Size-adjustable cosmetic applicator
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 in the form of a plurality of bristles, a sponge or a fibrous material. The first and second bodies also serve as handles for the applicator. The bodies are connected by a hinge (or other means) to allow them to be selectively repositioned to change the relative dimensions of the applicator medium. The hinge permits the second body to be selectively moved relative to the first body from a first position wherein the depth of the applicator medium is relatively greater, to a second position wherein the width of applicator medium is relatively greater. The first position provides dimensions that are more convenient for storage in a compact with relatively small dimensions, while the second position provides dimensions more convenient for applying cosmetic to a broader application area.
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 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
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 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 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
An applicator that is selectively size-adjustable for storage and application purposes according to the invention is indicated generally by reference number 1 in the
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 in an arrangement having a width indicated by bracket 27 and a depth indicated by bracket 29 (best illustrated in
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
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
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
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
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
As an alternative to hinges, the means for connecting may comprise cooperatively mating structures 53, 54, 55, 56 (see
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 (
Another means for connecting first body 7 and second body 19, shown in
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
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.
Claims
1. A cosmetic brush comprising:
- a first body having a base end supporting a first plurality of bristles adapted for applying a cosmetic, the bristles secured in an arrangement having a width and a depth;
- a second body having a base end supporting a second plurality of bristles adapted for applying a cosmetic, the bristles secured in an arrangement having a width and a depth; and
- means for connecting the first body and the second body such that the second body is selectively movable relative to the first body from a first position wherein the second plurality of bristles are adjacent to and increase the relative depth of the arrangement of the first plurality of bristles to a second position wherein the second plurality of bristles are adjacent to and increase the relative width of the arrangement of the first plurality of bristles.
2. The cosmetic brush of claim 1 wherein the width of the arrangement of the first plurality of bristles is greater than the depth of the arrangement of the first plurality of bristles.
3. The cosmetic brush of claim 1 wherein the width and depth of the arrangement of the first plurality of bristles is the same as the width and depth of the arrangement of the second plurality of bristles.
4. The cosmetic brush of claim 1 wherein the means for connecting is a hinge.
5. The cosmetic brush of claim 5 wherein the hinge is a living hinge.
6. The cosmetic brush of claim 1 wherein the means for connecting further comprises cooperatively mating structures.
7. The cosmetic brush of claim 6 wherein the cooperatively mating structures further comprise at least one projection on one of the first body and the second body and at least one recess in the other of the first body and the second body, the recess dimensioned to receive the at least one projection in mating engagement.
8. The cosmetic brush of claim 1 wherein the means for connecting further comprises at least one magnet on one of the first body and the second body, and at least one magnetically attractable surface on the other of the first body and the second body.
9. The cosmetic brush of claim 1 wherein the means for connecting further comprises cooperatively acting sections of hook and loop tape.
10. The cosmetic brush of claim 4 further comprising a ratchet mechanism cooperatively associated with the hinge such that the second body can be selectively positioned at any one of a number of stop points between the first position and the second position
11. The cosmetic brush of claim 1 further comprising means for securing the second body in one of the first position and the second position.
12. The cosmetic brush of claim 11 wherein the means for securing is selected from one of a magnetic clasp, a latch, a keeper, a hook, a snap fitment, and cooperatively acting sections of hook and loop tape.
13. A cosmetic applicator comprising:
- a first body having a base end supporting a first applicator medium adapted for applying a cosmetic, the first applicator medium having a width and a depth;
- a second body having a base end supporting a second applicator medium adapted for applying a cosmetic, the second applicator medium having a width and a depth; and
- means for connecting the first body and the second body such that the second body is selectively movable relative to the first body from a first position wherein the second applicator medium is adjacent to and increases the relative depth of the first applicator medium to a second position wherein the second applicator medium is adjacent to and increases the relative width of the first applicator medium.
14. The cosmetic applicator of claim 13 wherein at least one of the first applicator medium and the second applicator medium is selected from the group consisting of a plurality of bristles, a woven fibrous material, a non-woven fibrous material, a flocked material and a sponge.
Type: Application
Filed: Oct 7, 2004
Publication Date: Apr 13, 2006
Inventor: Herve Bouix (New York, NY)
Application Number: 10/960,625
International Classification: A45D 40/26 (20060101);