Product Applicator

Abstract

An improved applicator comprises a reservoir member receiving a piston within a cavity therein, the piston being threadably actuated by a drive member that seals on the reservoir member in a rotatable relation. The piston selectively engages the reservoir member in a calibrated friction fit therebetween to ensure that the engagement is sufficient to squeegee a semi-liquid or semi-solid product contained within the reservoir cavity. Selective engagement also comprises piston anti-rotation being provided by an engaging portion of the piston comprising a shape having an elliptical cross-section that may be received within an interior surface of the reservoir member having a corresponding elliptical cross-section. Anti-rotation may alternatively be provided by an engaging portion of the piston comprising a generally cylindrical shape interrupted by a flat portion thereon, which may be received within an interior surface of the reservoir member having a corresponding cylindrical shape with a flat section.

Description

CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority on U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/516,278 filed on Mar. 31, 2011, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to improvements in applicators for applying products, and more particularly towards improvements for an applicator used in applying cosmetic products.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

For centuries people have been applying decorative materials to their bodies. Evidence shows that the ancient Egyptians applied paints to their bodies especially around their eyes, perhaps to protect them from the sun, or to prevent or treat eye disease. Socially, in ancient Egypt, hairstyles and cosmetics distinguished the various social classes from each other. In Greece and Rome, particular hairstyles were signs of social standing, age, and marital status. After Rome fell the use of cosmetics in Western Europe virtually disappeared until the Crusaders brought perfumes, hair dyes, and other beauty products back to Europe. During the Renaissance, a pale look that was achieved by the use of heavy powders was considered a badge of class, and was, for a long time, a status symbol. In France, men and women competed with each other in personal adornment. Various powders, perfumes, wigs, and beauty marks were the rage of the aristocracy. One theory submits that the heavy makeup that was applied was an effort to hide the effects of disease, particularly small pox that was endemic to the area. In the Americas, native American tribes, long before the arrival of Columbus, used war paints extracted from fruits. Over the centuries lip coverings have been used to enhance the color of lips. In addition, many people apply various unguents, balms, salves and moisturizers to their lips to soften them and to enhance them.

The cosmetic product for coloring a person's lips, during the 19^th century, had typically been applied using a brush, and was colored with carmine dyes that were extracted from cochineal insects found in Mexico and Central America. These lip color products were eventual sold in paper tubes, and then in a push-up metal cylinder that contained the product. It was in 1923 that James Bruce Mason, Jr., patented the first swivel-up tube of lip coloring that is the forerunner of what has for some time been referred to, in colloquial expression, as “lipstick.”

Lipstick had, for a long time, comprised this stick or rod of material being disposed in a dispenser that had a rotatable base and a screw type mechanism for actuating the solid cylinder of product relative to the dispenser. In these types of dispenser, a portion of the lipstick material was secured in a base, and the remainder of the stick extended away from the base, which was then fixed to the mechanism, where the mechanism was used for moving the base to extend the lipstick product out from the dispenser when it was to be applied, or alternatively for retracting it within the dispenser when the user sought to store the delicate stick because no more was needed to color the user's lips. The base was in the shape of a short length of tubing that was sealed at one end. The base was typically about one half of an inch in height. Since the lipstick material held in these dispensers was generally only a couple inches in length, that portion being used to secure the pigmented material to the base constituted, at least in the mind of the purchasing consumer, waste of a significant portion of their purchased product. The material in the base was discarded when the portion of the stick that had reached above the base was depleted from routine use. However, frugal consumers, as well as consumers who had neglected to purchase another lipstick before they ran out of product, tended to use their fingertips, a tissue, or some other means to access and apply that substantial portion of lip product trapped within the base of the lipstick.

Another problem with these applicators arises when the user fails to return the stick of material to a recessed position after use. When this occurs, the stick can become smudged, smashed, or lose its shape as the cap is placed upon the extended lip stick. This makes application of the lip product more difficult, for when the lipstick is initially purchased, the stick is pre-shaped to either a point and/or an angle to permit the user to apply the lip stick in the desired manner. Even when the user has not detrimentally altered the shaped end of the lip stick material, its use over time tends to cause the end of the cylinder of lip product to lose the crisp point or desirable angle for application, which again makes it more difficult for the user to apply the clean lines of lip product that are sought. Such abrasion causes the user to either prematurely dispose of the product before it is completely used, or to attempt to reshape the tip, both of which may again waste a portion of the remaining product.

