the first body 7 may serve as a handle. The
applicator
medium 11 is secured to the body 7 in an arrangement having a width indicated
by bracket 15
and a depth indicated by bracket 17. The width and depth illustrated are
different relative to
one another, yielding and arrangement that is wider than it is deep. However,
the width and
depth may be identical measurements, i.e., yielding an arrangement that is as
wide as it is
deep.
A second body 19 is provided adjacent the first body 7. The second body 19 has
a
base end 21 supporting a second applicator medium 23 in the form of a second
plurality of
bristles 25 (illustrated schematically) adapted for applying cosmetic. The
second applicator
medium 23 extends from the base end 21 of the body 19 to a free end 24. An
opposite end
22 of the second body 19 serves as a handle. The second applicator medium 23
is secured
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in an arrangement having a width indicated by bracket 27 and a depth indicated
by bracket 29
(best illustrated in FIG. 3). The width and depth illustrated are different
relative to one
another, yielding and arrangement that is wider than it is deep. However, the
width and depth
may be identical measurements, i.e., yielding an arrangement that is as wide
as it is deep.
The width and depth of the applicator medium is best measured at or near where
each
applicator medium departs the body 7 and body 19, respectively, as illustrated
in FIGS. 1-3.
Applicator media such as, for example, bristle tufts, sponges or fibrous
materials may be
tapered inwardly at the free end 12, 24, or splayed outwardly at the free end
12, 24. Tufts of
bristles, for example, are often tapered inwardly, either by providing air
spaces within the tuft
at the end attached to the body, and/or by making the tuft from individually
tapered bristles.
Accordingly, the width and depth measured at the free ends 12, 24 of each
medium may
differ from width and depth measurements of the media taken immediately
adjacent the base
end of each body 7, 19.
The first applicator medium 11 and second applicator medium 23 may each have
different characteristics. For example, the bristles 13 may be longer than the
bristles 25, or
the bristles 13 may be relatively stiffer than the bristles 25. The shape of
the free end 12 of
the first applicator medium 11 may be the same as or different from the shape
of the free end
24 of the applicator medium 23. Or, as illustrated, the shape of the second
applicator
medium 23 may complement the shape of the first applicator medium 11 when the
first
applicator medium is adjacent the second.
Means 31 are provided for connecting the first body 7 and the second body 19.
The
means 31 are provided such that the second body 19 is selectively movable
relative to the
first body 7 from a first position, illustrated in FIG. 1, wherein the depth
29 of the arrangement
of the second applicator medium 23 is adjacent to and increases the relative
depth 17 of the
arrangement of the first applicator medium 11, to a second position,
illustrated in FIG. 3,
wherein the width 27 of the arrangement of the second applicator medium 23 is
adjacent to
and increases the relative width 15 of the arrangement of the first applicator
medium 11. The
first position may be referred to herein as the folded, closed, compact or
contracted position,
and the second position may be referred to herein as the unfolded, open or
expanded
position.
The means 31 for connecting the first body 7 and the second body 19 may be a
permanent connection (e.g., a hinge) or a selectively separable connection
(e.g., magnetic
connectors or cooperative mating structures, such as, for example, snap or
slide connectors
or cooperatively acting sections of hook and loop tape). Preferably, the means
31 for
connecting the first and second base is a hinge 33 providing a relatively
permanent
connection between the first body 7 and second body 19. In the preferred
embodiment
illustrated in FIGS. 1-3, the means 31 may be a hinge 33 of the type that
permits body 7 to
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swing as much as approximately 360 degrees about body 19. This can be
accomplished as
illustrated by providing a pivot block 35 in a space defined by a clearance 51
in body 7 and a
comparable adjacent clearance 52 in body 19. Pivot block 35 is pivotally
connected to body 7
by way of a pin 37, and to body 19 by way of a pin 39. As best illustrated in
FIG. 4, pin 39
passes through a bore 41 in body 19. The bore 41 has a proximal end 47 and a
distal end
49. The pin 39 continues through a second bore 43 in pivot block 35 that is
axially aligned
with bore 41. A distal end 45 of the pin 39 extends from the second bore 43
into the distal
end 49 of bore 41 in body 19. To make the connection durable and relatively
permanent, pin
39 is secured in one of bore 41 and 43 by way of press fit, adhesive, welding
or other suitable
securing means. Pin 39 is permitted to pivot freely in the other of bore 41
and 43, so that
pivot block 35 can pivot freely relative to body 19 at least as much as 180
degrees. Body 7 is
similarly connected to pivot block 35 by way of pin 37 in bores (not shown) in
body 7 and
pivot block 35 such that pivot block 35 can pivot as much as 180 degrees
relative to body 7.
Because pivot block 35 can pivot as much as 180 degrees relative each of first
body 7 and
second body 19, each of first body 7 and second body 19 can pivot cumulatively
nearly 360
degrees relative to the other.
