Finger mountable makeup applicator

A makeup applicator having a body including arcuate shells with projecting tips joined together to form a hinged connection for the shells. The projecting tips receive a makeup applicator element which can be of a desired form. The hinged connection urges the shells toward each other to resiliently grip the finger tip of the user inserted between the shells.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates generally to a makeup or cosmetic applicator for 
mounting on the finger of the user, and particularly to a unique makeup 
applicator which protects the finger of the user from being soiled by the 
makeup, yet permits effective application of the makeup by mounting the 
applicator so that an element at the end of the applicator is spaced from 
and forms an extension of the user's finger. 
Makeup applicators for mounting on one's finger are not per se new. Various 
types of such applicators are shown and described in the following U.S. 
patents which constitute the prior art applicants are aware of: 
U.S. Pat. No. 2,002,144--Heaton 
U.S. Pat. No. 2,096,858--Purcell 
U.S. Pat. No. 3,226,754--Brittain 
U.S. Pat. No. 3,505,700--Rodriguez. 
However, none of the makeup applicators in the above patents are wholly 
effective. 
At present, finger mounted makeup applicators are not in wide use. The 
conventional manner of applying makeup at present is with a brush or pad 
mounted on a handle or stem so that the applicator brush or pad extends 
beyond the ends of the user's fingers which grip the handle. Such handles 
are usually quite thin and difficult to grasp. However, as a result of the 
use of these applicators over a period of years, people have become 
accustomed to applying makeup from an applicator which projects at least 
one-half inch beyond the finger or fingers which hold the applicator. 
Similarly, in the case of lipstick, the lipstick extends somewhat beyond 
the fingers of the user which hold the lipstick tube when the lipstick is 
applied. 
As a result of the extensive use of such known handle type makeup 
applicators, the users of such applicators have become accustomed to using 
an applicator which projects somewhat from the user's fingers which grip 
it when in use. 
In the prior art mentioned above, the applicators disclosed, while being 
mountable on the finger of the user, have been found not to be wholly 
effective. In some instances, the makeup brush or applicator is so close 
to the tip of the finger that one who previously used a brush found it 
difficult to manipulate an applicator located at or a very short distance 
from the fingertip. In addition, these prior applicators which fit on the 
finger are not wholly effective in protecting the finger from being soiled 
by the cosmetic product. In some instances, the applicator itself has an 
opening completely through it, and the applicator pad is so large and 
bulky, that the unused cosmetic on the applicator pad is wasted by being 
absorbed into or drying on the applicator pad. In another construction of 
the above patents, the applicator is a finger cot completely mounted on 
and wholly covering the tip of the finger, but is relatively thin, so that 
it is, in essence, an applicator element at the tip of the finger which 
applies the cosmetic. Such construction is unsatisfactory because the 
makeup cannot be applied with precision from the rather blunt rounded 
applicator surface which corresponds in configuration to the fingertip. 
Correspondingly, there is a need for an inexpensive wholly effective makeup 
applicator which is easy to use, has its makeup applicator surface at the 
same distance from the finger as the customary makeup brush, is easy to 
mount on one's finger, and effectively protects the finger against soiling 
by maintaining the applicator pad spaced from the fingertip of the user. 
In accordance with this invention, such a finger mounted makeup applicator 
is provided. The applicator includes a holder in the form of opposed 
elongated shell portions joined together adjacent one end to provide a 
substantially closed end, the shell portions being formed from a flexible 
material with resilient characteristics and which is inert to the cosmetic 
to be applied with the applicator. Each shell diverges from its closed end 
and is preferably arcuate so that a finger of the user can be inserted 
between the shells. The shells each have a tab projecting from the closed 
end, the tabs being secured together and providing an elastic hinge which 
urges the shells together so that the inside of the shells frictionally 
grip the finger of the user. The tabs project longitudinally beyond the 
closed end of the holder to provide a projection for mounting an 
applicator element or pad on the shells. The applicator pad is preferably 
mounted on a mounting element separate from the shells and in the form of 
a support which extends into the pad, and this mounting element has an 
opening to permit fitting the mounting element onto the tabs. The mounting 
element can be mounted on the tabs either permanently or removably, to 
permit changing the type of applicator element or to permit replacing the 
applicator element. 
The applicator is preferably formed from a plastic material, for example, 
polystyrene, polyethylene or polypropylene. The mounting element which 
supports the applicator element is preferably semi-rigid, so it has some 
flexibility, to avoid accidental injury to the user especially when the 
applicator is used to apply makeup in the region of the eyes of the user. 
The applicator of this invention can be used to apply a cosmetic product to 
the skin, on the lips, on the eyelashes and eyebrows, and can even be used 
to apply nail polish. Hence, depending on its use, the applicator element 
or pad will take the form of a brush, sponge, foam mass, felt body, or any 
other desired type of applicator element. 
