COSMETIC APPLICATOR WITH INTERCHANGEABLE PRODUCT TIPS
Disclosed is a cosmetic applicator system having interchangeable cosmetic products. A handle is provided with flexible prongs having mating portions for selectively engaging and disengaging one of a plurality of cosmetic products having a complementary mating portion. A base is provided for holding a plurality of the interchangeable cosmetics products in an arrangement that facilitates engagement and disengagement to allow the user to switch from one cosmetic product to another. The system is suitable for many cosmetics, particularly, eye shadow, lip balm, lipstick, cheek colorant, baked, hot poured, and dipped products.
This application claims benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/974,404, filed Apr. 2, 2014, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
FIELDDisclosed herein are applicator devices and product tips. Some embodiments disclose a system including a handle adapted to connect to any of a plurality of product-containing tips, and a product palette.
SUMMARYSome embodiments provide a cosmetic application system including a palette comprising a base defining a plurality of recesses; a plurality of product assemblies, wherein each assembly further comprises a retainer element having two sides, wherein one of the two sides is substantially permanently affixed to a cosmetic product, and the other of the two sides is provided with half of a mated coupling mechanism; and a handle comprising at one end, at least two prongs, wherein each prong is resiliently flexible and outwardly biased with respect to a longitudinal axis of the handle; and wherein each prong is provided with half of a mated coupling mechanism which is mated to the half of the mated coupling mechanism present on each of the plurality of product assemblies.
The product assembly 300 includes product 320 affixed to a retaining element 310. Depending on the type of product (for example, eye shadow, lip balm, lip stick, cheek colorant, etc.) different methods of affixing the product to the retaining element may be used. Among these are any suitable for the type of product and method of manufacturing. Those of skill in the art will readily recognize that the product may be baked, hot poured, dipped, or other. Each of these types of product are amenable to various methods of affixing to the retaining element. For example, product 320 may be glued to a platform 312 that makes up part of the retaining element 310. Alternatively, or additionally, the retaining element 310 may be provided with one or more projection, rib, barb, flange, platform, etc. or combination thereof, which will be useful in holding product that is dip formed, baked, hot poured around the projection. Those of skill in the art will readily appreciate the myriad possibilities for securing product to the retaining element with or without a platform.
The retaining element 310 is designed and configured such that product 320 is substantially permanently affixed to one side while the retaining element 310 provides the second half of the coupling mechanism 350 for coupling to the handle 400. Any type of coupling mechanism can be used, so long as the product assembly 300 and the handle 400 employ mated parts of the same coupling mechanism 350, 450. In the system described herein, a plurality of product assemblies 300 will be present in a single system 100. Each of the plurality of product assemblies 300 will include a coupling mechanism 350 suitable for use with the same handle 400. In such a manner, one handle 400 may be used to selectively apply any or all of the range of products in the system.
As shown in
As depicted, the handle 400 and each product assembly 300 have a circular cross-section. It should be appreciated that any shape or dimension can be accommodated, including square, rectangular, triangular, oval, etc., the circular cross-section is exemplary only. Thus, the retainer element 300 is shown as a ring-like structure having a circumferential tongue and groove for mating with the tongue and groove on the prongs 410 of the handle 400. In non-circular embodiments, the circumferential tongue and groove is located about the periphery.
Various plastics and polymer materials may be used for any or all of the various sports of the cosmetic application system described herein. Those of skill in the art will readily recognize that additional materials, sizes, shapes, configurations, etc. may be employed without altering the scope and spirit of this description. For example, any or all of the palette, handle, or retainer element may be made of metal. As another example, the palette could be made from cardboard, wood, wood products, metal, glass, ceramic or other suitable material.
In some embodiments, not shown, the handle may be coupled to the product assembly by other means. For example, rather than a handle having resilient prongs with mated sections for grasping the product assembly, the handle and product assembly could be coupled via magnets, friction fit arrangements, threaded arrangements, partial turn engagements, hook and loop fasteners or other coupling means suitable for selective coupling and decoupling of the product assembly from the handle. Other coupling arrangements could include mated pairs in a twist and lock arrangement, pin lock arrangement, ball-lock arrangement, etc. It should be appreciated that in each of these arrangements, one half of the mated pair is provided on the handle and the other on each of the plurality of product assemblies.
Claims
1. A cosmetic application system comprising:
- a palette comprising a base defining a plurality of recesses;
- a plurality of product assemblies, each removably placed in one of said plurality of recesses, wherein each assembly further comprises: a retainer element having two sides, wherein one of the two sides is substantially permanently affixed to a cosmetic product, and the other of the two sides is provided with half of a mated coupling mechanism; and a handle comprising at one end, at least two prongs, wherein each prong is resiliently flexible and outwardly biased with respect to a longitudinal axis of the handle; and wherein each prong is provided with half of a mated coupling mechanism which is mated to the half of the mated coupling mechanism present on each of the plurality of product assemblies.
2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the cosmetic product is selected from eye shadow, lip balm, lipstick, and cheek colorant.
3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the cosmetic product is selected from baked, hot poured, and dipped products.
4. The system of claim 1, wherein the retaining element is provided with one or more projection, rib, barb, or flange configured to hold the cosmetic product.
5. The system of claim 1, wherein the mated coupling mechanism is selected from tongue and groove, mated flanges, ribs, barbs, and recesses, or combinations thereof adapted to selectively couple and decouple the retaining element to the handle.
6. A handle for use with a cosmetic product retaining element, wherein the product retaining element is provided with one half of a mated coupling mechanism, the handle comprising:
- at one end, at least two prongs, wherein each prong is resiliently flexible and outwardly biased with respect to a longitudinal axis of the handle; and wherein each prong is provided with half of a mated coupling mechanism which is mated to the half of the mated coupling mechanism present on each of the plurality of product assemblies.
7. The system of claim 6, wherein the mated coupling mechanism is selected from tongue and groove, mated flanges, ribs, barbs, and recesses, or combinations thereof adapted to selectively couple and decouple the retaining element to the handle.
8. A cosmetic product assembly for use with a handle, wherein the handle is provided with one half of a mated coupling mechanism, the cosmetic product assembly comprising:
- a retainer element having two sides, wherein one of the two sides is substantially permanently affixed to a cosmetic product, and the other of the two sides is provided with half of a mated coupling mechanism.
9. The system of claim 8, wherein the mated coupling mechanism is selected from tongue and groove, mated flanges, ribs, barbs, and recesses, or combinations thereof adapted to selectively couple and decouple the retaining element to the handle.
Type: Application
Filed: Apr 2, 2015
Publication Date: Oct 8, 2015
Inventor: Ashleigh Earl (London)
Application Number: 14/677,372