These unsatisfactory ends to the use of a highly desirable product have led to many advancements being made to such applicators. Some of these advancements are found in our issued patents, such as U.S. Pat. No. 6,448,427, U.S. Pat. No. 6,607,323, U.S. Pat. No. 6,981,811, U.S. Pat. No. 7,210,870, and U.S. Pat. No. 7,377,707, the disclosures of each being incorporated herein by reference.

The improved product applicator disclosed herein continues to develop those types of dispensers to further reduce waste of the product material, as well as to improve the manufacturing techniques for producing them.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved cosmetic product applicator.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an improved applicator that has an applicator portion that provides accurate application of a product to the user.

It is also an object of the invention to provide an applicator in which the applicator portion retains its shape over the course of routine use.

It is another object of the invention to provide an applicator that has a viewing window in the cap to permit the purchaser to view the contents of the product without opening the product.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide an applicator that has a unique tip for applying lip product, being capable of dispensing a creamy or pasty lip product.

It is a yet a further object of the present invention to provide an improved applicator surface that permits the product to be applied in a smooth manner similar to that of a traditional lipstick product.

It is also an object of the invention to provide an applicator that permits the consumer to see the quantity of lip product present in the applicator at the time of purchase of the product, and during its use.

It is another object of the invention to provide an improved product applicator that provides more complete removal of the product from the dispenser.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide an improved elevator mechanism to facilitate product removal from the reservoir.

It a yet another object of the invention to provide such advantages while easing the restrictive manufacturing process and tolerance necessary for achieving such advances.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and claims, and from the accompanying drawings.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to an improved applicator that has a body and a cap for protecting the product in the applicator. The cap may be provided with one or more windows to permit viewing of the color of the product within the applicator. If desired, the window may be on one side of the cap, on two opposite sides of the cap, or in other areas as desired. The window may be made of any suitable translucent material, such as, for example, a clear plastic like PETG. The applicator of the present invention may be used to dispense lip products or any other products that have a liquid, creamy, or even a pasty consistency.

The body of the applicator may comprise a generally hollow member to serve as a product reservoir, with it being open at one end. Preferably, the body of the applicator is made from a transparent plastic such as but not limited to PETG. The open end on the bottom of the reservoir member permits insertion of the remainder of the applicator therein, as well as permitting filling of the applicator with the product. At the open end of the reservoir member there is positioned a drive member for driving a piston that is slidably installed within the reservoir member in order to force product out from a delivery orifice on the closed end of the reservoir member, for application onto the user's lips.

The piston receives the threads of a screw means, and rides upwardly or downwardly on the threads, as the driving member of the applicator is rotated. To prevent the piston from merely turning in response to the motion of the driving member so as not to slide within the reservoir, the interior wall may be provided with a guide member that extends along at least a portion of its length and mates with a corresponding feature along the edge of the piston. In a preferred embodiment, the piston and the interior cross section of the clear reservoir may be given a shape that is other than circular. Preferably, the piston may have an oval or ellipsoid shape the is the same shape as the cross section of the reservoir.

The delivery orifice at the closed end of the reservoir member has a flat applicator surface that is preferably teardrop shaped. The flat teardrop application surface also preferably transitions via a curved surface into the generally cylindrical outer surface of the reservoir member.

A cap may be secured to the body using threading or any other attachment means. The interior of the cap is provided with a pin which is inserted into the delivery orifice in the reservoir member when the cap is secured to the body, to plug the orifice. Plugging the orifice prevents product from being expelled during storage and also preserves the purity of the product by preventing contamination from entering the reservoir.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view of the improved product applicator of the current invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the body portion of the product applicator of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a side cross-section view through the cap of the product applicator shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the reservoir member of the improved product applicator of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a top view of the reservoir member of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the reservoir member of FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 is a side cross-sectional view through the reservoir member of FIG. 4.

FIG. 8 is a side view through the piston of the improved product applicator shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 9 is a bottom view of the piston of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a top view of the piston of FIG. 8.

FIG. 11 is a side view showing assembly of the drive member and the piston of the product applicator shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 12 is a side view showing the drive member/piston sub-assembly as it is being installed within the opening of the reservoir member of the product applicator shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 13 is the bottom view of FIG. 9.

FIG. 13A is the view of FIG. 13, but illustrating an alternative piston cross-section having two flat portions therein for anti-rotation.