Where the applicator element takes the form of a flat pad, for example, of 
foam, the mounting element is also flat and fits within the pad to add 
some stiffness to the pad for better control of the application of makeup. 
The mounting element itself is, of course, somewhat flexible so the pad 
will give or flex somewhat in use. 
In accordance with one embodiment of the mounting element, the mounting 
element includes an enlarged body portion, with a thin flexible and 
preferably resilient tip integral with the body. The body converges toward 
the tip to provide a convex surface between the end of the tip and a base 
of the body remote from the tip. An applicator element in the form of a 
soft material cover pad is stretched over the region between the tip and 
end of the body and its suppleness or resiliency is enhanced by the 
absence of material of the mounting element in the region of the concave 
surfaces. 
In all the embodiments the holder and applicator element are so arranged 
that the applicator element is spaced from the tip of the finger of the 
user. 
Correspondingly, an object of this invention is a makeup applicator to be 
mounted on one's finger, which effectively protects the finger against 
being soiled by the makeup or cosmetic, and which provides its applicator 
element at a distance from the tip of the finger on which the applicator 
is mounted, wherein either the makeup applicator element or the entire 
assembly of holder and applicator element is disposable, and in which the 
construction of the makeup applicator is relatively inexpensive, yet 
convenient and effective in use. 
Additional objects, features and advantages of the invention will become 
apparent with reference to the accompanying drawings and the detailed 
description of the preferred embodiment which follows.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
FIGS. 1 through 7 show a first preferred embodiment of this invention. As 
shown, the applicator 10 comprises an applicator element 12, an applicator 
mounting element 13, and an applicator body or holder 14. Holder 14 takes 
the form of a hollow oval shell which has a substantially closed forward 
end 15. As is evident from FIGS. 3 and 4, the holder 14 has a generally 
elliptical outline and is wider than it is high. 
Holder 14 is of two piece construction and is formed from two arcuate 
half-shells 17 and 18, these shells being identical, and shell 17 being 
shell 18 inverted. Each shell has a rounded converging front end portion 
19 and a flat integral tab centrally located at the front of the shell and 
which projects forwardly from the shell. Each tab 20 is generally 
rectangular and projects beyond the front wall of the shell. 
One side of each shell has a generally curved convex edge 22 whereas the 
other side of each shell has a generally curved concave edge 24 of 
identical curvature so that the two shells when assembled are split along 
curved lines at the sides of holder 14. These curved opposed edges enhance 
the attractiveness of the applicator and function to diminish the 
likelihood of soiling the user's finger when the applicator is placed on 
the user's finger as shown at FIG. 8. 
Each body shell is formed from a relatively rigid material such as molded 
polystyrene or polypropylene. While this material is characterized as 
rigid or stiff, it will be appreciated that the narrower tabs 20 as well 
as the junction 26 where the tabs join the respective shells form regions 
of increased flexibliity for providing a resilient hinge between the shell 
halves 17 and 18. 
Mounting element 13 includes a body portion 28 with a base 29. Body 28 
converges in a direction away from base 29, and has a relatively thin flat 
integral tip 30. The tip 30 has a length approximately equal to the length 
of the body 28 and extends to the regions 31 at the sides of the body. 
Mounting element 13 is molded from a plastic material which has greater 
resiliency than the plastic material of shells 17, 18. Correspondingly, 
the thin tip 30 is relatively flexible and resilient. As is evident from 
FIG. 1, there is a concave region 32 between the extreme end of tip 30 and 
base 29 of mounting element 13. 
Applicator element 12 takes the form of a cover of uniform wall thickness 
having a closed end or tip 35 and an open end 36. Applicator element 12 
can be formed from a woven or nonwoven fabric, preferably one which is 
somewhat resilient, such as polyurethane foam or a very small pore sponge 
material. The relaxed size of opening 36 is preferably slightly smaller 
than the size of base 29 of mounting element 13. The relaxed length of 
applicator element 12 can be essentially the same as the length of the 
mounting element from base 29 to the end of tip 30. To mount the 
applicator element 12 on mounting element 13, the applicator element is 
stretched over the mounting element and is adhered or bonded to the body 
28 of the mounting element at a region 38 (FIG. 4) near the base 29 of the 
mounting element. As a result, a region 40 of the applicator element 
between tip 30 and base 29 of the mounting element is spaced from the 
opposed concave surfaces 32 of the mounting element, and the softness or 
resiliency of the applicator element in this region 40 is enhanced. The 
flexibility of tip 30 of the mounting element cooperates with the softness 
of the pad to prevent injury to the user, for example, when the applicator 
is used to apply makeup in the region of the eyes. 
