Abstract: A dispenser for material including an applicator, an elongated housing member with a well at one end thereof for receiving the applicator to shield the applicator, a laterally opening receptacle carried by the housing member for holding a coherent body of the material to be dispensed and applied, and structure carried by or forming a part of the housing member for closing the receptacle to shield the material.

Abstract: A compact for cosmetics, including a base for holding cosmetic material and a cover hingedly connected to the base in clamshell fashion, with a window formed in one portion of the cover for viewing the cosmetic material, and a first inwardly facing mirror mounted in another portion of the cover so as not to block the window, wherein a second mirror is mounted in the cover for movement between a retracted position underlying the first mirror and an extended position in which the second mirror blocks the window and faces inwardly.

Abstract: A container for mascara or the like, including a substantially rigid hollow inner member with a large open end and a smaller closed end, and a surrounding flexible sleeve extending from the open end of the inner member beyond the closed end of the inner member to a closed and flattened extremity simulating the appearance of a tube of oil paint. A complete mascara package also includes a neck disposed at the end of the container and a cap mountable on the neck and bearing an applicator for insertion into the container through the neck. Methods for making the container include molding the hollow member and sleeve integrally of plastic, with the sleeve extremity initially open, and thereafter flattening and closing the sleeve extremity; and providing the hollow member and sleeve as separate elements, the sleeve being a flexible metal tube into which the hollow member is inserted.

Abstract: A mascara dispenser including a container, a cap bearing a mascara brush, a comb retractable within the cap, and an element on the cap pivotally connected to a shaft that projects from the comb lengthwise within the cap. As the element is moved to extend the comb out of the cap, a guide within the cap engages a dogleg portion of the shaft to pivot the comb into an offset position relative to the dispenser, for ease of manipulation and use.

Abstract: A twisted-in-wire mascara brush constituted of one or more zones of mascara-absorptive material such as cotton fibers or polymeric sponge material alternating with one or more zones of bristles or fibers substantially nonabsorptive to mascara along the length of the brush. A package of mascara includes a container holding a body of mascara and an applicator brush constituted of alternating zones of material absorptive to the mascara and bristles or fibers nonabsorptive to the mascara.

Abstract: A container-applicator system for cosmetic or like materials such as creams, powders, liquids and gels. The applicator of the system has an elongated tip for metered application of the material, located at the distal end of a stem which is carried by a cap so as to be inserted into and withdrawn from the mouth of a container of a cosmetic product to be applied. The tip is a molded elastomer element having a distal end formed with a shallow cup, which may be oriented at an oblique angle to the stem. A flexible wiper, mounted in the container mouth, removes excess material from the cup as the applicator is withdrawn from the container.

Abstract: A twisted-in-wire mascara brush constituted of one or more zones of mascara-absorptive material such as cotton fibers or polymeric sponge material alternating with one or more zones of bristles or fibers substantially nonabsorptive to mascara along the length of the brush. A package of mascara includes a container holding a body of mascara and an applicator brush constituted of alternating zones of material absorptive to the mascara and bristles or fibers nonabsorptive to the mascara.

Abstract: A mascara dispenser including a pen-shaped body having a reservoir for holding mascara, an applicator retractably carried by the body so as to be movable between a location in the reservoir and a location outside the body, a wiper for the applicator within the reservoir, and a movable member within the reservoir and responsive to the location of the applicator for keeping the wiper out of contact with the applicator during retraction of the applicator into the reservoir and keeping the wiper in contact with the applicator when the applicator is moved out of the reservoir.

Abstract: A dispenser and applicator for liquid cosmetic material, such as liquid, semiliquid or pasty lip or eye cosmetic products, or for microencapsulated liquid products, including a rigid, axially elongated reservoir tube for holding the cosmetic material, a manually operable driver assembly for exerting pressure on the material within the tube, and an applicator tip having a planar woven mesh screen extending across an outlet end opening and molded in the applicator tip. The driver assembly forces the contained material forwardly through the screen, which the user applies to the lip or eye region of the face, or other selected skin area. In the case of a microencapsulated product, the microcapsules rupture when they are pressed against the mesh, releasing their contents.

Abstract: A cosmetic applicator system including a container for storing a fluid cosmetic material such as eyeliner, and an applicator having a hollow stem formed with a reservoir, a felt applicator tip with a body portion inserted in the distal end of the stem, and a plurality of longitudinal channels extending along the passage in surrounding relation to the body portion of the tip for conducting liquid cosmetic material from the container to the reservoir when the tip is immersed in the container, and from the reservoir to the tip when the applicator is used to apply the cosmetic material after withdrawal from the container.

Abstract: A mascara dispenser including a pen-shaped body having a reservoir for holding mascara, an applicator retractably carried by the body so as to be movable between a location in the reservoir and a location outside the body, a wiper for the applicator within the reservoir, and a movable member within the reservoir and responsive to the location of the applicator for keeping the wiper out of contact with the applicator during retraction of the applicator into the reservoir and keeping the wiper in contact with the applicator when the applicator is moved out of the reservoir.

Abstract: An applicator for cosmetics such as mascara, including a handle in the form of a cap for closing the mouth of a cosmetics container and a stem projecting from the cap with a brush or like applicator head at its distal end for insertion in the container, wherein the stem and brush are ejectable from the cap to enable use of the same cap with a succession or variety of brushes. An open-ended retainer socket mounted in the cap receives and releasably engages the proximal end of the stem to secure the stem to the cap, and a manually operable plunger is carried by the cap for engaging the proximal end of the stem in the retainer socket to eject the stem from the cap.

Abstract: A brush for applying mascara or the like, having a bristle array with a discontinuous profile including two contiguous tandem portions, differing from each other in cross-section, for respectively performing different mascara-applying functions.

Abstract: A process for producing an adherent relief coating simulating the appearance of liquid droplets on a surface of an article such as a cosmetics container, including the steps of applying the coating by spraying the surface with a curable liquid coating material to form a multiplicity of discrete raised beads of the material distributed over the surface, and curing the applied coating. The beads can be formed by spraying the beading coat under conditions controlled to provide insufficient atomization to form a continuous uniform coating; by applying two successive coatings with silicon or silicone additive incorporated in the first coat to promote autoreticulation of the second coat; or by a combination of these techniques.

Abstract: A container for a cosmetic preparation such as mascara, lip gloss, etc., including a tubular inner plastic container and an outer metal shell which substantially encloses, and is substantially immovably fixed to, the inner container. The metal shell can serve to inhibit escape of vapor from the cosmetic solvent through the container wall. For improved integrity of the container, the inner surface of the metal shell can be formed with a set of circumferentially spaced, axially extending ribs which bite into the plastic of the inner container, when the container is assembled by pushing the shell onto the inner container, to form grooves in which the ribs engage tightly. An aperture can be formed in the outer shell for displaying to the user the color of the contained cosmetic preparation.

Abstract: A spiral mascara brush including both soft bristles for applying mascara and stiff bristles for combing applied mascara through a user's eyelashes. The soft and stiff bristles are intermingled throughout the length of the brush in specified proportion so that the entire brush may be used both for applying the mascara and combing the eyelashes.