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 liquid marker system utilizes three primary components to permit marking of lines of various widths from a single nib. The three components are a porous nib, a transfer wick and a squeezable container. Operation relies on different squeeze pressures applied to the housing to produce different line widths from the single nib as the nib is moved across a marked surface. The porous wick provides a resistance to flow until the bottle is squeezed and then supplies a minimum of capillary flow to the nib. The user squeezes the container to overcome the resistance of the wick. No venting of the container interior is required because the wick and nib system allows the passage of air into the container when the container is returned to its unstressed (i.e., un-squeezed) condition.

Abstract: A cosmetic package is provided for a stick cosmetic, such as lipstick, which allows the color of the lipstick to be visible without opening the package. The package includes a base, a protective sleeve and a collar. The base includes inner and outer cylindrical walls joined at the bottom to form a cylindrical space therebetween. The protective sleeve is adapted to fit into this annular space. The collar is rotatably mounted on the base and has a helical track adapted to engage a corresponding lug on the sleeve. When the collar is rotated, the sleeve is propelled upwardly to surround and protect the cosmetic. When rotated in the other direction, the collar causes the sleeve to be retracted to allow for application of the cosmetic. The protective sleeve may be transparent so that the color shade of the lipstick is evident when the sleeve is in the upwardly extended position surrounding the lipstick.

Abstract: A dispenser includes a brush fixed to a powder reservoir having a tuft of hair and a tuft holder provided with a first powder supply orifice. The reservoir is closed by a shutter in which a second powder supply orifice is formed, and that can be turned manually with respect to the tuft holder to align the first and second orifices. The shutter of the reservoir includes a central duct with a bottom in which the second orifice is formed. The tuft holder has a lower tubular part with a bottom wherein the said first orifice cooperates with the central duct to provide axial securement and free rotation, an upper tubular part fitting tightly around the said tuft and a said first skirt. The dispenser includes a guide that has an axial displacement tab, the lower end of which supports a radial pin, and the central duct carries a helical ramp on its outer surface that cooperates with the pin such that rotation of the guide causes an axial movement of the guide.

Abstract: A liquid applicator includes: an applicator body in which a storage tank for storing a paint is incorporated; brush elements, made up of multiple fiber bundles embedded on a base, parallel to each other in the axial direction so that the fiber bundles are directed forwards; and a valve element provided in the storage tank for allowing supply of the paint to the brush elements in the applying portion. This liquid applicator further has inside its front barrel, a blocking element formed with a liquid flow passage so as to block the paint supplied from the storage tank whilst partly allowing the paint to be supplied to the tip side of the front barrel by way of the flow passage.

Abstract: An improved container contains a housing containing at least one aperture and a treatment composition located within the housing. The combination of the treatment composition and the housing has a mess factor of from about 3.6*10−4 to about 1.1*10−11. When the housing is in a prepared state and squeezed, the treatment composition exits the housing from the aperture.

Abstract: A lotion or soap handler has either a fixed or telescoping elongated tubular handle which defines a reservoir in which a supply of lotion or soap is readily stored. A porous foam or sponge applicator is connected to the handle and a valving mechanism is provided in the handle between the reservoir and the applicator for incrementally controlling the flow of soap or lotion from the handle to the applicator. The valve mechanism is operated by a push button mounted on the handle adjacent the gripping portion. A cover is provided to protect the applicator when not in use.

Abstract: A cartridge for a pen has an electronically controllable marking device, such as an ink jet printhead, for marking a visible path on a surface, a non marking stylus nib that in use contacts the surface with the marking device directed toward or contacting the surface The cartridge includes an on/off switch that turns the marking device on and off. Movement of the stylus nib or application of more than a predetermined compressive force to the stylus nib turns on the on/off switch and so causes the marking device to be turned on, so marking a path on the surface.

Abstract: A pencil has a fixed non-replaceable eraser and a moveable sleeve. The fixed non-replaceable eraser is elongated to provide a larger eraser to pencil ratio in order to have more erase cycles per write cycles. The moveable sleeve can be moved to selectively expose a portion of the eraser. A ferrule couples the pencil body and the eraser together and provides an outer surface to engage an inner surface of the moveable sleeve. In one embodiment, a threaded female slot in the outer surface of the ferrule engages a male threaded tab in the inner surface of the sleeve. In another embodiment, a plurality of concentric slots in the outer surface of the ferrule engage a tab in the inner surface of the sleeve.

Abstract: The present invention is a spray squeegee having automatic recipient surface wetting mechanism with extension and remote triggering system, which includes a squeegee section having an enclosed container for holding liquid, a sprayer head, which is in connection with the squeegee section, and a surface extending in a lengthwise direction. The enclosed container has a threaded neck. The sprayer head has a threaded cap adapted for engaging the threaded neck, as well as a dispensing means for dispensing the liquid. There is a squeegee blade and at least one wiping mechanism. One wiping means includes a wiping support that has a plurality of nozzles for wetting the wiping mechanism and is located on a side opposite the blade. Another wiping means, which may be on the blade side or the first wiping mechanism side, is tiltable and includes a clamp for holding a wiping material.

