Cosmetic system

Abstract

A method and apparatus for holding and applying beauty and skin care products to the face in the form of a cosmetic brush dispensing assembly with an integral product dispensing mechanism. The assembly includes a barrel for holding a cosmetic compound and a dispensing mechanism for forcing the compound up to a cometic applicator brush for application to a user's face. In one embodiment, the dispensing mechanism is formed of a ratchet displacement device which is activated by pushing a button. In another embodiment, the dispensing mechanism is formed of a screw displacement device which is activated by turning a wheel.

Description

REFERENCE TO PRIOR APPLICATION

[0001] This application claims priority to Provisional Application Serial No. 60/140,444 filed Jun. 23, 1999 and entitled “Cosmetic System.”

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention is generally related to the field of cosmetics and beauty aids and more specifically, is directed to a method and apparatus for holding and applying beauty and skin care products to the face.

[0003] The cosmetics industry is already quite large and continues to grow by some estimates as much as 5 percent a year. In recent years, cosmetic buying trends have changed from seasonal sales centered around gift-giving holidays, such as Christmas, to more even purchasing through out the year. This trends is driven, at least to some degree, by increasing numbers of females entering the work place and the attendant need to use cosmetics on a daily basis. In addition, cosmetics use among men is on the rise and is expected to continue.

[0004] Today, there is a premium to be placed on products that are easy and convenient to use. Cosmetics is one of those kinds of products where convenience is just as important to the consumer as product quality and effectiveness. Convenience in cosmetics use is even more important when they are used on a daily basis.

[0005] Rather than simply being facial decoration, the ideal makeup application is one where the cosmetic itself is not apparent to the casual observer. The cosmetic is used merely to bring out and highlight the natural and most pleasing features of the face and conceal or minimize those features that are less desirable. For example, a cheek blush might be used to define the natural shape and definition of the cheek structure. Thus, the application of cosmetics has become an art form where many beauty salons and department stores now retain highly trained makeup artists to provide makeup tips and instruction to their patrons.

[0006] In order to achieve a smooth, attractive and balanced application of makeup, it is necessary to apply the cosmetic such that the proper amount is applied and that it is evenly distributed and balanced among the left and right eyes, cheeks and the upper and lower lips. The application of makeup on large areas, such as the forehead and chin, must also be done with great care in order to achieve the proper consistency and balance.

[0007] A central element in applying cosmetics are makeup brushes. These brushes come in a variety of sizes and shapes owing to the many different ways in which they are used to apply cosmetics to the different portions of the face. Present day makeup brushes include eyebrow combs for combing the eyebrows, eyebrow pencils for drawing sharp lines about the eyebrows, eyebrow brushes for providing graduations, slim brushes for applying eyeliner, cheek brushes for applying blush and eye shadow and lip brushes.

[0008] In a typical makeup session, one or more of these brushes muse be used in order to treat the entire face. Needless to say, keeping track of all of these brushes and having them available when needed can be a tedious chore. This is especially so when users are away from home.

[0009] While professional makeup artists usually apply their skills with consistently favorable results, most makeup is applied by the wearer, who often is not professionally trained to do so. Thus, every effort must be made to design cosmetics and makeup applicators, such as brushes, so that they are “user friendly” for the lay person. Prior art makeup brushes and makeup systems have fallen short in this regard.

[0010] Accordingly, there exists a need in the art to provide a convenient method and apparatus for carrying and using cosmetics and other beauty and skin care products.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

[0011] Accordingly, it is an objective of the present invention to obviate the above noted shortcomings and disadvantages of present methods and apparatus for carrying and using cosmetics and skin care products.

[0012] It is a further objective of the present invention to provide an improved method and apparatus for carrying and using cosmetics and skin care products.

[0013] It is a still further objective of the present invention to provide an improved method and apparatus for carrying and using cosmetics and skin care products which is economical to implement and simple in operation.

[0014] It is a further objective of the present invention to provide an improved method and apparatus for carrying and using cosmetics and skin care products which is more economical than prior art approaches.

