Abstract:
The present invention relates to a multi-purpose makeup applicator that comprises, a pencil body having a first body half and a second body half, a refill cavity formed within an encircled sidewall of the first body half, a helix cavity formed within an encircled sidewall of the second body half where the refill cavity and helix cavity are separated by a cavity partition, a lid hingedly attached to the first half of the body and terminates prior to the cavity partition where the second half of the body originates, a displacement mechanism located is configured in the helix cavity of the second body half. In the open position of the lid, a refill cartridge can be placed in the refill cavity, and through the displacement mechanism the refill cartridge moves operably relative to and from the refill cavity of the body.

Description:
1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates generally to a cosmetic tool for applying makeup, more particularly, to an apparatus and method of use for a refillable eyeliner/cosmetic pencil with enhanced properties. 
         [0002]    2. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
         [0003]    The industries relating to personal style and fashion are constantly growing and evolving. People are continually striving to create and maintain their personal look, style, and identity while keeping in tune with the latest trends as they hit the fashion scene. Among the many facets of which these multimillion dollar trades are comprised, the field of health and beauty care which includes makeup products is perhaps the largest and most regarded. A trip down the cosmetic isle of any store allows one to quickly realize the hundreds, if not thousands, of products available for use. One common aspect of almost all makeup products is that the cost and volume of packaging and retail material outweigh that of the actual product itself. One product that possesses this trait prominently is that of the eyeliner pencil. 
         [0004]    Conventional cosmetic pencils include a wooden shaft having an elliptic, or oval-shaped, longitudinally extending channel filled with a cosmetic core. Following sharpening, a smooth continuous inwardly tapering cosmetic core tip is formed terminating at a curved edge as seen in US Patent Application No. 20040175223. 
         [0005]    All of the associated packaging and material enclosure is simply discarded when the product is consumed. This not only represents a large manufacturing cost, but contributes to excess material in our landfills and recycling centers. 
         [0006]    Accordingly, there exists a need for a means by which eyeliner containers packaging modified to address the above mentioned concerns. The development of the eyeliner pencil with refillable cartridge fulfills this need. 
       OBJECT OF INVENTION 
       [0007]    The principal object of the invention herein is to provide a new and enhanced eyeliner pencil with refillable mechanism, where the cartridge is totally consumed it can be replaced by a refill cartridge by the user. 
         [0008]    Another object of the present invention is to provide commercially available refill cartridge of a consistency or color as may suit the taste and needs of a user. 
         [0009]    It is another object of the present invention to provide cosmetic enhancement of anatomical features such as face, lips, eyes. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0010]    The present invention relates to a multi-purpose makeup applicator that comprises, a pencil body having a first body half and a second body half, a refill cavity formed within an encircled sidewall of the first body half, a helix cavity formed within an encircled sidewall of the second body half where the refill cavity and helix cavity are separated by a cavity partition, a lid hingedly attached to the first half of the body and terminates prior to the cavity partition where the second half of the body originates, a displacement mechanism located is configured in the helix cavity of the second body half. In the open position of the lid, a refill cartridge can be placed in the refill cavity, and through the displacement mechanism the refill cartridge moves operably relative to and from the refill cavity of the body. 
         [0011]    These and other features of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings. Other goals and advantages of the invention will be further appreciated and understood when considered in conjunction with the following description and accompanying drawings. While the following description may contain specific details describing particular embodiments of the invention, this should not be construed as limitations to the scope of the invention but rather as an exemplification of preferable embodiments. For each aspect of the invention, many variations are possible as suggested herein that are known to those of ordinary skill in the art. A variety of changes and modifications can be made within the scope of the invention without departing from the spirit thereof. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]    In the accompanying figures, similar reference numerals may refer to identical or functionally similar elements. These reference numerals are used in the detailed description to illustrate various embodiments and to explain various aspects and advantages of the present disclosure. 
           [0013]      FIG. 1  is an isometric view of an pencil in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0014]      FIG. 2A  illustrates an isometric view of the pencil in an open position in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0015]      FIG. 2B  illustrates an isometric view of the pencil in an open position with an internal displacement mechanism in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0016]      FIG. 3A  illustrates the movement of the refill cartridge in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention; and, 
           [0017]      FIG. 3B  illustrates the internal extension of the refill cartridge in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0018]    The following detailed description is intended to provide example implementations to one of ordinary skill in the art, and is not intended to limit the invention to the explicit disclosure, as one or ordinary skill in the art will understand that variations can be substituted that are within the scope of the invention as described. 
