Abstract:
Applicators for use in retrieving product (generally a liquid) from a reservoir, with an applicator for entry to the reservoir coupled to a cap. The cap is configured to be selectively actuated by including a squeezable element. Unlike “bulb” based devices having a cap in the common form of a bulb, a more modern look is created with a cylindrical or other cap shape. The cylindrical cap in one example has generally rigid sides with a squeezable or depressible element having an accordion-type design. The accordion-type design may be hidden from a user. In another example the cylindrical cap has a rigid top surface and is squeezable from its sides. In yet another example, the cylindrical cap is flexible on its sides and top, but does not have the commonly known bulb-shape. The applicator may be, for example, a diptube, a doefoot applicator, a sponge, a plastic, a brush, or any other suitable applicator for cosmetics.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The present patent application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/191,241, filed Jul. 10, 2015, titled COSMETIC DROPPER and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/309,401, filed Mar. 16, 2016, titled COSMETIC APPLICATOR, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD 
       [0002]    The present application relates to the field of apparatuses for applying cosmetic products. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    There are numerous applicators for cosmetic products available. Some such applicators include a reservoir for holding a product to be applied, and a dropper for drawing product from the applicator and applying by drops to the user&#39;s skin, hair, etc. Other applicators may include, for example, a doe foot applicator tip, a sponge applicator tip, or various brush type applicator tips. New and alternative approaches to such applicators are desired. 
       OVERVIEW 
       [0004]    In some illustrative examples, applicator assemblies are provided for use in retrieving product (generally a liquid) from a reservoir, with an applicator for entry to the reservoir coupled to a cap. The cap is configured to be selectively actuated by including a squeezable element. However, unlike “bulb” based devices having a cap in the common form of a bulb, a more modern looks is created with a cylindrical cap shape. The cylindrical cap in one example has generally rigid sides with a squeezable or depressible element having an accordion-type design. The accordion-type design may be hidden from a user. In another example the cylindrical cap has a rigid top surface and is squeezable from its sides. In yet another example, the cylindrical cap is flexible on its sides and top, but does not have the commonly known bulb-shape. 
         [0005]    In some examples where the cap has one or more rigid sides, the rigidity may help avoid accidental release of product from the applicator. In some examples, the overall effect may be more aesthetically pleasant, and/or may assist achieving an overall consistency of look and professional appearance. 
         [0006]    In some alternative examples, rather than a diptube, applicator may be provided including, for example, a sponge, a doefoot applicator, or a brush. For such applicators, the cap can be used to draw cosmetic product into a tube to which the applicator is connected while the applicator is inserted in a product bottle, and the cap may be squeezed or depressed to force product out of the tube and into the applicator. The applicator may include flocking, cloth, a thermoplastic elastomer, or felt. 
         [0007]    This overview is intended to provide an overview of subject matter of the present patent application. It is not intended to provide an exclusive or exhaustive explanation of the invention. The detailed description is included to provide further information about the present patent application. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]    In the drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, like numerals may describe similar components in different views. Like numerals having different letter suffixes may represent different instances of similar components. The drawings illustrate generally, by way of example, but not by way of limitation, various embodiments discussed in the present document. 
           [0009]      FIGS. 1 and 2  show an illustrative example of a dropper; 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  shows an exploded view of the example of  FIGS. 1-2 ; 
           [0011]      FIGS. 4 and 5  show another illustrative example of a dropper; 
           [0012]      FIG. 6  shows an exploded view of the example of  FIGS. 4-5 ; 
           [0013]      FIG. 7  shows, in cross section, another illustrative example with an applicator; and 
           [0014]      FIGS. 8-11  show illustrative applicators. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0015]      FIGS. 1 and 2  show an illustrative example of a dropper. In  FIG. 1 , the dropper  10  is shown secured to a bottle  30 . The dropper is shown with a generally cylindrical cap  14  having a depressible or squeezable insert  12 . 
         [0016]      FIG. 2  shows the dropper  10  removed from the bottle  30 . The dropper  10  includes the generally cylindrical cap  14  and squeezable insert  12 . A diptube  18  is shown as well, and may include a tapered tip if desired, for entry into the bottle. 
         [0017]    In use, the squeezable insert  12  is depressed in the direction shown at  16  to reduce the  1 . 0  interior volume of the squeezable insert  12  and ready the dropper  10  for drawing product out of the bottle  30  or other container. Releasing the squeezable insert  12  allows the squeezable insert  12  to return to its original volume and shape, drawing product into the diptube. The product may be a liquid. To dispense drawn-in product, the squeezable insert  12  is again depressed, ejecting product at the tip of the diptube  18 . 
