Cosmetic dispenser
A dispenser for cosmetic materials includes a hollow body containing a flowable cosmetic material, a cap having a wand member with a cosmetic applicator tip that extends through a sleeve that limits the distance that the tip protrudes into the body, or through a screen/wiper tube inside the body, the tube including a distal opening that engages the tip as it passes through the opening and into contact with the cosmetic material when the cap is in contact with the body, and regulates the amount of cosmetic material carried by the tip as it is withdrawn from the cosmetic material.
This application claims priority from provisional application No. 60/731,182 filed Oct. 27, 2005.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention shares many features described in pending application Ser. No. 10/817,480. It concerns containers for housing and dispensing a cosmetic material which may be in liquid, gel or powder form. It includes applicators that operate in conjunction with a cosmetic control means for regulating the amount of cosmetic material that is carried from a reservoir in the dispenser housing to one's skin. Preferably, each use of an applicator results in the transfer of an amount of cosmetic that is suitable for an individual application. This is important in circumstances where a user is attempting to apply fine lines of cosmetic without the blurring effect of having a surplus of cosmetic on the applicator.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
With reference now to the drawings,
Secured to the inner surfaces of the neck is a wiper/screen member 44. As shown, this comprises an elongated tubular structure having a proximal end secured to the inner wall surfaces of the body neck 13. The distal end of the wiper/screen member comprises a wiper/screen opening 46 defined by wiper edges 47. Preferably, the wiper/screen member 44 has a longitudinal extent sufficient to locate the wiper opening 46 in the lower portion of the body proximate closed end 17. The wiper opening will have a configuration that will conform to the tip, or be smaller in one or more dimensions than the tip, so that a cosmetic material wiping and/or compression action will occur as the tip is withdrawn from reservoir 50.
Cap 14 comprises an elongated hollow structure having a closed top end 19 and an open bottom end that is enclosed by an applicator wand 16. The wand extends into the interior of cap 14 with a cupped head structure 18. Extending downwardly from the cupped head structure 18 is an outer peripheral skirt 20. The skirt includes inner threads 22, which are constructed to matingly engage corresponding neck outer threads 15. Such engagement comprises the releasable connection between the cap 14 and the body 12. However, snap rings and frictional engagement joints could also be used. The frictional engagement joints may include sealing structure to prevent product leakage or degradation through moisture dissipation.
The head structure 18 is fixed to the inside surfaces of cap 14. It includes an inwardly directed shoulder 21, from which extends downwardly, a hollow barrel 24. The barrel should have an axial extend sufficient to locate its distal end 26 proximate to wiper opening 46.
Fitted into the barrel distal end 26 is a first applicator tip 28. The applicator tip is constructed of a compressible material and the distal end 26 is crimped inwardly to secure the tip as shown in
With reference to
The first wedge tip 28 may optionally include a tip tail (see
A third tip variation, shown as tri-face tip 38, is depicted in
The tri-face tip head has a conical shape and a central center point 41 from which extends flat sections 42. The flat sections, as shown, have equal diameters and have axes that are 120° apart. The size, shape and orientation of the flat sections can be varied as dictated by the end user needs and cosmetic formulations.
The rod 62 comprises a solid shaft 68 having a shaft end 70. The shaft end engages the tip sleeve 34 of tip 28 shown in
In the fourth embodiment 90, the wiper/screen member 44 and wiper opening 46 are replaced with a tapered closed-end screen structure 108. The screen structure comprises a screen tube 110 extending axially from screen collar 112 to a tapered nose portion 115 having a tube end 114. As best shown in
It will be appreciated that one of the advantages of the invention is the adaptability of the bore and stem connection to be designed whereby the tips can be exchanged by a user. In such case, the tip/bore connection may be threaded or simply comprise a tight, frictional connection. Thus, depending on the cosmetic material being used and the needs of the user, a variety of sizes and shapes of the tip can be utilized.
Additionally, the tips may be constructed of a porous or non-porous rubber, fabric mesh, felt material, foamed polymers or sponge material. In the case of the spine, when this is combined with a soft foam outer layer tip, a controlled, accurate cosmetic application can be achieved. The nose portion shown has particular suitability for use with a powder inasmuch as the perforations can be sized to inhibit any powder spillage. The location of the screen adjacent the lower region of the reservoir also inhibits spillage.
It will be appreciated that while the foregoing descriptions set forth different embodiments in specific detail, alterations, variations and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. As such, the inventors desire to avail themselves of all such variations, alterations and/or modifications, and the invention should not be limited by the aforesaid above-described specific embodiments.