         [0019]    The present invention describes an eyeliner and lip liner pencil (herein referred to as the “multipurpose makeup applicator”)  10 , which provides a means to hold and apply cosmetic enhancements to various facial features, such as eyes and lips, utilizing any commercially available refill cartridge  300  of a consistency or color as may suit the taste and needs of a user. The multipurpose makeup applicator  10  includes a displacement mechanism  200  which selectively allows a user to extend the refill cartridge  300  from the tip  25  of the body  20  for the normal wear, or inadvertent breakage of the refill cartridge  300  during use and can retract the refill cartridge  300  for storage upon completion of use. 
         [0020]    As stated previously, the multipurpose makeup applicator  10  is primarily intended for the cosmetic enhancement of anatomical features. However, there should be no implied limitation to those specific features as elaborated, or to any utility application as is conceivable, so as to limit the scope of the multipurpose makeup applicator  10 . 
         [0021]      FIG. 1  illustrates an isometric view of the multipurpose makeup applicator  10 . The multipurpose makeup applicator  10  includes a generally cylindrical body  20  and a lid  60 .The body  20  is composed of a plurality of molded thermoplastic parts and as such may be presented in a wide variety of colors and surface textures to suit the taste of a user. It is understood that other materials, such as cast metals, or formed composites, or other cross-sectional shapes, may be utilized without limiting the scope of the multipurpose makeup applicator  10 . Furthermore, the exterior surface, or any portion thereof, may be provided with any additional texturing, embossments, or decorations of any style, such as ribs, annular ridges, lettering, or the like, without limiting the scope or teachings of the multipurpose makeup applicator  10  now or at any time in the future. 
         [0022]    The body  20  is comprised of a first body half  22 , a second body half  24 , and a lid  60 . The first body half  22  is configured to be a longitudinal half of the body  20  extending from a tip  25  at a first, or anterior, end to a tail  30  at an opposite, or posterior, end. The lid  60  is a longitudinal half of a first end of the body  20  extending from the tip  25  to approximately midway along the length of the multipurpose makeup applicator  10  and attached to the body  20  by means of interconnected hinge  65  components. At least one latch  85  is disposed along an exterior face of the body  20  opposite from the hinges  65  to retain the lid  60  in a closed position  115 .The second body half  24  is configured to be a longitudinal portion, complimentary to a posterior portion of the first body half  22 , extending from a midpoint of the body  20  to the tail  30 . The second body half  24  is attached to the first body half  22 , with alignment at the tail  30 , by means of a thermoforming process, or by an appropriate thermoplastic adhesive material or solution or combination thereof. A knob journal  190  (shown in the  FIG. 2B ) is centrally located in the tail  30  of the combined body halves  22 ,  24 . The knob journal  190  (shown in the  FIG. 2B ) is an aperture into which a knob  235  is inserted and retained. The anterior end of the body  20  is provided with a parabolic tip  25 , encompassing the first body half  22  and the lid  60  through which the refill cartridge  300  is configured to extend for use. In other embodiments, the tip  25  may be conical, or hemispherical, or any combination thereof as may suit the taste of a user, or the convenience of manufacturing. 
         [0023]      FIG. 2A  and  FIG. 2B  are the isometric views of the multipurpose makeup applicator  10  in open position  110  in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention. In normal use, the multipurpose makeup applicator  10  is configured to be in the closed position  115 . A user detaches the second catches  95  from the first catches  90 , where the latch  85  is configured to be a second catch  95  projecting from the edge of the lid  60  which envelops and interferes with a first catch  90  projecting from the sidewall  35  of the first body half  22  and the user pivots the lid  60  about the hinge pin(s)  80  in order to configure the device to an open position  110 , as seen, in order to selectively insert, or remove, a refill cartridge  300  from the multipurpose makeup applicator  10 . The body  20  has an encircling sidewall  35  forming a refill cavity  40  and a helix cavity  45  separated by a cavity partition  50 . The cavity partition  50  is located in proximity to the longitudinal midpoint of the body  20  and forms a rear barrier to the refill cavity  40  and a forward barrier to the helix cavity  45 . The lid  60  terminates prior to the cavity partition  50 , whereupon the second body half  24  commences. A cavity partition aperture  55  is centrally disposed in the cavity partition  50  so that the refill cavity  40  and the helix cavity  45  are in communication. The refill cavity  40 , by virtue of existing between the lid  60  and the anterior of the first body half  22 , is thus equally divided. The anterior end of the body first half  22  is provided with a tip aperture first segment  100  is configured to be a groove in the sidewall  35  of the tip  25 . A similar tip aperture second segment  105  is disposed in the anterior end of the lid  60 . When the multipurpose makeup applicator  10  is configured to be in the closed position  115 , as depicted in  FIG. 1 , the tip aperture segments  100 ,  105  align to form a circular opening in the tip  25  through which a cylindrical refill cartridge  300  can project. 