         [0018]    The cap  14  is generally cylindrical in shape in this example and has a cavity for receiving the squeezable insert  12 . The cap  14  may be a polygon, if desired, or oval, or other shapes. In this embodiment, however, the cap  14  is generally rigid such that the user must depress the squeezable insert  12  only by pressing in the direction at  16 . The user may be prevented from inadvertent drawing in of product or dispensing of product by such a design. 
         [0019]    In some examples, the interior of the cap  14  is specially shaped to match the shape of the squeezable insert  12 . For example, the interior of cap  14  may be circular, and the squeezable element may have an accordion structure which is also circular. Alternatively, both the interior of the cap  14  and the squeezable element shape may be square, or any other shape. 
         [0020]    The dropper  10  may be configured for use as a screw-on fit on the bottle  30  to secure to bottle top  32 , as is in the example shown in  FIG. 2 .A snap fit design, or other closure methods or mechanisms/designs may be used instead. Rather than a diptube  18 , an applicator may be provided instead such as shown in  FIGS. 8-11 , below, in which case the dropper  10  may be referred to as an applicator assembly. 
         [0021]      FIG. 3  shows an exploded view of the example of  FIGS. 1-2 . The dropper  10  includes the squeezable insert  12 , the cap  14 , a cap insert  20 , and the diptube  18 . The squeezable insert  12  is shown with an accordion-like structure to facilitate it being depressed. The squeezable insert may be made of any suitable material; in some examples silicone is used. In some examples the cap  14  is opaque and hides the accordion structure from sight, though this is not necessary. 
         [0022]    The cap insert  20  includes an upper ridge against which the lower portion of the squeezable insert  12  is pressed. For manufacturing, elements  12 ,  14  and  20  may be secured together using any suitable adhesive, or by any other suitable method. The cap insert  20  is also secured to the diptube  18 , with cap  14  provided as a separate element. If desired, the cap insert  20  and cap  14  may be provided as a single piece, and both may be made of a relatively hard or high gloss material, though any desired finish may be used including a matte finish, or a thin soft foam layer may be applied, for example. 
         [0023]      FIGS. 4 and 5  show another illustrative example of a dropper. In  FIG. 4 , the dropper  40  is shown secured to a bottle  60 . The dropper  40  is shown with a squeezable element  42  over a cap  44 . 
         [0024]      FIG. 5  shows the dropper  40  removed from the bottle  60 . The dropper  40  includes the squeezable element  42  and cap  44 . A diptube SO is shown as well, and may include a tapered tip if desired, for entry into the bottle  60 . 
         [0025]    In use, the squeezable element  42  may be depressed in the direction shown at  46  to reduce the interior volume thereof and ready the dropper  40  for drawing product out of the bottle  60  or other container. Releasing the squeezable element  42  allows the squeezable element  42  to return to its original volume and shape, drawing product into the diptube. The product may be a liquid. To dispense drawn-in product, the squeezable element  42  is again depressed, ejecting product at the tip of the diptube  50 . 
         [0026]    The cap  44  acts to secure the diptube  50  to the squeezable element  42 , and includes a structure, such as threading, for securing to the top  62  of the bottle  60 . Alternatively a snap fit may be used. Rather than a diptube  50 , an applicator may be provided instead such as shown in  FIGS. 8-11 , below, in which case the dropper  40  may be referred to as an applicator assembly. 
         [0027]    In some examples, the squeezable element  42  is flexible in any direction and may be squeezed to reduce its interior volume in any direction. In some examples, however, the upper surface  48  of the squeezable element  42  may be more rigid, or may include a rigid insert, preventing deformation of the upper surface. In this construction, a user would have to squeeze the squeezable element  42  in the directions highlighted at  46 , reducing the likelihood of inadvertent drawing of product into the diptube  50  or inadvertent ejection of product, for example, 
         [0028]    The squeezable element  42  in the examples of  FIGS. 4-5  is generally cylindrical, rather than having the usual bulbous shape. Other shapes may be used, such as a polygon or oval. By having the squeezable element  42  use a non-bulbous shape, a different look can be achieved than is historically observed. 
         [0029]      FIG. 6  shows an exploded view of the example of  FIGS. 4-5 . The dropper  40  is shown with the squeezable element  42 . The squeezable element  42  may have an upper surface  48 , side  52 , and a lower opening, which may span part of or the entirety of the lower edge of the squeezable element  42 . In some examples, the upper surface  48  may be reinforced or independently rigid, such that side(s)  52  must be squeezed to use the dropper. The side(s)  52  may be cylindrical, as shown, with a circular shape. Other examples may use a polygon or oval shape instead, if desired, or any other shape. In an alternative example, the upper surface  48  may be flexible, while the side(s)  52  are more rigid. Of course, rather than the design shown in  FIGS. 4-6 , the illustration of  FIGS. 1-3 , above described, may instead be used. 