FIG. 14 is the bottom view of FIG. 6, shown proximate to the bottom view of FIG. 13.

FIG. 14A is the view of FIG. 14, but illustrating an alternative embodiment of the reservoir member cross-section corresponding to the dual-flat piston cross-section of FIG. 13A.

FIG. 14B is the view of FIG. 14, but illustrating an alternative embodiment of the reservoir member cross-section corresponding to an octagonal piston cross-section.

FIG. 15 is a side view showing the drive member/piston sub-assembly installed within the reservoir member of the product applicator shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 16 is a side view of an alternate embodiment of the reservoir member of the improved product applicator of the present invention.

FIG. 17 is a top view of the reservoir member of FIG. 17.

FIG. 18 is a bottom view of the reservoir member of FIG. 17.

FIG. 19 is a side cross-sectional view through the reservoir member of FIG. 17.

FIG. 20 is a side view of an alternate embodiment of the piston of the improved product applicator of the present invention.

FIG. 21 is a bottom view of the piston of FIG. 20.

FIG. 22 is a front view of the piston of FIG. 20.

FIG. 23 is a bottom view of the piston of FIG. 20 being shown with the cross-section of the reservoir member of FIG. 17 overlaid thereon.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The improved applicator 10 shown in FIG. 1 may be used for one of many different applications, including, but not limited to, application of cosmetic products such as a facial crème, application of an eye product such as eye shadow, application of a lip product, such a lipstick or lip balm, application of a nail product, such as nail polish or a nail hardener, etc. . . . Because of its construction, the applicator 10 may be particularly suited for carefully applying a discrete amount of product within a bounded area, and therefore may perform exceptionally well in the application of lip products, but need not be so limited in its actual usage. Merely to be exemplary within this disclosure, an example of the applicator is described, with it being directed specifically towards use as a lipstick applicator, and is not thereby intended to deliberately limit the actual possible uses of the applicator 10 disclosed herein.

The improved applicator 10 may be comprised of a body portion 11, and a cap 12, which are shown respectively in FIGS. 2 and 3. The cap 12 may serve to protect the product contained in the applicator when the applicator is not in use. The cap 12 may be provided with one or more translucent windows 13 to permit viewing of the color of the contents contained in the body, which may benefit both the retailer and the purchasing consumer seeking to ascertain or verify the color of the lip product within a new applicator, without having to remove the cap, as well as in similarly aiding the user who may have purchased several different color lipsticks and wishes to later locate a desired color quickly, but again without having to remove each cap.

The window 13 may have a first edge 14 and a second edge 15, both of which may extend in an axial direction, and a circumferential edge 16. If desired, the window may be on only one side of the cap, or there may be two windows on the cap 12, so as to be located on opposite sides of the cap. There may alternatively be three or more windows 13, as desired for the convenience previously described, but where the three or four windows would obviate the necessity of having to hold the applicator 10 and rotate it to find a window to identify the product therein. The window 13 may be made of any suitable material, such as a clear plastic material, or it may be any other material that permits viewing of the product. Although the window 13 is shown as being generally rectangular, it will be appreciated that the window may be constructed to follow any peripheral outline on the exterior of the body.

The applicator 10 of the present invention may be formed with an outer envelope having any shape desired, although traditionally, where these applicators are used for applying a lip product, they are generally long and slender, i.e., they tend to have a length greater than their width. Both the applicator body 11 and cap 12 may have a circular cross section, a rectangular cross section, or any other cross sectional shape, and may even comprise an irregularly shaped exterior. In one embodiment, the cross sectional shape may be a polygon such as a hexagon, or a heptagon, or an octagon. Merely be illustrative for the disclosure herein, a product applicator 10 having a cylindrical outer envelope, i.e., one formed using a circular cross-section, was used throughout the drawing figures.