         [0024]    The refill cavity  40 , as previously stated, is the interior space encompassed by the anterior portion of the first body half  22  and the lid  60 . Disposed within the refill cavity  40  is a plurality of rod support partitions  120 . The rod support partitions  120  are configured to be structural bulkheads provided with a support partition aperture  130  through which a cylindrical push rod  215  may be extended to advance the refill cartridge  300 . The push rod  215  extends  25  from the helix cavity  45  through the cavity partition aperture  55  as shown in  FIG. 2B . A first wall member  125   a,  laterally spanning that portion of the semicircular refill cavity  40  located in the first body half  22  is placed in concurrence with a similarly configured second wall member  125   b  located in the lid  60  to form the complete rod support partition  120  when the device is placed in a closed position  115 . In a like manner, an aperture first half  135   a  is configured to be a semicircular groove in the first wall member  125   a  and an aperture second half  135   b  is disposed in the second wall member  125   b.  The closure of the lid  60  against the body first half  22  completes each rod support partition  120  with a circular support partition aperture  130 . The purpose for the rod support partitions  120  in the refill cavity  40  is to obviate any lateral displacement of the push rod  215  as the push rod  215  is being extended through the refill cavity  40 . 
         [0025]    A cartridge support partition  130  is located at an anterior face of each rod support partition  120 . While the rod support partition  120  functions to align and support the push rod  215  through the refill cavity  40 , the cartridge support partitions  130  serve to support and align the smaller diameter refill cartridge  300  in the refill cavity  40 . However, due to this smaller cross section of the refill cartridge  300  in comparison to the push rod  215 , the cartridge support partitions  130  are configured to be divided into a plurality of movable segments  145  so as to be temporarily displaced as the push rod  215  traverses the refill cavity  40 . The moveable segments  145  are composed of the same constituent material as the body  20  with a planar rear face  160  in contact with the cartridge support partition  130 , an arcuate groove  165  formed along a perpendicular face directed toward the center of the refill cavity  40 , and an angularly curved clearance face  155 . 
         [0026]    A return spring  175  is attached at a first end to the rear face  160  of each moveable segment  145  to exert a righting force when the push rod  215  is retracted into the helix cavity  45 . The return spring  175  is configured to be a resilient elastomeric filament which, in a contracted state, retains the rear face  160  in contact with the rod support partition  120 . The return spring  175  is routed through a spring aperture  185  cut, or formed, into the rod support partition  120  and anchored at a second end to the respective proximate sidewall  35  by means of a restrictive stay  180  as illustrated. The stay  180  is configured to be a pair of internal projections of the sidewall  35  in sufficiently close proximity to each other that a retentive constrictive force is placed on the return spring  175 . 
         [0027]    A displacement mechanism  200  is disposed within the helix cavity  45  as shown in  FIG. 2B . The displacement mechanism  200  includes the push rod  215 , a lead screw mechanism comprised of two intertwined helixes  205 , and a stabilizer rod  225 . The helixes  205  are formed by winding a bar around a cylinder at a uniform spacing. The bar may be composed of a metal, having a protective coating, or a plating, to resist corrosion, or a rigid thermoplastic to resist longitudinal deformation. Each full wrap of the bar around the cylinder represents a single flight  210 . In a preferred embodiment, the helixes  205  are wrapped in a right hand direction, resulting in each turn of the displacement mechanism  200  in a clockwise direction, as viewed from the tail  30 , causing the push rod  215  to be extended toward the tip  25  of the body  20 . The intertwining of the helixes  205  results in a clearance space between each flight  210  into which the cylindrical stabilizer rod  225  is inserted. A pair of diametrically opposed keyways  230  are cut, or formed, into the sidewall  35  of the first body half  22  and the  20  second body half  24  running the full length of the helix cavity and projecting from the tail  30 . The clearance face  155  is configured to comply with the curvature of the sidewalls  35  of the first body half  22  and the lid  60  as the push rod  215  pivotally displaces the  20  moveable segments  145  away from the rod support partition  120 . The moveable segments  145  are aligned radially around the refill cavity  40  and the grooves  165  of the upright moveable segments  145  combine to make up a formed aperture  170  in which the refill cartridge  300  is cradled 
         [0028]      FIG. 3A  and  FIG. 3B  illustrate the internal extension of the refill cartridge  300  and the movement of the refill cartridge  300  in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention. As the refill cartridge  300  is advanced through the refill cavity  40  by the push rod  215  to compensate for a normal wear caused by usage, the push rod  215 , having a larger cross-section  25  pivotally displaces the moveable segments  145  of the cartridge support aperture  140  to a configuration wherein the clearance face  155  is forced into contact with the sidewall  35  as shown in  FIG. 3A . 
