RELOADABLE APPLICATOR SYSTEM FOR COSMETICS

Inventive embodiments disclosed herein include a reloadable applicator that includes a cartridge for containing a product; a cartridge neck wiper reversibly attachable to the cartridge; a wand comprising a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the proximal end terminates in an applicator for applying product; an inner cap attachable to the cartridge neck wiper; a spring push button comprising a spring and positioned within the inner cap wherein the distal end of the wand is retainable by the spring; and a cap comprising inner threads that releasably retain the wand between the inner threads and spring of the spring push button, the cap further including outer threads for releasably retaining the replaceable cartridge.

FIELD

Inventive embodiments disclosed herein relate to a reloadable applicator system for cosmetics.

BACKGROUND

A priority of convenience of single use disposable consumer products over environmental sustainability has led to concerns about single use plastics and a consumer demand for sustainable packaging solutions.

SUMMARY

Inventive embodiments disclosed herein include a reloadable applicator that includes a cartridge for containing a product; a cartridge neck wiper reversibly attachable to the cartridge; a wand comprising a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the proximal end terminates in an applicator for applying product; an inner cap attachable to the cartridge neck wiper; a spring push button comprising a spring and positioned within the inner cap wherein the distal end of the wand is retainable by the spring; and a cap comprising inner threads that releasably retain the wand between the inner threads and spring of the spring push button, the cap further including outer threads for releasably retaining the replaceable cartridge.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In describing and claiming the invention, the following terminology will be used in accordance with the definitions set forth below. Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Any methods and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of the present invention. Specific and preferred values listed below for substituents, and ranges are for illustration only; they do not exclude other defined values or other values within defined ranges for the radicals and substituents.

Definitions

The term “apply” or “application,” as used in reference to a composition, means to apply or spread the compositions of the present invention onto keratinous tissue such as the epidermis.

The terms “comprises,” “comprising,” and the like can have the meaning ascribed to them in U.S. Patent Law and can mean “includes,” “including” and the like. As used herein. “including” or “includes” or the like means including, without limitation.

In the present patent application, the term “plastic” is synonymous with “polymer” and refers to a compound, formed during a chemical reaction by linking several monomers (i.e. more than two monomers) of the same or different kind together via covalent bonding, wherein the resulting polymer can differ in its degree of polymerization, molecular weight distribution and chain length respectively. Hence, a plastic or polymer according to the present invention is a compound, comprising in its molecular structure at least one repeating unit, which was integrated in the polymer structure during polymer synthesis by repeatedly linking monomers together via covalent bonds to form said polymer structure. The number average molecular weight is preferably at least 250 g/mol, more preferably at least 1,000 g/mol.

As used herein, the term “consumer” means both the user of the composition and the observer nearby or around the user.

Description

Embodiments disclosed herein include a reloadable applicator, illustrated generally at10inFIG.1. The reloadable applicator includes a replaceable cartridge14for containing a liquid product, which is not shown; a cartridge neck wiper16attached to the replaceable cartridge14; a wand18that includes a proximal end22and a distal end24, wherein the proximal end terminates in a replaceable applicator for applying liquid product and the distal end terminates in a notched end having a concentric ring25; an inner cap26attachable to the cartridge neck wiper16; a spring push button28that includes a spring29, the spring push button28positioned within the inner cap26wherein the distal end24of the wand18is retainable by the spring push button28; and a cap30that includes inner threads31releasably retaining the base12.

The reloadable applicator system enables recycling and reusing at least a portion of the applicator system such as the base12, cartridge neck-wiper16, and the cap components26and30. For some embodiments, the wand18is also recyclable. Thus, the single use components are limited to the cartridge bottle14and applicator22. For some embodiments, the cartridge neck-wiper16X and cartridge14X, shown inFIG.9, form a single unit.

For some embodiments disclosed herein, the bottle cartridge14is not single use but is both reloadable and refillable. Product, which is not shown, is contained within the cartridge14. The reusability of the cartridge14renders the product more sustainable by reducing waste because the cartridge, once empty of product, is replaced with a new cartridge14having a new product charge. Presently, the entire applicator system is discarded once the product has been used.

For some embodiments, the reloadable applicator system is used by consumers for application of cosmetics, such as mascara, lip gloss, liquid concealer, and liquid lip color.