Alternatively, the hinge 33 may be any one of a variety of well known types,
including,
but not limited to, a piano hinge, a strap hinge, a ball and socket hinge, a
butt hinge or a living
hinge. In FIGS. 3-7, the hinge 33 is illustrated as a living hinge 36
connecting the first body 7
to the second body 19. The living hinge 36 comprises a thin, flexible web of
material either
integrally molded with the body 7 and/or the body 19, or molded onto the body
7 and/or the
body 19 by, for example, bi-injection molding. Alternatively, the living hinge
36 may be
separately manufactured and subsequently attached to each body 7, 19 by way of
adhesive,
welding, overmolding, or other suitable attachment means.
Preferably, means are provided to hold the body 7 and body 19 in the first
position
(folded) and the second position (open). This can be accomplished by providing
the hinge
with a ratchet mechanism (not shown). The ratchet mechanism would be adapted
to
selectively hold at least the first and second position, and could be adapted
to selectively hold
any desired number of positions in between the first and second position.
Another means for
holding the second position is illustrated in FIGS. 2-3. The hinge 33 is
adapted such that
edge 81 of first body 7 and adjacent edge 82 of second body 19 are separated
by a gap
(indicated by arrow 83 in FIG. 2) as body 19 pivots relative to body 7. This
can be
accomplished by providing each of edges 81 and 82 with a radius to yield the
required
clearance. Once second body 19 has pivoted 180 degrees relative to first body
7, i.e., to the
second position (open), an edge 84 of first body 7 contacts an edge 85 of body
19 to prevent
further travel and stop the applicator in the second position.
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As an alternative to hinges, the means for connecting may comprise
cooperatively
mating structures 53, 54, 55, 56 (see FIGS. 8-11). The cooperatively mating
structures may
consist of, for example, at least one projection 53, 54 on one of the first
body and the second
body and at least one recess 55, 56 in the other of the first body and the
second body, with
the recess 55, 56 dimensioned to receive the at least one projection 53, 54 in
mating
engagement. In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 8-11, a rib-like projection
53 extends
from a surface 57 of the first body 7. The projection 53 has a thickened outer
portion 61
supported on a relatively narrower upright portion 63. A channel-like recess
55 is provided in
a surface 59 of the second body 19. The recess 55 has a relatively narrow
clearance 65 at
the surface 59 of the second body 19, with a relatively wider spacing between
opposite side
walls (indicated approximately at ref. No. 70) of the recess below the surface
59. The narrow
clearance 65 has a dimension slightly larger than the thickness of the upright
portion 63, but
smaller than the thickness of the thickened outer portion 61 of projection 53.
The outer
portion 61 has a dimension slightly smaller than the spacing between the
sidewalls of the
recess at 70. Thus, the recess 55 is adapted to cooperatively mate with the
rib 53 when the
surfaces 57 and 59 of body 7 and body 19 are placed adjacent one another (see
FIG. 10). If
the materials of the projection and the recess are relatively elastic, the
projection 53 can be
mated with the recess 55 by merely by applying sufficient force.
Alternatively, or if the
materials are not sufficiently elastic, the recess is provided with an open
end 67, through
which an end 69 of the projection 53 may enter. The projection 53 may then
slide into recess
55 until the entire length of projection 53 is within recess 55.
For the second position (open), a rib-like projection 54 extends from a side
93 of the
first body 7. The projection 54 has a thickened outer portion 62 supported on
a relatively
narrower upright portion 64. A channel-like recess 56 is provided in a side 92
of the second
body 19. The recess 56 is adapted to receive in mating engagement the
projection 54 in a
manner similar to that described above for projection 53 and recess 55.
As another alternative means for connecting the two bodies 7 and 19, at least
one
magnet 86, 87 (FIGS. 12-13) may be provided on one of the first body and the
second body,
and at least one magnetically attractable member 88, 89 may be provided on the
other of the
first body and the second body at a position facilitating engagement with the
magnet. As
illustrated in FIG. 13, a magnet 86 is provided on the broad side 90 of second
body 19, and a
cooperatively acting magnetically attractable member 88 is provided on the
broad side 91 of
first body 7. The magnet 86 is illustrated as projecting slightly from the
surface of side 90,
and the member 88 is illustrated as slightly recessed in side 91. However, the
magnet 86 and
member 88 may each be flush with the respective side 90, 91. When the magnet
86 engages
the member 88, the bodies 7 and 19 are securely held by magnetic attraction in
the first
position (folded) as illustrated in FIG. 12. Similarly, a magnet 87 provided
on the narrow side
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92 of second body 19, and a cooperatively acting magnetically attractable
member 89 is
provided on the narrow side 93 of first body 7. When the magnet 87 engages the
member
89, the bodies 7 and 19 are securely held by magnetic attraction in the second
position
(open) as illustrated in FIG. 13. The magnet and magnetically attractable
member are made
from suitable ferrous material and fastened respectively to the bodies 7 and
19 by adhesive,
welding, in-molding or other suitable means.
