Abstract:
An applicator for applying a cosmetic to keratinous material is provided. The applicator is a single-piece molded unit formed of a single material and includes a slim, tapered head portion, having an arcuate configuration. The head portion comprises a support and at least two rows of projecting tines integrally molded therewith. The tines extend transversely away from one side of the support relative to the longitudinal axis of the head, the opposite side of the support being smooth and free from tines. The arcuate and tapered shape of the support facilitates the application of cosmetic product to the eyelash fringe including the shortest eyelashes located in the corners of the eye.

Description:
[0001]    The present invention relates generally to devices for applying a cosmetic substance to keratinous materials, such as eyelashes, eyebrows or hair, and specifically, to a molded cosmetic applicator with a head portion designed to facilitate a more efficient application of cosmetic product, for example, mascara, to keratinous materials, such as the eyelashes. 
         [0002]    Cosmetic materials, especially those applied to the eyelashes and eyebrows, have become an indispensable part of the cosmetic treatment of the female face, providing a beautiful frame for the eyes. There are various applicator devices for applying cosmetic products to eyelashes and eyebrows. Conventional twisted-wire brushes are rapidly becoming outmoded due to the limitations in their performance as a result of the constraints of brush-making technology. Molded applicators, which can provide virtually unlimited geometry and performance variations, are replacing such devices. Molded applicators can provide the brush-like application characteristics consumers expect with added performance advantages. 
         [0003]    Nevertheless, there exists a need to further improve the performance of molded applicators and the effects they produce. For example, it would be desirable to provide an applicator with one or more or enhanced application features, including improved combing and/or lash separating action, and wiping and product payoff characteristics. In particular, there exists a need for an applicator head which is ergonomically designed to address the curve of the eyelashes as arrayed along the eyelids while providing improved access to the shortest eyelashes located in the corners of the eyes. It would also be desirable to provide an applicator having a head portion having a slim profile to provide the least obstructed view of the eyelashes in any reflective surface which may be employed by the user to facilitate application. 
         [0004]    Additionally, it would be desirable to provide a molded applicator with fewer components and/or an applicator which is readily insertable into a cap for a cosmetic package. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an applicator for applying a cosmetic to keratinous material, the applicator being of single-piece molded unit construction. The applicator includes a head portion at one end thereof comprising a support having a distal end and a proximal end and defining a radius of curvature. The support has first and second opposite sides and at least two rows of tines disposed along a longitudinal axis of the head portion and projecting transversely away from one side of the support, the opposite side being smooth and free from tines. The major axes of at least some of the tines are parallel to one another, and the rows of the tines define spaces configured to receive and separate the eyelashes and to receive and deliver the desired amount of product to the keratinous material. The molded applicator is formed of a single material. 
         [0006]    In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, the applicator comprises a single-piece molded unit suitable for securing to a cap for a cosmetic package. In accordance with a further embodiment of the invention, the applicator is adapted to be connected to a rod or stem which is in turn adapted to be secured to a cap for a cosmetic package. 
         [0007]    In accordance with another aspect of the invention, there is provided a packaging and applicator device for applying a product to keratinous material comprising a receptacle for containing the product and an applicator as described herein. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]      FIGS. 1 and 2  are sectional views of the applicator of the present invention as used within a cosmetic package. 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  is a side elevational view of the applicator of  FIG. 1  showing a mounting post integrally molded therewith at one end thereof. 
           [0010]      FIGS. 4 and 5  are side elevational views of further embodiments of applicators according to the present invention showing alternative mounting posts integrally molded therewith at one end thereof. 
           [0011]      FIG. 6  is a side elevational view of the applicator of in  FIG. 1  with a detailed view of a portion of the applicator head. 
           [0012]      FIG. 7  is a top plan view of one embodiment of an applicator according to the present invention showing three longitudinal rows of tines and a channel in the support associated with one longitudinal row of tines for retaining cosmetic product. 
           [0013]      FIG. 8  is a top plan view of a further embodiment of an applicator according to the present invention showing five longitudinal rows of tines. 