[0015] It is a still further objective of the present invention to provide an improved method and apparatus for carrying and using cosmetics and skin care products which can be readily implemented using existing cosmetic and skin care compounds.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] The novel features of the present invention will be understood more fully and clearly from the following description of the invention as set forth in the accompanying drawings in which:

[0017] FIG. 1 illustrate one embodiment of a brush for applying cosmetics to the lips in accordance with the present invention;

[0018] FIG. 2 illustrate one embodiment of a brush for applying foundation cosmetics to the face in accordance with the present invention;

[0019] FIG. 3 illustrate one embodiment of a brush for applying cosmetic powder to the face in accordance with the present invention;

[0020] FIG. 4 illustrate one embodiment of a brush for applying cosmetic eye liner to the eyes in accordance with the present invention;

[0021] FIG. 5 illustrate one embodiment of a brush for applying cosmetics to the eyebrows in accordance with the present invention;

[0022] FIG. 6 illustrate one embodiment of a brush for applying eyeshade cosmetics In accordance with the present invention;

[0023] FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate embodiments of a brush for applying cosmetic concealer cream in accordance with the present invention;

[0024] FIG. 9 illustrate one embodiment of a brush cover shield for a make-up brush in accordance with the present invention;

[0025] FIG. 10 is a partial cross-section taken along lines 10-10 in FIG. 12;

[0026] FIG. 11 illustrated the brush cover shield shown in FIG. 9 covering a make-up brush in accordance with the present invention;

[0027] FIG. 12 illustrates a makeup brush dispenser with an integral cosmetic dispensing mechanism in accordance with the present invention;

[0028] FIG. 13 illustrates one embodiment of an integral cosmetic dispensing mechanism in accordance with the present invention; and

[0029] FIG. 14 illustrates another embodiment of an integral cosmetic dispensing mechanism in accordance with the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0030] A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings.

[0031] FIG. 1 illustrates an automatic lip dispenser brush. This dispenser holds product within barrel 1 that is dispensed by way of clicking button 2 from the bottom as will be explained with referenced to FIGS. 12-14. Barrel 1 can hold different formulas of lip cosmetic product which are dispensed to brush 3 when button 2 is clicked. Brush 3 is a standard size and can be made with a synthetic or natural hair.

[0032] FIG. 2 illustrated an automatic foundation dispenser brush which is similar in operation to the lip dispenser brush illustrated in FIG. 1 and dispenses a foundation cosmetic within barrel 4 to brush 6 by clicking button 5.

[0033] FIG. 3 illustrates an automatic powder dispenser brush for cosmetic face powder, blush, bronzer, etc. This dispenser includes a protective brush shield 10 and cap 11 for easy transport as will be discussed with respect to FIG. 12. The hair on brush 9 can be pony, goat or synthetic. The cosmetic power within barrel 7 is dispensed by clicking button 8 to force a burst of powder through barrel 7 into brush 9 for application.

[0034] FIG. 4 illustrates an automatic eyeliner dispenser brush. Brush 14 has a precise brush head size. It is small and narrow with a point for accurate eyeliner application. The size of barrel 12 is accordingly smaller to maintain its proper proportion. Eyeliner cosmetic product is dispensed from barrel 12 by clicking button 13.

[0035] FIG. 5 illustrates an automatic eyebrow dispenser brush. The size of barrel 14 can be made the same size as barrel 12 of the automatic eyeliner dispenser brush illustrated in FIG. 4. Cosmetic product is dispensed from barrel 14 into brush 16 by clicking button 15. The shape of brush 16 is such that it has a slight angle so that it will lay flat to the surface of the eyebrow.

[0036] FIG. 6 illustrates an automatic eyeshade dispenser brush. The shape of brush 19 will vary depending on the shape of the eyes to be treated (deep set eyes, hooded eyes, etc.). The hair used in brush 19 can be natural hair (pony or goat). The cosmetic can be dispensed from barrel 17 into brush 19 by clicking button 18.

[0037] FIG. 7 illustrates an automatic concealer dispenser brush. This dispenser dispenses a creamy texture cosmetic through bush 22 from barrel 20 by clicking button 21.