Another means for connecting first body 7 and second body 19, shown in FIGS.
14-
15, comprises cooperatively acting sections of hook and loop tape 94, 95, 96,
97 (illustrated
schematically) secured on the bodies 7 and 19. For example, as illustrated in
FIG. 15, a
section of hook tape 94 is provided on the broad side 90 of second body 19,
and a
cooperatively engaging section of loop tape 96 is provided on the broad side
91 of first body
7. When the section of hook tape 94 engages the section of loop tape 96, the
bodies 7 and
19 are securely held in the first position (folded) as illustrated in FIG. 14.
Similarly, a section
of hook tape 95 provided on the narrow side 93 of first body 7, and a
cooperatively acting
section of loop tape 97 is provided on the narrow side 92 of second body 19.
When the
section of hook tape 95 engages the section of loop tape 97, the bodies 7 and
19 are
securely held in the second position (open) as illustrated in FIG. 15. The
sections of hook
tape and sections of loop tape are fastened respectively to the bodies 7 and
19 by adhesive,
welding, in-molding or other suitable fastening means.
The first body 7, second body 19 and connection means 31 (e.g., hinge 33,
pivot block
35, living hinge 36, projections 53, 54, etc.) may be made from any suitable
material, but
preferably are made of a plastic material that is injection molded such as,
for example,
styrene, acrylonitrile-butadiene styrene terpolymer (ABS),
polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA),
polyoxymethylene (POM), polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE) or polycarbonate
(PC). In
addition, the handle end 10, 22 may be covered with a relatively more elastic
material to
provide the handle with a 'soft-touch' grip (not shown). Suitable materials
for the soft touch
grip are, for example,, elastomer thermoplastics (e.g., Santoprene ) or
silicone rubber.
Where the size-adjustable applicator includes a hinge 33 as the primary means
for
connecting first body 7 and second body 19, secondary means of connection may
be
provided for selectively holding the second body 19 relative to the first body
7 in one of the
first position and the second position. These secondary means could include
any one of a
magnetic clasp, a latch, a keeper, a hook, a snap fitment, and cooperatively
acting sections of
hook and loop tape. Thus, for example, if each of the embodiments illustrated
in FIGS. 8-15
were also provided with a hinge 33 as the primary means for connecting (not
shown in FIGS.
8-15), the cooperatively mating structures 53, 54, 55, 56, magnets and
magnetically
attractable members 86, 87,88 89, and sections of hook and loop tape 94, 95,
96, 97,
illustrated in FIGS. 8-15 would serve as secondary means for holding the
bodies 7 and 19 in
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the folded or open position. As a more specific example, in FIGS. 5-7, the
size-adjustable
applicator has a hinge 33 in the form of a living hinge 36. A magnetic clasp
is provided as the
secondary means for holding the bodies 7 and 19 in the open position. The
magnetic clasp
comprises a magnet 87 provided on the narrow side 92 of second body 19, and a
cooperatively acting magnetically attractable member 89 provided on the narrow
side 93 of
first body 7. Thus, when the second body 19 is pivoted on the primary
connection means,
living hinge 36, from the first position (folded) illustrated in FIG. 5, to
the second position
(open) illustrated in FIG. 7, the secondary connection means engages, i.e.,
magnet 87
engages member 89 to hold the applicator in the second position. Other
secondary means
that may be used include, but are not limited to, for example, a latch, a
keeper, a hook and a
snap fitment.
The size-adjustable applicator, in the first position (folded), may be readily
stored in a
relatively narrow, but deeper compartment in a compact with relatively smaller
external
dimensions. In the second position, the applicator may be stored in a
relatively shallow, but
wider compartment in a compact with relatively larger external dimensions. The
applicator
may be used to apply cosmetic in either the first position (folded) or in the
second position
(fully unfolded). In the first position, the applicator will deliver cosmetic
via an increased
applicator medium depth (thickness) to a relatively narrow application area,
thus coating the
area somewhat more heavily. In the second position (fully unfolded), the
applicator will
deliver the cosmetic via an increased applicator width, thus coating a wider
application
somewhat less heavily. The applicator offers other advantages. For example, in
the second
position (open), each applicator medium 11, 23 may be loaded with a cosmetic
having a
different color or other characteristic, e.g., by running the open applicator
simultaneously
through adjacent cosmetic pans, or by running each medium through a different
cosmetic pan
consecutively. The open applicator can then be used to apply the two different
cosmetics to
an application area so that immediately adjacent areas are treated
differently, e.g., two
different shades are applied to adjacent zones of a cheek to emphasize the
cheek structure.
Alternatively, the applicator can be folded to the first position to apply the
two different
cosmetics to one application area, e.g., to blend two different colors
directly on the application
area.
While the invention has been described and illustrated as embodied in
preferred forms
of construction, it will be understood that various modifications may be made
in the structure
and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and the scope
of the invention
recited in the following claims.
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