           [0014]      FIGS. 9-16  are end views of applicators according to the present invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 17  is a side elevational view of a further embodiment of an applicator according to the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0016]    Reference will now be made in detail to exemplary embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. For purposes of illustration only, the present invention will be described as used in conjunction with a mascara package, shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . It will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that the present disclosure may be adapted for use with any cosmetic product, e.g. cake, liquid, cream, and paste formulations, to be applied to keratinous materials including the eyelashes, the eyebrows and the hair. 
         [0017]    A mascara package  10 , 100 , as seen in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , generally comprises a receptacle  20 , 120  for containing cosmetic product, a cap  30 , 130  for closing the receptacle  20 , 120 , and a molded applicator  40 , 140 . The applicator  40 , 140 , including a head  42 , 142 , comprising a support  44 , 144  and tines  46 , 146 , is attached to the underside of the cap  30 , 130 , and is adapted to project into the receptacle  20 , 120 . Tines  46 , 146  project from the concave side of the support  44 , 144 . Support  44 , 144  is smooth on its convex side. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the applicator  40  is secured to cap  30  by a rod  48 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , the applicator  140  has a one-piece unitary molded construction including a rod-like portion  148  which is readily securable to the cap  130 . The receptacle  20 , 120  has a neck  50 , 150  which extends axially from one end of the receptacle  20 , 120 , said neck  50 , 150  providing access to the contents of the receptacle  20 , 120 . Means  56 , 156  is provided for attaching the cap  30 , 130  to the neck  50 , 150  of receptacle  20 , 120 , and may include opposing threads on external wall  52 , 152  of the neck  50 , 150  and on internal wall  54 , 154  of the cap  30 , 130 . Other means of attaching cap  30 , 130  to receptacle neck  50 , 150  are known and may also be used with the same result, for example, a snap closure, or a lug style closure. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the threaded closure means  56  is built into the cap, and rod  48  is directly inserted e.g., snapped, into cap  30 , independent of the closure means. Alternatively, as shown in  FIG. 2 , the mascara package  100  may include a one-piece closure means  156  associated with both the cap  130  and the rod-like portion  148 . The closure means  156  is adapted to be inserted into the cap  30 , and rod-like portion  148  directly engages closure means  156 . The receptacle  20 , 120  may include a wiper member  60 , 160  which may be removably inserted into the neck  50 , 150 , for wiping the applicator head  42 , 142  and rod  48  or rod-like portion  148  when the applicator  40 , 140  is being removed from the receptacle  20 , 120 . 
         [0018]    The head  42  of the applicator  40  of  FIG. 1  can be secured to the rod  48  by means of mechanical and/or adhesive connection. The applicator  40 , as shown in  FIG. 1 , and, in greater detail in  FIG. 3 , may incorporate a mounting means utilizing a groove  62  with 90-degree surfaces  64 , 66 , 65 , 67  located along a mounting post  68  which allows the applicator  40  to be mounted without orientation to the rod  48  and which prevents the applicator  40  from pulling loose in use with a retention force approaching and/or exceeding tensile failure of the mounting means of the applicator  40 . Therefore, in accordance with one embodiment of the invention, shown in  FIGS. 1 and 3 , the head portion  42  of the applicator  40  is integrally molded with the mounting post  68  and is securable to a rod  48 . The mounting post  68  of applicator  40  may be physically snapped into shallow bore  70  in rod  48  and/or rod  48  can be crimped into groove  62  on mounting post  68 . Alternatively, mounting post  68  of applicator  40  can be ultrasonically or induction welded to the rod  48 , or otherwise adhered to the rod  48  by means known to those skilled in the art. The mounting post  68  may assume any shape which would, by conventional manufacturing and assembly technologies, result in a secure connection to rod  48 . As examples, alternative mounting posts  78 , 88  for applicators  11 , 13  are shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . In accordance with a further embodiment of the invention (not shown) one end of the rod may be integrally molded with the mounting post, and the mounting post securable to the proximal end of the applicator by the mechanical/adhesive means described above. For example, the mounting post may be receivable in a shallow bore in the proximal end of the applicator. Preferably, the applicator  40 , 140  includes a transition portion  72 , 172  which serves to isolate the tines  46 , 146  from the rod  48  or rod-like portion  148  and accumulate product for a more effective and cleaner application of the product to keratinous materials. 
