Cosmetic powder dispenser and applicator

A first elongated hollow member has a first open end and an opposite closed end with a plurality of small spaced openings therein. A hollow elongated capsule, adapted to be filled with cosmetic powder, closed at one end and open at the other, is removably slidable into and out of the first member. The capsule, when inserted in the first member, has its open end adjacent the second end of the first member and its closed end closing the first end of the second member. A second elongated hollow member has first and second open ends, the first member having its closed end disposed in the first end of the second member. The second member has a cam in the first end with openings aligned with the openings in the closed end of the first member. The second member has a cam follower disposed slidably in the second member, the follower and said cam always being engaged, the follower and cam having a first normal position of engagement at which the follower seals the cam openings and a second momentary position of engagement at which the follower exposes the cam opening. A third elongated hollow member has an open end. A brush has a plurality of essentially parallel bristles with powder applying tips, the brush being disposed in the open third member end, the brush carrying end of the third member being disposed in the second end of the second member and engaging the follower. The second member is slidable back and forth along the third member between a first normal position at which the cam and follower are in the first position of engagement and a second momentary position at which the cam and follower are in the momentary second position of engagement.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The copending application Ser. No. 752,133 discloses a cosmetic powder 
dispenser and applicator in which first and second members have a first 
position of relative rotation at which openings in the two members are 
aligned and powder can flow through the aligned openings onto a brush for 
application by the user. These members have a second position of relative 
rotation at which this powder flow is blocked. The present invention is 
directed to this type of powder dispenser and applicator wherein the two 
members are not relatively rotatable, but instead, a mechanism is utilized 
wherein longitudinal movement is employed either to allow or to block 
powder flow. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
In accordance with the principles of the invention, a cosmetic powder 
dispenser and applicator employs a first elongated hollow member having 
first and second opposite ends. The first end is open. The second end is 
closed and has a plurality of small spaced apart openings therein. An 
elongated capsule adapted to be filled with cosmetic powder is closed at 
one end and is open at the other. The capsule is removably slidable into 
and out of the first member. The capsule, when inserted in the first 
member, has its open end adjacent the second end of the first member and 
its closed end closing the first end of the first member. 
A second elongated hollow member has first and second open ends with the 
closed end of the first member being disposed in the first end of the 
second member. The second member has a cam in its first end with openings 
aligned with the openings in the closed end of the first member. The 
second member has a cam follower disposed slidably therein. The cam and 
follower are always engaged. The cam and follower have a first normal 
position at which the follower seals the cam openings and a second 
momentary position of engagement at which the follower exposes the cam 
openings. 
A third elongated hollow member has an open end in which a brush having 
bristles is inserted. The brush and third member have manually operated 
cooperating elements for establishing a forward position at which the 
bristles extend almost entirely out of the third member and a second 
withdrawn position at which the brush is disposed within the third member. 
The brush carrying end of the third member is disposed removably in the 
second end of the second member and engages the cam follower. The second 
member is slidable back and forth along the third member between a first 
normal position at which the cam and follower are in the first position of 
engagement and a second momentary postion at which the cam and follower 
are in the momentary second position of engagement. 
In use, the three members are disposed end to end and the dispenser and 
applicator is disposed vertically with the first member disposed above the 
third member, the brush being in withdrawn position in the third member. 
The cam and follower are in the normal first position and powder cannot 
fall onto the bristles of the brush. Then the first and third members are 
moved longitudinally toward each other, as for example holding the third 
member in fixed position while pushing downwardly on the first member. 
This action moves the second member longitudinally toward the third 
member, causing the cam and follower to be placed in the second position 
of engagement wherein the powder falls through the cam and follower onto 
the bristles. The third member can then be detached and the brush moved 
into the forward position to expose the bristles. By using the third 
member as a handle, the user can apply the powder as needed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
Referring to FIGS. 1-6, a first elongated hollow cylindrical plastic member 
10 has one open end 12 which lies in a plane disposed at an acute angle 
with respect to the direction of elongation and has the shape of an 
ellipse. Member 10 has a shoulder 14 intermediate the ends and an 
extension of smaller diameter which terminates in the opposite end of this 
member. End 16 is closed and has a plurality of spaced apart small 
openings 18 therein. 
A hollow elongated plastic capsule 60 can be filled with cosmetic powder 
and slidably and removably inserted into member 10 via its open end. The 
capsule has a closed transparent end 62 which meets the open end of member 
10 in flush engagement. The opposite end of the capsule is open and abuts 
the opposite closed end of member 10. Since end 62 is transparent, the 
user can determine visually how much powder remains to be used. 
A third hollow elongated plastic member 44 has one open end 46 and an 
opposite closed end. A brush 48 with substantially parallel bristles 50 
having tips 52 is slidably disposed in the open end 46 of member 44. That 
portion of member 44 adjacent end 46 has two oppositely disposed 
longitudinally extending slots 54, only one of which is visible in the 
drawing. 
The outer surface of the brush has two oppositely disposed elongated 
runners 56, each runner riding in a corresponding slot 54. The runners are 
secured at one end to ring 58 which is also the base for the bristles. 
The brush can be slid forward so that the bristles are almost entirely 
exposed, or can be withdrawn so that the brush is disposed within the 
third member. The positions of the slots and runners are such that the 
brush is always secured to member 44 which can act as a brush handle. 
A second hollow cylindrical member 24 has two opposite open ends 26 and 28. 
Member 24 engages extension 16 whereby end 26 abuts end 16. A plastic 
generally cone shaped hollow cam 20 is disposed in member 24 adjacent end 
26. The cam has a longitudinal axis aligned with that of the member 24 and 
has a flattened tip or nose 22 which points toward the other end of member 
24. The cam also has two oppositely disposed horizontal slots 30, each 
slot having an opening 32 aligned with a corresponding opening 18 of the 
first member. 
Member 24 has a region of reduced diameter which extends from shoulder 34 
to the opposite end 28. A plastic cam follower 36 is disposed in the 
member 24 and is slidable therein toward and away from the cam, the 
greatest separation being obtained when the follower bears against the 
shoulder 34. The follower has the shape of an open very shallow cylinder 
or ring with extensions supporting horizontal flexible arms 38. These arms 
always engage corresponding slots 30 of the cam. Normally the cam and 
follower are in a first position of engagement in which the follower abuts 
shoulder 34 and the arms cover the openings 32 in the slots. 
However, the open end of the third member 44 extends slidably into end 26 
until it engages the follower. The three members all have a common 
longitudinal axis. When a force of compression is applied along this axis 
between the first and third members, as for example, by holding the third 
member in place and applying the force to the first member, the second 
member moves toward the third member and the follower is moved closer to 
the cam. This action causes the arms to be forced further apart and to 
move further inward along the cam slots until the openings 32 are exposed. 
This is a momentary second position of engagement, since as soon as the 
compression force is released, the arms spring back to their original 
position, moving the follower further away from the cam and returning the 
cam and follower to the first normal position of engagement. 
The dispenser and applicator can then be used in the manner previously 
described.