The system10includes the removable cartridge bottle14and a separable neck/wiper16inserted into a body/base. The cartridge bottle14and neck/wiper16are reversibly attachable to each other by threads, shown for the cartridge bottle at34. The cartridge14is replaceable when empty by simply separating the threaded connection of the cartridge bottle14from the cartridge neck-wiper16and pushing through an open bottom of the body/base12. When the empty cartridge is removed, a new, filled cartridge is inserted through the top opening of the body/base12and is snapped into place in the base. The new or recharged cartridge bottle14is threadedly attached to the cartridge neck-wiper16.

The cartridge neck wiper16is shown in greater detail inFIGS.4and5. A heat seal36, for closing and temper-proofing, is positioned on a distal end38of the cartridge neck-wiper16. The neck-wiper16has several functions. A first function is reversible attachment with the cartridge bottle14. A second function is reversible attachment to the base12. A third function is to seal the cartridge bottle14with the seal36. A fourth function is providing a structure for wiping the applicator22of any excess product before application by a consumer.

FIG.5Ashows external threads34at a neck of the cartridge bottle14that are engageable with internal threads, not shown, in the cartridge neck wiper16.FIG.5Bshows the cartridge bottle14attached to the cartridge neck-wiper16. Atop the cartridge neck wiper16is the heat seal36. This engagement is shown in cross-section inFIG.5C.FIG.5Calso shows a funnel40at a base of the cartridge neck-wiper16, for removing excess product from the applicator20before application by a consumer.FIG.5Cshows that the single piece cartridge neck wiper16is easily separable from the cartridge bottle14to facilitate cleaning and reuse of the cartridge neck-wiper16. Threads shown at38engage with internal threads in the cap30to attach the cartridge neck wiper16to the cap30.FIG.5Dalso shows an inner chimney42that seals with the cartridge bottle14inside the neck diameter of the cartridge bottle14.

The wand/rod applicator18is snapped into the inner cap26and is removable by pushing down on the push button28at the top of the cap30in order to prevent the consumer from removing the wand by pulling on it and getting product on his or her fingers. For some embodiments, the applicator is separable from the wand rendering the applicator disposable and the wand recyclable.

For some embodiments, the base/body12is made of plastic. For some embodiments, the cartridge bottle14is made of glass or plastic or aluminum. For these embodiments, the cartridge bottle is recyclable. For some embodiments, the applicator20includes a doe-foot structure and has a ceramic or metal or plastic tip. The cartridge neck-wiper16, wand/rod18, spring push-button28, inner cap26and cap30are made of plastic and are not single use.

A rear view of the refillable applicator system10is shown is shown inFIG.2A. The base12, cap30and spring push-button28are shown inFIG.2A. A front view of the refillable applicator system10is shown inFIG.2B.FIG.2Cshows a cross-sectional view of the refillable applicator system.

A perspective view of the wand/rod18and applicator20attached to the cap30is shown inFIG.3A. The applicator20is positioned for insertion into the cartridge bottle14, through the cartridge neck-wiper16. The spring push button28is shown in an unengaged position. InFIG.3B, the spring push button28is engaged by a consumer pressing down at the top of the cap30. Engaging the push button28releases the wand/rod18at its distal end24.FIG.3Cshows the cartridge bottle14, disengaged from the base12. The cartridge bottle14is attached to the cartridge neck-wiper16.FIG.3Dshows the cartridge bottle14detached from the cartridge neck wiper16.

An exploded view of the cap30for the reloadable system10with a wand/rod18release mechanism is shown inFIG.6. A rest position for the release mechanism is shown inFIG.7A. The rest position is the position is employed by consumers to use the wand/rod18to apply a cosmetic. In the rest position, the wand/rod18is engaged by the inner cap, which is not shown inFIG.7Aand is within the cap30. When push button28is pressed, the wand/rod18is disengaged and released from the cap30, as shown inFIG.7B.

The rest position is shown in cross-section inFIG.7C. The distal end24of the wand/rod18is snapped into the inner cap26when the distal end. The wand/rod18is held in place by the spring push button28. The distal end24of the wand/rod18includes a ring44and grooves24, at least one of which is captured between a spring46and threads46of the inner cap26. When the push button28is pressed down, as shown inFIG.7D, the wand/rod18is unsnapped from the inner cap26and is released for replacement by a new wand/rod18and applicator20.

The reloadable applicator system10is usable with a variety of applicators that include a molded brush, shown at8A, a twisted wire brush8B, a ceramic applicator8C, and a doe-foot applicator8D. When a wand/rod18applicator has been removed, a consumer simply inserts a clean applicator into the cap30. With this arrangement, a consumer is not required to pull directly on the wand with a risk of getting product on his or her fingers.

The reloadable applicator system10is usable for applying mascara, lip gloss, liquid concealer, and liquid lip color.