[0038] FIG. 8 is an automatic cream eyeshadow dispenser brush. This dispenser is similar in construction to the concealer dispenser brush illustrated in FIG. 7 but dispenses cream eyeshadow cosmetic from barrel 23 to brush 25 by clicking button 24.

[0039] FIGs. 9-12 illustrate the component parts of a brush dispensing assembly with an integral product dispensing mechanism. As shown in FIG. 12, the assembly includes a barrel 30 or holding a cosmetic compound 31. A dispensing mechanism 32 is provided for forcing compound 31 up to brush 33 for application to, for example, the user's face.

[0040] Dispensing mechanism 32 is further illustrated in FIGS. 13 and 14. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 13, dispensing mechanism 32 is formed of a ratchet displacement device which is activated by pushing button 40 as also shown in FIGS. 1-8 with respect to buttons 2, 5, 8, 13, 15, 18, 21 and 24, respectively. Button 40 is attached to one end of compressed spring 41. The other end of compressed spring 41 is attached to ratchet plate 42 which moves along teeth 43 formed along the inside wall of container 30. Each push or click of button 40 causes spring 41 to advance plate 42 to the next adjacent tooth 43, thereby forcing compound 31 up to brush 33 for application to the user's face.

[0041] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 14, dispensing mechanism 32 is formed of a screw displacement device which is activated by turning wheel 45. Wheel 45 is attached to rotating screw 46 which screws through plate 47. As wheel 45 is turned, screw 46 causes plate 47 to be upwardly displaced, thereby forcing compound 31 up to brush 33 for application to the user's face.

[0042] In one embodiment of the present invention, the brush dispensing assembly has a protective brush shield 10 formed inside of barrel 30 for protecting brush 33. FIGS. 10 and 12 illustrate brush shield 10 retracted into barrel 30 when the dispensing assembly is in its dispensing mode. FIG. 11 illustrates shield 10 in its protective positive around brush 33 when the dispensing assembly is in its non-dispensing or storage mode.

[0043] As shown in FIG. 9, protective shield 10 has a retaining stop ring 34 at its lower end which can be formed by a raised projection around the outside of the shield. Stop ring 34 cooperates with lower stop 35 and upper stop 36 formed inside of barrel 30 so that protective shield 10 is confined to a predetermined movement between the upper and lower stops. Stop ring 34 and stops 35 and 36 are arranged so that in the non-dispensing mode of the dispensing assembly, shield 10 can be moved upward to fully engage and cover brush 33 as illustrated in FIG. 11. In the dispensing mode, shield 10 can be lowered so that brush 33 is fully exposed as illustrated in FIG. 2.

[0044] The dispensing assembly also includes a cap 11 for covering brush 33 and protective shield 10. Shield 10 helps to retain the hairs and/or fibers used to form brush 33 so that cover 11 can be easily snapped into place as one of ordinary skill in art would understand.

[0045] Use of protective brush shield 10, cap 11 and the integral cosmetics product dispensing mechanism of Applicant's invention provides a method and apparatus for holding and applying beauty and skin care products which is far superior to what is known in the prior art. Applicant's invention provides a variety of automatic cosmetic dispenser brushes which are easy and convenient to use. Moreover, the brushes can be conveniently carried away from the home for use where ever and when ever the need arises. In addition, the various elements of the dispenser, such as the barrel, brush shield and cap, can be made of plastic or other suitable materials as is known In the prior art.

[0046] It should be obvious from the above-discussed apparatus embodiment that numerous other variations and modifications of the apparatus of this invention are possible, and such will readily occur to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the scope of this invention is not to be limited to the embodiment disclosed, but is to include any such embodiments as may be encompassed within the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. An cosmetic dispenser for holding and dispensing a cosmetic product, said dispenser comprising:

a generally elongated container for holding a supply of said cosmetic product;

an applicator brush attached to one end of said container;

a protective shield slidably positioned within said container between a first position for covering said applicator brush when said dispenser is a non-dispensing mode and a second position exposing said applicator brush when said dispenser is In a dispensing mode; and

an integrally formed dispensing mechanism within said container for forcing said cosmetic produce from said container to said brush.