         [0030]    The dropper  40  also includes a cap  44  and a cap insert  54 . The cap insert  54  may be glued to the cap  44  and/or squeezable element  42  and/or diptube  50 . The cap insert  54  may include internal threads or other structure to receive the top  62  of the bottle  60  in a screw-type or snap fit attachment. 
         [0031]    The diptubes  18  and  50  may be formed of plastic or glass, as desired, and may include a neck or narrowing at the tip thereof, if desired. Alternatively the diptubes  18 ,  50  may be cylindrical. 
         [0032]      FIG. 7  shows another illustrative example with an applicator, shown in cross section. In this example, the combination applicator and cosmetic container are shown at  100  with a depressible cap  102  formed of a flexible material enclosed on the periphery by a rigid material  104  and defining a chamber  106  used to create negative or positive pressure for drawing product into a tube ending with applicator  110  and expelling product therefrom. The example shown has a cap structure similar to the example shown in  FIGS. 1-3 , above. Alternatively, the cap structure could be similar to that of  FIGS. 4-6 , omitting the rigid material  104  around at least a portion of the periphery of flexible material  102 , and adding rigid material to the upper surface of cap  102 . 
         [0033]    A connecting structure  108  couples together the cap portion of  102 / 104  to the tube which terminates at the applicator  110 . The bottle  120  includes, in this instance, a wiper  122  (which may optionally be included in embodiments having a diptube, if desired). The wiper  122  may be of any suitable design or structure and is provided to wipe away excess product on the applicator  110  as it is withdrawn from the bottle  120 . The cap and bottle may be secured together using a screw-on structure shown at  130 . 
         [0034]      FIGS. 8-11  show illustrative applicators.  FIG. 8  shows a doefoot applicator at  200 , which may be made of any suitable material such as a cloth, flocking, felt, sponge, or a plastic such as a thermoplastic elastomer, for example, etc., or combinations thereof.  FIG. 9  shows a mascara-type applicator at  210  which again may be made of any suitable synthetic or natural material (or combination thereof).  FIG. 10  shows a sponge applicator  220  having a conical shape, again, any suitable synthetic or natural material may be used.  FIG. 11  shows a straight brush  230 , which may include natural and/or synthetic bristles of any suitable material. 
         [0035]    Each of these non-limiting examples can stand on its own, or can be combined in various permutations or combinations with one or more of the other examples. 
         [0036]    The above detailed description includes references to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of the detailed description. The drawings show, by way of illustration, specific embodiments in which the invention can be practiced. These embodiments are also referred to herein as “examples.” Such examples can include elements in addition to those shown or described. However, the present inventors also contemplate examples in which only those elements shown or described are provided. Moreover, the present inventors also contemplate examples using any combination or permutation of those elements shown or described (or one or more aspects thereof), either with respect to a particular example (or one or more aspects thereof), or with respect to other examples (or one or more aspects thereof) shown or described herein. 
         [0037]    In the event of inconsistent usages between this document and any documents so incorporated by reference, the usage in this document controls. 
         [0038]    In this document, the terms “a” or “an” are used, as is common in patent documents, to include one or more than one, independent of any other instances or usages of “at least one” or “one or more.” Moreover, in the following claims, the terms “first,” “second,” and “third,” etc. are used merely as labels, and are not intended to impose numerical requirements on their objects. 
         [0039]    The above description is intended to be illustrative, and not restrictive. For example, the above-described examples (or one or more aspects thereof) may be used in combination with each other. Other embodiments can be used, such as by one of ordinary skill in the art upon reviewing the above description. 
         [0040]    The Abstract is provided to comply with  37  C.F.R. § 1 . 72 (b), to allow the reader to quickly ascertain the nature of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. 
         [0041]    Also, in the above Detailed Description, various features may be grouped together to streamline the disclosure. This should not be interpreted as intending that an unclaimed disclosed feature is essential to any claim. Rather, inventive subject matter may lie in less than all features of a particular disclosed embodiment. Thus, the following claims are hereby incorporated into the Detailed Description as examples or embodiments, with each claim standing on its own as a separate embodiment, and it is contemplated that such embodiments can be combined with each other in various combinations or permutations. The scope of the invention should be determined with reference to the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled.