Abstract:
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.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    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. 
     
    
     FIELD 
       [0002]    Disclosed 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. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0003]    Some 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. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0004]      FIG. 1  shows a system as described herein, having the handle engaged on one of the product assemblies, while still in the palette, and then depicts the same system, with the handle and couple product assembly removed from the palette. 
           [0005]      FIG. 2  shows a cross-section showing a tongue and groove coupling mechanism as well as a platform based retainer element to which the product is adhered. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0006]      FIG. 1  depicts several views of a system  100  and some of its component parts as described in more detail below. A cosmetics palette  200  is depicted, in this case presenting nine shades of a cosmetic product, such as, but not limited to, eye shadow. Each shade occupies a recess  210  in the palette configured to accept a product assembly  300 . Each product assembly  300  includes a cosmetic product  320 , again such as, but not limited to, eye shadow, and a retaining element  310 . The retaining element  310  is designed and configured to be coupled permanently on one side to the product  320  and selectively and interchangeably coupled to the handle  400 . Although this description will focus on the system, it should be understood that each of the elements can stand alone or in any combination. 
         [0007]      FIG. 2  depicts a perspective cross-sectional view of a handle  400  in accordance with some embodiments. One end of the handle  400  is provided with at least two resilient prongs  410 , which are biased towards an outward position. That is, through the application of moderate force from the hand of the user, the prongs  410  can be flexed towards one another, and return to their original position once the force is removed. Each resilient prong  410  defines a first half of a mated pair of a coupling mechanism  450 . In some instances this may be a tongue and groove, flange, rib, a barb, a recess, etc. The first half of the coupling mechanism  450  is designed and configured to mate with a second half of the coupling mechanism  350 , which is present on the retaining element  310 , which is used to connect the product assembly  300  to the handle  400 . 
         [0008]    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. 
         [0009]    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. 
         [0010]    As shown in  FIG. 2 , the coupling system  350 ,  450  is a plurality of mated tongue and groove portions, wherein each prong  410  of the handle  400  is provided with a tongue and groove portion  450  which is mated to a tongue and groove portion  350  on the retaining element  310 . The resilient nature of the prongs  410  is sufficient to hold the product assembly  300  in place during application. Depending on desired effect, the resilient force may be sufficient to prevent undesired rotation of the product assembly  300  with respect to the handle  400 , during application, or sufficient to permit such rotation. If rotation is undesirable, either or both of the handle or the product assembly can be provided with one or more stops to prevent such rotation. 
         [0011]      FIG. 1  depicts a palette  200  for housing a plurality of product assemblies  300 . As shown, a block of clear acrylic defines a plurality of recesses  210  corresponding to a desired number of product assemblies  300  in a particular palette  200 , as shown there are nine product assemblies  300 , each in a different shade or color. Each recess  210  is sized and shaped to match the size and shape of the product assembly  300 , here, a domed-shaped product has an inverse dome-shaped recess  210  in the palette  200 . Any material may be used for the palette  200  so long as it can adequately house the dimensions of the plurality of product assemblies  300 . As shown, the clear acrylic palette  200  coupled with a clear or frosted plastic retaining element  310  gives the product an airy feel and plays up the colors in dramatic fashion. 
         [0012]    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. 
         [0013]    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. 
         [0014]    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.