The applicator 10 may be comprised of a product reservoir 30 (FIG. 4), which may be an optically clear material, and may preferably be a hi-flow Polycyclohexylenedirnethylene Terephthalate (PCTA) material manufactured by Eastman Chemical Company. The applicator 10 may be fixed within a collar 20. The combination reservoir 30 and collar 20 may be rotatably attached within a portion of the actuating cylinder 50. In this embodiment, the collar 20 is adhered to a portion of the circumference of the cylindrical part of reservoir 30, with the collar thereby serving as an area where the user of the applicator can place their fingers and prevent the reservoir from turning, while the actuating cylinder 50 may be rotated to cause a driving member to drive a piston axially to dispense lip product, as discussed hereinafter. The collar 20 serves to increase the diameter of the hand-held portion of the applicator, and may also be of a different color for aesthetic reasons, and as such, the collar could actually be integrally formed with the reservoir 30. Where a separate collar 20 is utilized, it may be secured to the reservoir member by any suitable means, including, but not limited to, adhesive, or a friction fit. The collar 20 may be made entirely of a clear material, or the collar may be made an opaque material, possibly being plastic, but may nonetheless still be provided with a slit or a portion comprising a clear pane 21 that permits the user to view a greater portion of the reservoir member's product, once the cap 12 is removed from the body 11. Permitting more of the reservoir 30 that contains the product to be viewable, may better inform the user not only as to the quantity of product remaining in the reservoir, but of its initial rate of removal therefrom through ordinary use.

In one embodiment, the window 13 on the cap may only extend part way along the cap to thereby be able to expose only a small portion of the reservoir to the purchaser/user, to inform only as to the color of the product therein. However, when a pane 21 is used on the collar 20, the window 13 of cap 12 may preferably be of sufficient length in the axial direction of the cap to permit viewing of the pane in the collar, even while the cap 12 is secured to the body 11 (FIG. 1). The pane 21 and window 13 may each be a strip of translucent material, including, but not limited to, Polyethylene Terepthalate Glycol (PETG). As discussed above, while the window 13 and pane 21 are both depicted to appear generally rectangular in the side views of FIG. 1-2, any aesthetically pleasing peripheral window/pane shape would be satisfactory, as long as it readily permits viewing of the product within the reservoir 30.

The cap 12 may generally be a hollow cylinder having an interior surface 17. The interior surface 17 may comprise internal threading to permit the cap to be threadably received by the body 11, which may have corresponding external threading. Alternatively, a friction fit may be used, or, as seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the actuating cylinder 50 of body 11 may comprise a raised annular protrusion 51 that may be received within an annular groove 19 on the interior surface 17 of the cap 12, to form a detent arrangement, whereby the cap may simply be snapped on or off of the body.

As seen in FIG. 1, rotating the actuating cylinder 50 of body 11 while holding the collar 20 and product reservoir 30 static, permits a lip product 100 to be dispensed out from an orifice in the end of the reservoir. Operation of the lip product applicator, whereby rotation of the actuating cylinder 50 of the body 11 produces the outflow of product, may be seen through the assembly of the drive member 24 and the piston 70, and their installation within the product reservoir 30, being shown generally completed within FIG. 15.

The reservoir member 30 is seen in detail in FIGS. 4-7. The reservoir member is preferably made from a clear thermoplastic material. The reservoir member 30 may comprise a generally hollow cylindrical member having a cylindrical wall 31 being generally concentric with axis 30A, and with a generally cylindrical interior surface 32 and a generally cylindrical exterior surface 33. The reservoir 30 may also be constructed to be of another shape, and may for example have a rectangular cross section. From the following discussion, it may be seen that a hollow cylindrical member being used for the reservoir 30 may be preferable over other possible shapes. The cylindrical wall 31 of the reservoir 30 may be open at a first end 36 of the cylindrical member, and be closed at a second end 37. The generally cylindrical inner surface 32 may be sized to receive the outer diameter of the piston 70, as discussed hereinafter, in a close clearance fit, or more preferably in a slight interference fit. Because of this, at the first end 36 of the cylindrical wall 31, the opening may begin with a conical inner surface 34 that may transition, roughly at point 35, into the cylindrical inner surface 32. The conical inner surface 34 may begin at a diameter D₃₄ being greater than that of the cylindrical inner surface 32 (D₃₂), which may serve to assist in the initial installation of the piston 70 into the reservoir 30 during assembly of the body 11. Prior to installing the piston 70 and drive member 24 combination into the reservoir, the product 100 to be dispensed by the applicator 10 may be introduced into the reservoir 30 through the open end 36 or the reservoir.