Claims
1. A cosmetic dispenser comprising:
- a hollow body containing a flowable cosmetic material, said body having a neck defining a neck opening;
- a cap having a wand member with a cosmetic applicator tip that extends through said neck opening into contact with said cosmetic material when said cap is in contact with said body;
- a cosmetic control means connected to said neck for regulating the amount of cosmetic material carried by said tip as it is withdrawn from said cosmetic material and moved out of the neck opening; and,
- said cosmetic control means comprising a wiper member with an end opening having a size and shape that corresponds to the size and shape of said applicator tip for the purpose of regulating the amount of cosmetic material on the applicator tip per movement of said tip through said end opening.
2. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein said cosmetic control means is a semi-rigid plastic or a resilient elastomer.
3. The method for dispensing a cosmetic material contained in a vial wherein the vial has an outlet enclosed with a removable cap from which extends a rod with a distal end to which is attached a cosmetic applicator tip, said vial having a hollow member with an opening having a defined shape comprising:
- a) providing an applicator tip for entraining at least an effective dose of cosmetic material, said tip having a cross-sectional shape that corresponds to the shape of said opening;
- b) moving said tip through said opening and into said cosmetic material;
- c) allowing the cosmetic material to be entrained by said tip; and,
- d) moving said tip from said cosmetic material through said opening, causing any cosmetic material being carried by said tip in excess of the amount needed for an effective dose to be wiped away.
4. A cosmetic dispenser comprising:
- a hollow body containing a flowable cosmetic material, said body having a neck defining a neck opening;
- a cap having a wand member with a cosmetic applicator tip that extends through said neck opening and through a screen/wiper tube inside said hollow body, said tube including a distal opening of a size and shape for engaging said tip as it passes through said distal opening and into contact with said cosmetic material when said cap is in contact with said body, said distal opening regulating the amount of cosmetic material carried by said tip as it is withdrawn from said cosmetic material and moved out of the neck opening; and,
- said distal opening having a size and shape that corresponds to the size and shape of said applicator tip for the purpose of regulating the amount of cosmetic material on the applicator tip as said tip passes through said distal opening.
5. The dispenser of claim 4 wherein said tube fits frictionally inside said hollow body.
6. The dispenser of claim 4 wherein said cap includes an internal, friction fit insert that holds said wand member inside said cap.
7. The dispenser of claim 6 wherein said wand member fits frictionally inside said insert.
8. The dispenser of claim 7 wherein said applicator tip fits frictionally inside a passage in the distal end of said wand member.
9. The dispenser of claim 8 wherein said hollow body includes an opening at its distal end for placing said cosmetic material inside said hollow body, and said dispenser includes an end plug that fits frictionally inside the opening at the distal end of said hollow body.
10. The dispenser of claim 4 wherein said wand member fits frictionally inside said cap.
11. The dispenser of claim 10 wherein said applicator tip fits frictionally inside a passage in the distal end of said wand member.
12. The dispenser of claim 4 wherein said hollow body includes an opening at its distal end for placing said cosmetic material inside said hollow body, and said dispenser includes an end plug that fits frictionally inside the opening at the distal end of said hollow body.
13. A cosmetic dispenser comprising:
- a hollow body containing a flowable cosmetic material, said body having a neck defining a neck opening;
- a cap having a wand member with a cosmetic applicator tip that extends through said neck opening into contact with said cosmetic material when said cap is in contact with said body;
- a cosmetic control sleeve connected to said neck for limiting the distance that said tip protrudes into said body for the purpose of regulating the amount of cosmetic material on the applicator tip.
14. The dispenser of claim of claim 1 wherein said body includes an opening at its distal end for placing said cosmetic material inside said body, and said dispenser includes an end plug that fits frictionally inside the opening, and forms a vacuum seal at, the distal end of said body.
15. The dispenser of claim of claim 13 wherein said body includes an opening at its distal end for placing said cosmetic material inside said body, and said dispenser includes an end plug that fits frictionally inside the opening, and forms a vacuum seal at, the distal end of said body.
Type: Application
Filed: Oct 25, 2006
Publication Date: May 17, 2007
Inventors: Monroe Cochran (Oxnard, CA), Laura Nelson (Oxnard, CA), Joel Nelson (Oxnard, CA), Jeffrey Hager (Oxnard, CA)
Application Number: 11/588,148
International Classification: A46B 11/00 (20060101); A46B 17/08 (20060101); A45D 33/00 (20060101);