As shown at FIG. 7, body 28 of mounting element 13 has a rectangular 
opening therein extending from its base 29, this opening 42 being of a 
size preferably very slightly smaller than the combined thickness of tabs 
20 of holder 14 so that the mounting element is frictionally received on 
the tabs. 
Shell halves 17 and 18 are secured together by adhering or bonding tabs 20 
together at the front of the holder. Such bonding can be accomplished by 
heat sealing or by an adhesive. Preferably, only the front half of the 
tabs are bonded together in the region 44 and the remaining portions of 
each tab between bonded portion 44 and the point of connection 26 with the 
shell halves remains unbonded. By virtue of this arrangement, a portion of 
the length of each tab contributes to the resiliency of the hinge 
connection provided by the tabs. The mounting element 13 because of its 
close fit on the tabs, and because of its elasticity, serves further as a 
reinforcement for the tabs to enhance the resiliency of the hinge action 
which occurs when the finger of the user is inserted between the shells. 
In this manner, the mounting element also reinforces the relatively thin 
tabs 20 and causes them to resist breakage when the shells are 
inadvertently spread too far apart. 
Mounting element 13 can be secured to the tabs with an adhesive so that the 
entire applicator including holder 14, mounting element 13, and applicator 
element 12 is disposable Alternatively, the assembly of mounting element 
13 and applicator element 12 can simply be friction fit on tabs 20, this 
arrangement permitting replacing the assembly of applicator element and 
mounting element on holder 14. 
As shown at FIG. 8, the forward end of holder 14 while hollow, is of a 
dimension smaller than the size of a person's finger tip so that the 
finger 45 of the user, on which applicator assembly 10 is mounted, cannot 
be pushed against the front of the holder. It is preferred that the tip of 
the finger be spaced approximately one-half the length of the holder 14 
from the front of the holder. By virtue of such dimensioning, the 
applicator element 12 is spaced from the finger tip 46 to form in effect 
an extension of the finger but which is spaced from the finger tip by a 
distance of, for example, approximately one inch. This arrangement permits 
use of the applicator element 12 in a manner similar to the previously 
used handle type applicators, and thus presents no inconvenience for 
ladies who are accustomed to applying makeup with an applicator spaced 
from the tips of the fingers which grip its handle. In addition, by 
dimensioning the holder 14 so that the finger can be inserted only 
partially into the body, this applicator can be used conveniently by women 
with relatively long fingernails. 
FIGS. 9-11 show a second embodiment of mounting element and applicator 
element. Mounting element 50 is similar to mounting element 13 in that it 
includes a body 52 with an integral resilient projecting tip 54. The 
configuration of the mounting element 50 is somewhat different. Tip 54 is 
shorter and broader than tip 30 of mounting element 13. In addition, body 
52 generally takes the shape of a cone which is more flattened as viewed 
in elevation at FIG. 10 than the body 28 of mounting element 13 which is 
more conical. There is of course a rectangular opening-like opening 42 in 
the base of mounting element 52. 
Applicator element 56 of FIGS. 9-11 takes the form of a thin wall cover of 
material which is soft and/or resilient. Applicator element 56 is formed 
from two different materials, and has an upper pad portion 58 of one 
material and a lower pad portion 60 of a different material, and which is 
joined to portion 58 along a seam or joint 62. This seam can be stitched, 
formed by adhesive, or formed by heat sealing the portions 58 and 60 
together along the seam which lies in the plane of tip 54 of mounting 
element 50. Upper portion 58 can for example take the form of a sponge pad 
while lower portion 60 can be a soft fabric. This permits use of the 
portion 58 to apply the cosmetic, and use of the portion 60 to blend the 
cosmetic evenly on the face of the user. Applicator element 56 can be 
stretched onto mounting element 50 and adhesively secured to the mounting 
element in the region near base 64 of the mounting element 50. The 
softness of pad portions 58 and 60 which cover opposed concave surfaces 66 
of mounting element 50 is again enhanced by spacing these portions from 
the concave surfaces. 
To enhance the versatility of the makeup applicator, mounting elements such 
as those shown in FIGS. 12 and 13 can be provided. In FIG. 12, mounting 
element 70 has a tip in the form of a shaft 72 to receive a sleeve 74 
thereon, sleeve 74 carrying a brush 76. Alternatively, as shown at FIG. 
13, a mounting element 78 can be molded with a hollow tip 80 to receive a 
tulip shaped applicator element 82 of foam material, which can be cemented 
in the opening 84 of sleeve portion 80. 
While a preferred embodiment of the applicator according to this invention 
has been shown and described, and while several embodiments of applicator 
element and mounting element are shown and described, it will be 
appreciated that numerous changes can be made without departing from the 
scope of this invention.