The second end 37 of reservoir 30 may be formed by having the cylindrical wall 31 transition into a wall 31W, to create a cavity within the reservoir member. Wall 31W may be formed integrally with cylindrical wall 31 as part of a casting process or a plastic injection molding process, and so walls 31 and 31W may therefore essentially constitute a single unitary wall structure. The exterior of wall 31W may serve as a product application surface. Where the applicator 10 is intended to be used for applying cosmetic substances to a person's lips, the wall 31W may have therein a curved portion 31C that transitions into a generally flat product application surface 31F, which may be at an angle θ_31F with respect to the axial direction 30A of the reservoir 30 (also the sliding direction of the piston). For application of lip cosmetics, the angle θ_31F may be in the range of 40-70 degrees. For ergonomic application by a hand of a user's upward extending arm to thereby contact her lips with the wall 31W of applicator 10, the angle θ_31F may more preferably be in the range of about 50-60 degrees. A suitable median value for θ_31F may be 55 degrees, which is the angle used on the reservoir member 30 illustrated throughout the figures. This angle θ_31F facilitates ergonomic application of the lip product onto a person's lower lip using applicator 10. The applicator 10 may then be rotated 180 degrees, so that the product application surface may be oriented for a reasonably ergonomic application of lip product onto the person's upper lip, without having to pucker the upper lip in order to make that application.

The interior surface 311 of wall 31W may be a semi-spherical shape for simplicity, or, to better be able to remove more of the remaining product from within the reservoir, as discussed hereinafter with regard to the piston 70, a generally flat interior surface with an angle of orientation being approximately parallel to the angle θ_31F of the product application surface may be used. In order for the applicator 10 to be able to consistently and carefully deliver a product only within a particular bounded periphery, such as, for example, the exterior red portion of a user's lips, the generally flat portion 31F of wall 31W may be roughly teardrop shaped, as seen in FIG. 5. The wide, rounded end of the teardrop shape of the product application surface 31F may serve to apply product to large amounts of surface area, while the pointed end of the teardrop may serve to more delicately apply product to the peripheral edge of the bounded area to which product is to be applied.

The product 100 to be applied to a user may be transmitted from the cavity of reservoir member 30 to product application surface 31F thru a delivery orifice 39, which may have a diameter being greater or lesser depending upon the viscosity of the particular product to be dispensed and applied. For dispensing of a more viscous product (semi-liquid or semi-solid), the diameter will naturally be somewhat larger than is required for dispensing of a less viscous product. To assist in the actual application of product, the reservoir 30 may comprise a delivery plenum 41, with the plenum being a generally cylindrical opening in the product application surface 31F, and with it being generally concentric with said delivery orifice 39. The plenum may comprise an external supply of product 100, which may be support a drop or creamy bead of product, as seen in FIG. 2. Some of the product 100 within the plenum cylinder itself may be may be received by the user's lips through the application of a slight amount of pressure. The delivery orifice 39 and plenum 41 may preferably be disposed on the product application surface 31F so as to be somewhat more proximate to the pointed side of the teardrop shape than the rounded side, which may aid in the application of small amounts of product at a peripheral edge of the area to receive the product.

As seen in FIGS. 8-10, the piston 70, which is also known in cosmetics parlance as an “elevator,” may have a first end 71 and a second end 72. At least a portion of the piston may comprise a constant cross-sectional shape 73 that should correspond to the generally cylindrical interior surface 32 of the reservoir member 30. To be able to contain the product 100 within the cavity of reservoir member 30, and to be able to squeegee the product along the interior surface 32 of the reservoir member 30, the constant cross-sectional shape 73 of piston 70 should be of a diameter D₇₃ that may preferably engage the interior surface in a calibrated friction fit. The friction fit may be appropriately achieved by forming an appropriately sized annular recess 76 in the first end 71 of the piston 70. Varying the extent of the annular recess 76 (depth and shape-inner/outer diameters) to be greater or lesser may serve to correspondingly provide a reduction in the piston's engagement with the reservoir member (smaller friction force inhibiting motion) or a greater friction fit therebetween. In one embodiment, the diameter D₇₃ of the engagement area at the constant cross-sectional shape 73 at the second end 71 the piston may be slightly larger than the diameter D₃₂ of the interior surface of the reservoir. The annular recess 76 provides the cross-sectional shape 73 of the piston 70 with a degree of flexibility, and it may result in the cross-sectional shape 73 elastically deforming upon being inserted into the reservoir member 30, to provide the engagement (friction fit) with the inner surface 32 of the reservoir.

This friction fit should be calibrated so that it may be overcome by the turning of the actuating cylinder 50, while being sufficient to generally squeegee the product along the interface between the piston and reservoir member, to reduce or eliminate any residual product remaining on inner surface 32 after the piston has passed by, in its rise to the top. Leaving behind any residual product would constitute waste, and would also result in an aesthetically unappealing applicator. The diameter of the actuating cylinder 50 must also be large enough so that a user's fingers acting thereon may produce sufficient torque to drive the piston 70 in order to produce sufficient pressure to cause product 100 to extrude through the delivery orifice 39.

This calibration of the delivery orifice diameter, the amount of engagement in the friction fit of the piston-to-reservoir member interface, the actuating cylinder diameter, and of the type/size of threaded engagement between the shaft and piston, should all be specifically tailored and calibrated to be able to squeegee and extrude the particular viscosity of product contained within the cavity-product, which may have a liquid consistency, a semi-liquid consistency, or a semi-solid consistency. Note that the term “semi-liquid” tends to mean intermediate in properties, especially in flow properties, between liquids and solids, and the term “semi-solid” tends to mean, viscous and slowly flowing, being intermediate in properties, especially in rigidity, between solids and liquids, such as with the consistency of gelatin.

The piston may comprise an orifice 75 being concentric with diameter D₇₃, and having internal threading located therein. The piston may have reverse internal threading with a 6/32 internal diameter, and may be made of low density polyethylene (LDPE), having a 0.955 density or lower. The internal threading of the piston 70 may receive corresponding threading of the driving member 24, as discussed hereinafter.

The driving member 24 is shown in the left side of FIG. 11. The driving member 24 may be comprised of a graspable base 25 that may have a shaft 28 extending orthogonally therefrom. The base 25 of the driving member may be sized to serve a dual role, and also function as the actuating cylinder 50. For ease of manufacturing, a separate appropriately sized actuating cylinder 50 may be utilized, into which may be secured the base 25 of driving member 24, so that rotation of the actuating cylinder causes rotation of the base of the driving member. A portion of the shaft 28 of driving member 24 may comprise external threading 28A. The external threading 28A of said shaft 28 may threadably receive the internal threading of the piston 70, as seen on the left side of FIG. 12. A portion of the base 25 may comprise an annular lip 27. The inner surface of lip 27 may receive the outer cylindrical surface 33 of the first end 36 of the reservoir member 30 in a friction fit, with the end of the lip contacting one side of a stop 38 on the reservoir member, as seen in FIG. 15. This friction fit between the annular lip of the base of the drive member and the reservoir member must permit rotation therebetween and still be sufficient to seal the product 100 within the cavity of the reservoir member. In place of, or in addition to, use of the friction fit, the interface therebetween may comprise an annular protrusion on the first interior surface of said reservoir member and a corresponding annular groove on the lip to serve as a detent.

With the piston 70 threadably received onto the shaft 28 of the driving member 24, as seen in FIG. 12, the combination may be inserted into the opening of the first end 36 of reservoir member 30, with the first end 71 of the piston being disposed toward the product 100 contained therein. Therefore, although the piston 70 appears in FIG. 15 to be disposed generally being closer to the second end 37 of the of the reservoir member 30, when initially installed therein, the second end 72 of piston 70 may be closer to the first end 36 of the reservoir member because of that volume being occupied by product 100. With the piston being positioned as in FIG. 15, it may be seen that the first end 71 of piston 70 may preferably be angled so as to be roughly parallel to the interior surface 311 of the reservoir member 30, which may serve to eliminate having a significant amount of product being trapped within the cavity. The interior surface 311 of the reservoir member 30 may therefore be similarly angled with respect to the product application surface 31F of wall 31W.

The arrangement of the piston 70 and driving member 24 combination within the reservoir member 30, as seen in FIG. 15, may accommodate delivery of product 100 out from the delivery orifice 39 into plenum 41, through the rotation of the base 25 of the driving member. As seen when looking down onto the delivery plenum 41 of the reservoir member of the assembly, counterclockwise rotation of the base 25 of the driving member may drive the reverse-threaded piston 70 away from the base and toward the product delivery surface 31F, provided the piston is prevented from similarly rotating as does the threaded shaft 28A. Anti-rotation of the piston 70 may be provided through one of several different features.