         [0019]    In accordance with the present invention, arcuate head  42  has a length of from about 5 mm to about 35 mm, preferably from about 20 to about 30 mm, and a radius of curvature in the range of from about 20 mm to about 1000 mm, preferably in the range of about 20 to about 60 mm for a mascara applicator, and preferably in the range of about 50 to about 200 mm for a brow product applicator. As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 6 , tines  46  are arranged along the longitudinal axis I of the head  42 , on the concave side  76  of the support  44 , while the convex side  74  of the support  44  is smooth and free of tines  46 . In an alternate embodiment of the present invention, not shown, the convex side of the support is provided with tines, while the concave side of the support is smooth and free of tines. On withdrawal of the applicator  40  from the receptacle  20 , the smooth side  74  of support  44  contacts the wiper member  60 , and will be wiped clean. With only one side of the applicator  42  head charged with product, the formula can be concentrated where needed on the tines  46 . 
         [0020]    As also shown in  FIG. 6 , the applicator head  42  is constructed with a slim profile. Tines  46  extend along the concave side  76  of support, the tines  46  each having a major axis  11 , and extending from a base  79  associated with the concave side  76  of support  44  and terminating in a free end  80 . The major axes of at least some of the tines  46  are parallel to one another. Preferably, the major axes of all of the tines  46  are parallel to one another. Adjacent tines  46  define spaces  81  configured to receive and separate the eyelashes as well as to receive the desired amount of product for the most efficient application to the eyelashes. The shape of the tines  46  employed will be determined by the desired degree of stiffness/flexibility, payoff, loading, and other desired application characteristics. The cross-sectional shape of the tines  46  may be, for example, cylindrical, diamond-shaped or elliptoid. Preferably, the tines  46  will taper from their base ends  79  to their free ends  80 . 
         [0021]    As shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8 , the tines  90 ,  190  of the applicator  15 , 17  extend in longitudinal rows  91 , 191  from the concave side  93 , 193  of support  94 , 194  along its longitudinal axis II,III. Three longitudinal rows  91  of tines  90  may be provided, as illustrated in  FIG. 7 . As shown in  FIG. 8 , five longitudinal rows  191  of tines  190  are provided. The tines  90 , 190  in each longitudinal row  91 , 191  may be longitudinally offset or staggered relative to the tines  90 , 190  in an adjacent row or rows  91 , 191 . As shown in  FIG. 7 , at least one row  91  of tines  90  may be disposed in a channel  92  recessed in the support  94 . The channel  92  is adapted to retain cosmetic material, for example, mascara, to promote the loading of the product onto the tines  90 . Alternatively, in a further embodiment of the invention (not shown) the base of at least one tine in a longitudinal row may be associated with a reservoir recessed in the support. 
         [0022]    The applicator head according to the present invention will generally have a width in the range of from about 1 to 12 mm, preferably in the range of from about 2 to 5 mm. For example, the applicator head may have a width at the proximal end in the range of from about 3 to 4 mm, and in the range of from about 2 to 3 mm at the distal end. As shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8 , at least one of the longitudinal rows  91 , 191  of tines  90 , 190  on the head  95 , 195  of applicator  15 , 17  may extend over a distance corresponding substantially to the total length of the support  94 , 194 , such as, in the range of from about 20 to 35 mm, corresponding to the average length of the fringe of eyelashes of the top or bottom eyelid as measured from the inner to the outer corner, and will approximate the curve of the eye. Preferably, to more effectively reach the smallest lashes in the inner corners of the eyes, the support  94 , 194  will be tapered from the distal end  98 , 198  to the proximal end  96 , 196 . It is also preferred that the distal end  98 , 198  be rounded to avoid injury or discomfort to the user. The width of the head of an applicator for use with a brow or hair product (not illustrated) generally will be in the range of from about 4 to 10 mm, preferably in the range of from about 6 to about 8 mm, and the longitudinal rows of tines may extend for a desired length approximately the average length of the eyebrow of a user and will approximate the curve of the eyebrow. 