Abstract: A mechanical pencil, includes an external cylinder, a lead delivery mechanism disposed in the external cylinder, the lead delivery mechanism having a lead-fastening chuck which fastens a lead and moves back and forth in the external cylinder to deliver the lead toward a front end of the external cylinder, a lead holder disposed before the lead delivery mechanism in the external cylinder to gently hold a lead, and a guide member arranged between the lead-fastening chuck and the lead holder in the external cylinder and always urged backwardly toward the lead-fastening chuck to protect a lead portion between the lead-fastening chuck and a lead holding portion of the lead holder.

Abstract: Disclosed is a portable casing for a soap bar which has a structure such as a lipstick container so that it receives a soap bar in such a fashion that the soap bar is normally in a retracted state within the casing while being extended from the casing by a desired length only when it is desired to be used, in order to allow the user to lather his desired body portion, thereby being convenient to use, carry, and store the soap bar. The portable soap bar casing includes a cylindrical casing body having a threaded hole, and a carrier member adapted to carry a soap bar and directly coupled to the threaded hole of the cylindrical casing body so as to directly receive a force from the cylindrical casing body for vertically moving the soap bar.

Abstract: An extendible dish drain rack comprising a plurality of bases designed to assemble in a particular sequence; the front of the second and each subsequent base designed to overlap the rear of the preceding base with a short overlap. A lip for overlapping a sink is provided at the front of the first. A first fastener is located at the front of each second and subsequent base. A second fastener is located at each rear. The fasteners are designed to mate with each other, prevent slippage and allow for disassembly of the bases. Each base also incorporates a device for inclining the bases. This creates an angle of inclination in the assembly sufficient to efficiently drain water. There are typical supports for supporting dishes in a water draining configuration on the top surface of each base. Preferably the device for inclining the bases is a foot or leg located under the rear of each base. Preferably one fastener is a slot and the second fastener is a tab which loosely fit to each other.

Abstract: A head support device comprised of adjustable occipital pads which provide cranial support through placement on the mastoid process of the skull. The support device is vertically and laterally adjustable so that the complete weight of the skull is supported by the pads placed over the mastoid process.

Abstract: The object is to provide a writing instrument in which a large-diametric ink retaining portion with narrow grooves in width and still capable of securing a large enough air channel can be formed so that the replacement of the sufficient amount of air can be effected between the ink retaining portion and the outside air. To achieve this, in an ink retaining portion (12), a plurality of cutouts (32) are formed so that each cutout (32) is formed to a right angle direction with respect to a center line (16a) of the sheet element (16) with a length equal to or greater than half the radius (R) (A≧(R/2), B≧(R/2)) and that one end of the cutout (32) is extended to the periphery.

Abstract: A device for obtaining a sample of interstitial fluid from a patient for use in monitoring the level of blood glucose in the patient. The device comprises a hollow tube having a wall surrounding a cavity, wherein the wall of the tube contains a multiplicity of pores.

Abstract: A lotion applicator having a flexible container holding a quantity of lotion which terminates at one end in a threaded neck for threadably receiving a discharge nozzle conducting lotion or the like through the neck. The discharge member includes an aperture projection adapted to insertably pass through an opening in a closure cap, so as to permit the discharged lotion to exit the container and the cap. The discharge projection has a closed position when inserted through the opening in the cap and a discharge position within the cap, so as to permit the lotion to exit the discharge member and pass through the unoccupied aperture in the cap for flow into an elongated applicator arm. The arm includes a threaded coupling for engaging with the discharge cap and extends outwardly from the container in a cantilevered manner to terminate in an application member having a plurality of openings in communication with an elongated passageway extending from the discharge cap through the arm to the applicator member.

Abstract: The toilet splash shield system prevents urine and waste from splashing out of a toilet bowl, and includes a toilet bowl having a rim having upper and lower sides and front and back ends. The rim has a bore extending therethrough, and the bore is in communication with an air pump. The rim has a plurality of vent holes extending into the bore from an inner perimeter of the rim. Further, the rim has a vent in communication with the bore for permitting passage of air from the bore through an inner perimeter of the rim.

Abstract: A bathtub wall unit includes a single sheet having at least one frame member integrated therewith defining an interior portion for superimposition of one or more wall components thereon. Such units can be assembled to provide a method of using a wall unit to enhance the aesthetics associated therewith.

Abstract: A free-ink type writing instrument having a temporary ink collector having a sectionally combed configuration, between an ink tank chamber and an writing tip and inside the front barrel, wherein all or part of the gaps between neighboring combed teeth for retaining ink in the temporary ink collector are set equal to 0.15 mm or smaller, and the ink tank is charged with an ink having a surface tension equal to 30 mN/m or lower at 25° C.