First, a rectilinear protrusion 32P (FIG. 6A) running along the interior surface 32 of the reservoir member 30 and parallel to the axis 30A may be slidably received within a corresponding rectilinear groove on the constant cross-sectional diameter 73 of the piston 70. The rectilinear protrusion 32P being engaged with the rectilinear groove would inhibit rotation of the cylindrical piston 70, within the cylindrical reservoir member 30 cavity so that rotation of the base 25 of driving member 24 would cause translation or mere sliding of the piston relative to the reservoir member and toward the applicator surface 31F, forcing product 100 through the delivery orifice 39. Therefore, it may also be understood that the type of threading used on both the shaft 28A of the driving member 24 and on the orifice 75 of piston 70 may also be calibrated with respect to the type of product being delivered. Coarse threading may be more suitable for delivery of a facial crème that may need to be delivered in greater quantities and which may be more viscous, and fine threading may be more suitable for a lip product, because smaller quantities may need to be delivered in a single lip product application. Fine threading may also be more appropriate for dispensing of a less viscous product.

From the above description, it may also be understood that clockwise rotation of the base 25 of the driving member 24 may drive the piston 70 away from the product delivery surface 31F and toward the base 25. After an application of product 100, a small amount of such clockwise rotation may serve to relieve the pressure being exerted on the product within the cavity and lessen the tendency to lose product out from the delivery orifice 39 of the reservoir member 30 when the applicator 10 is merely being stored. In addition, with the cap 12 installed thereon, as seen in FIG. 1, a cylindrical pin 18 within the cap may plug the delivery orifice to prevent inadvertent flow of product therefrom, as well as serve to protect the product from losing moisture, or from contamination entering therein, etc.

A second means of providing anti-rotation of the piston 70 may be achieved through the constant cross-sectional diameter 73 of the piston being interrupted by a flat portion 74 (FIG. 9), which may be engaged by a corresponding flat 32F on the cylindrical interior surface 32 of the reservoir member 30 (FIG. 14). This arrangement provides manufacturing advantages, namely the elimination of tight tolerances necessary for a proper fit between the rectilinear protrusion and groove to ensure that the piston will still squeegee product in proximity to the rectilinear protrusion. The manufacturing advantages offered by the flat 74 on the piston and flat 32F on the reservoir member reduce the cost and simplify the assembly of the applicator 10. Other possible variations of this second means of providing anti-rotation may include using two flat portions 74i and 74ii on piston 70, which may be engaged by a corresponding flats 32Fi and 32Fii on the cylindrical interior surface 32 of the reservoir member 30 (FIGS. 13A and 14A). In addition, other polygonal cross-section shapes may be used instead of the two flat portion, such as the octagonal cross-sectional interior surface 32Fvi for the reservoir member 30 (FIG. 14B), which would be engaged by a correspondingly shaped constant cross-sectional area on the piston.

A third means of providing anti-rotation of the piston 70 may be achieved by utilizing a non circular interior surface 132 on the reservoir member 130 (FIGS. 16-19), that may be engaged by a piston 170 having a corresponding non circular cross section 173 for the constant cross-section portion 173C (FIGS. 20-23), using the previously mentioned calibrated friction fit. In one embodiment the non circular surface on the interior surface 132 on the reservoir member 130 and the piston may be elliptical or an ovoid shape. Other shapes are also possible as long as the friction fit of the piston are such that the outer surface of the piston mates with the interior surface 132 of the reservoir member 130 and so that the requisite angle of the piston with respect to the interior surface of the end of the reservoir in proximity to the tip so the as much product may be removed from the reservoir.

The examples and descriptions provided merely illustrate a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Those skilled in the art and having the benefit of the present disclosure will appreciate that further embodiments may be implemented with various changes within the scope of the present invention. Other modifications, substitutions, omissions and changes may be made in the design, size, materials used or proportions, operating conditions, assembly sequence, or arrangement or positioning of elements and members of the preferred embodiment without departing from the spirit of this invention.

Claims

1. An improved applicator comprising:

a drive member; said drive member comprising a base with a shaft extending orthogonally therefrom, and a lip extending from a periphery of said base; at least a portion of said shaft comprising external threading;

a piston; at least a portion of said piston comprising a constant cross-sectional shape; said piston having a first end and a second end, and comprising an internally threaded orifice;

a reservoir member; said reservoir member having a first end and a second end and comprising at least one wall, said at least one wall having an opening at said first end into a first interior surface to form a reservoir cavity; said first interior surface corresponding to said constant cross-sectional shape of said piston; a portion of said at least one wall transitioning from said constant cross-sectional shape of said first interior surface to form a second interior surface and an exterior applicator surface at said second end of said reservoir member; said exterior applicator surface comprising a delivery orifice interconnecting with said reservoir cavity;