         [0023]      FIGS. 9-16  represent end views through the longitudinal axis of an applicator according to the present invention. All tines in the same longitudinal row overlap through that view. The tines arranged in the longitudinal rows on the applicator may be of a uniform height ( FIGS. 9-12 ) or may vary in height ( FIGS. 13-16 ). For example, as shown in  FIG. 9 , tines of a uniform height are arranged in three central and outer unstaggered rows  9   a , 9   b , while in  FIG. 10  the rows  10   a , 10   b  are staggered.  FIG. 11  illustrates a further embodiment of the invention in which there are five central, outer and intermediate unstaggered rows  11   a , 11   b , 11   c  of tines of uniform height, while five staggered rows  12   a , 12   b , 12   c  are shown in  FIG. 12 . The height of the tines typically will be in the range of from about 1 to 4 mm, preferably in the range of from about 2 to 3 mm. 
         [0024]    As shown in  FIG. 13 , tines of varying height are arranged in three longitudinal (central and outer) unstaggered rows  13   a , 13   b , while in  FIG. 14 , the rows  14   a , 14   b  are staggered. The tines in the central row  13   a , 14   a  have a greater height than do the tines in the outer rows  13   b , 14   b . Alternatively, the tines are arranged in five parallel unstaggered or staggered rows as illustrated in  FIGS. 15 and 16 . The heights of the tines in the central row  15   a , 16   a  are greater than the heights of the tines in the outer rows  15   b , 16   b  and the heights of the tines in the intermediate rows  15   c , 16   c  are of a height between the heights of the tines in the central and outer rows. For example, the tines in the central rows may have the greatest height, for example, in the range of about 1 to about 4 mm, preferably in the range of from about 3 to 4 mm, while the shortest tines, in the outer rows, may have a height in the range of from about 0.5 mm to about 2 mm, preferably from about 1 mm to 2 mm. Tines in the intermediate rows may have a height between the heights of the tallest and shortest tines, for example, in the range of from about 2 to 3 mm.  FIG. 17  illustrates a further applicator according to the present invention. The heights of the tines  82   a  at the distal end  83  of the support  84  of applicator  19  will have a lesser height as compared with the heights of the tines  82   b  at the proximal end  85  of the support  84 . For example, the heights of the tines  82   b  at the proximal end  85  may have a height in the range of about 3 to 4 mm, while the tines  82   a  at the distal end  83  may be in the range of from about 0.5 to about 2 mm to more effectively contact the tiniest lashes in the inner corners of the eyes. 
         [0025]    The rows of parallel tines are manufactured integrally as a single molded piece with the support, of a single resilient material, by injection or compression molding, for example, a plastics/polymer material, an elastomer or a liquid injection molded (LIM) silicone elastomer. For compression molding, the use of thermoplastic elastomers is preferred; however, polyesters, polyethylenes, and/or polyurethanes may also be used. For injection molding, thermoplastic or thermoset materials may be utilized, including, polyurethanes, polyesters and thermoset elastomers (TSEs), such as silicones. A particularly preferred thermoplastics resin for injection molding is Hytrel® (DuPont), a polyether ester elastomer block polymer. Molding materials may also include antibacterial agents, for example Triclosan® and/or product performance-enhancing and/or shelf-life-enhancing agents, such as plasticizers to improve flexibility and reduce the occurrence of cracking over time, and fluorination agents to provide a barrier layer over hygroscopic plastics. In one embodiment of the present invention, the applicator comes out of the molding press ready to be mounted to a rod by means of mechanical and/or adhesive connection. In accordance with an alternative embodiment of the invention, the applicator comes out of the molding press fully assembled and suitable for mounting as a single unit to the cap. 
         [0026]    Although the present invention has been described herein with reference to particular embodiments, it is to be understood that these embodiments are merely illustrative of certain principles and applications of the present invention. It is further to be understood that numerous modifications may be made to the illustrative embodiments and that other arrangements may be devised without departing from the present invention.