wherein said first end of said piston is received through said opening at said reservoir member first end with said piston selectively engaging said first interior surface, said selective engagement comprising said piston portion having said constant cross-sectional shape slidably engaging with said first interior surface in a calibrated friction fit; said external threading of said shaft being threadably received by said internal threading of said piston with said lip on said base of said drive member sealing upon said first end of said reservoir member to be rotatable thereon; and

wherein clockwise or counterclockwise rotation of said drive member relative to said reservoir member causes said threaded engagement between said shaft and said piston to drive said piston toward said applicator surface of said reservoir member.

2. The improved applicator of claim 1 wherein said selective engagement of said piston with said first interior surface of said reservoir further comprises at least a portion of said first interior surface comprising a surface formed by an elliptical cross-section, and said constant cross-sectional shape of said piston comprising a correspondingly sized shape being formed by an elliptical cross-section to produce said calibrated friction fit.

3. The improved applicator of claim 1 wherein at least a portion, of said first interior surface of said at least one wall comprises a generally cylindrical surface; and wherein said constant cross-sectional shape of said piston comprises a correspondingly sized cylinder to produce said calibrated friction fit.

4. The improved applicator of claim 3 wherein said selective engagement of said piston with said first interior surface of said reservoir further comprises a piston anti-rotation feature.

5. The improved applicator of claim 4 wherein said anti-rotation feature comprises: said cylindrical first interior surface further comprising a flat portion running between said first end and said second end of said reservoir member, and comprising a portion of said piston at said constant cross-sectional portion comprising a corresponding flat portion.

6. The improved applicator of claim 5 wherein said exterior applicator surface is generally flat and at an angle relative to a direction of said sliding of said piston within said reservoir member cavity.

7. The improved applicator of claim 6 wherein said exterior applicator surface is oriented at an angle in the range of about 50 degrees to about 60 degrees, relative to said direction of said sliding of said piston.

8. The improved applicator of claim 7 wherein said second interior surface at said second end of said reservoir member is generally flat and is generally parallel to said exterior applicator surface; and wherein said first end of said piston is generally flat and at an angle being roughly parallel to said second interior surface.

9. The improved applicator of claim 8 wherein said calibrated friction fit is calibrated to be overcome by rotation of said drive member, and be sufficient to squeegee a product contained in said reservoir cavity to force the product to extrude out said delivery orifice.

10. The improved applicator of claim 9 wherein a size of said shaft threading and base of said drive member, a size of said delivery orifice, and a size of said internal threading and constant cross-section of said piston are cooperatively calibrated to permit extruding out of said delivery orifice of the product having consistency from the group of product consistencies consisting of: a liquid consistency; a semi-liquid consistency; and a semi-solid consistency.

11. The improved applicator of claim 10 wherein said lip of said base of said drive member sealing upon said first interior surface at said first end of said reservoir member comprises one or more of: a tight friction fit therebetween; and an annular protrusion on said first interior surface of said reservoir member being received within a corresponding annular groove on said lip.

12. The improved applicator of claim 11 wherein said generally cylindrical first interior surface transitions into a conical surface, proximate to said reservoir first end.

13. The improved applicator of claim 12 wherein said exterior applicator surface comprises a teardrop shaped surface, with said delivery orifice being located proximate to a pointed side of said teardrop shaped surface.

14. The improved applicator of claim 13 wherein said teardrop shaped exterior applicator surface further comprises a delivery plenum, said delivery plenum being generally cylindrical and being generally concentric with said delivery orifice.

15. The improved applicator of claim 14 further comprising a cap, said cap being received over said reservoir member to releasably engage a portion of said driving member.

16. The improved applicator of claim 15 wherein said releasable engagement of said cap with said driving member comprises an annular protrusion on said driving member engaging an annular groove on an interior surface of said cap.

17. The improved applicator of claim 16 wherein said cap comprises a pin on said interior surface, said pin being located so as to be inserted into, and seal, said delivery orifice, when said cap is releasably engaged with said driving member.

18. The improved applicator of claim 17 wherein said reservoir member comprises an optically clear material; and wherein said cap comprises one or more translucent windows.

19. The improved applicator of claim 18 wherein said at least one wall comprises a wall having a generally cylindrical outer surface.