         [0029]    The stabilizer rod  225  is attached to a first end of the cylindrical push rod  215  as depicted in  FIG. 3B . An annular clamp ring  220  is attached to the second end of the push rod  215  as is also illustrated in  FIG. 3B . The interior diameter of the clamp ring  220  is sized to retain the refill cartridge  300  in the multipurpose makeup applicator  10 . The push rod  215  is inserted into the helix cavity  45  with the clamping ring  220  facing toward the refill cavity  40  to accept the posterior end of the refill cartridge  300 . The stabilizer bar is engaged into the keyways  230  having each end confined within each keyway  230 . The keyways  230  along each side of the helix cavity  45  inhibit any rotational movement of the push rod  215  as the helixes  205  are rotated. The helixes  205  are attached to a first end of the knob  235 . The cylindrical knob  235  is composed of a molded thermoplastic material having some length which may be easily manipulated by a user to selective rotate the knob  235  along a longitudinal axis. The outside diameter of the knob  235  is approximately equal to the outer diameter, or maximum girth, of the body  20 . The knob  235  may be provided with peripheral knurling or ridges in order to provide a more positive grip thereto. Disposed at the first end of the knob  235  is a ridge  240  configured to be slightly larger in diameter than the knob journal  190  previously discussed. A neck  245  configured to be a cylindrical portion of the knob adjacent to the ridge  240 . The diameter of the neck  245  is configured to be slightly less than the knob journal  190 . The knob  235 , with the attached helixes  206 , is configured to be inserted into the helix cavity  45  through the knob journal  190  at the tail  30  of the body  20 . The ridge  240  is pressed through the knob journal  190  into the helix cavity  45  so that the neck  245  is retained within the knob journal  190 . In this manner, the knob  235  is affixed to the body  20  and any subsequent rotation of the knob  235  results in the displacement of the stabilizer rod  225  within the gap of the helixes  205  to extend, or retract, the push rod  215 , and ultimately the refill cartridge  300 . Each turn of the knob  235  causes the stabilizer rod  225 , the push rod  215 , and the refill cartridge  300  to be displaced through a distance of one flight  210 . 
       Method of Use of the Preferred Embodiment 
       [0030]    The preferred embodiment of the present invention can be utilized by an enabled individual in a simple and straightforward manner with little or no training. After initial purchase or acquisition of the multipurpose makeup applicator  10 , it would appear as indicated in  FIG. 1 . The method of utilizing the multipurpose makeup applicator  10  may be achieved by performing the following steps: acquiring a model of the multipurpose makeup applicator  10  having a desired style to suit the taste of the user; acquiring an applicable refill cartridge  300  to suit the purpose of the user; rotating the lid  60  to the open position  110 ; rotating the knob  235  so the clamp ring  220  at the first end of the push rod  215  is located within the cavity partition aperture  55 ; inserting the refill cartridge  300  into refill cavity  40 , being sure to align the refill cartridge  300  with each formed aperture  170  of the cartridge support partitions  140  in the body first half  22 ; engaging the second end of the refill cartridge  300  into the clamp ring  220 ; rotating the lid  60  to the closed position  115 ; rotating the knob  235  in a direction which result in the extension of the refill cartridge  300  from the tip  25 ; and applying a cosmetic substance from the refill cartridge  300  to the appropriate location. In the event that an insufficient amount of the refill cartridge  300  extends from the tip  25  to continue to make a desirable application of the cosmetic substance, the knob  235  may be rotated additionally to further extend the refill cartridge  300 . After the cosmetic substance has been applied, the refill cartridge  300  may be selectively retracted into the refill cavity  40  by rotating the knob  235  in an opposite direction. 
         [0031]    When the refill cartridge  300  has been consumed, as evidenced by an inability to further rotate the knob  235 , the refill cartridge  300  may be replaced by performing the following steps: rotating the knob  235  in a direction which results in the retraction of the push rod  215  completely into the helix cavity  45 , thereby allowing all of the moveable segments  145  of the cartridge support partitions  140  to return to an upright position; rotating the lid  60  to the open position  110 ; rotating the knob  235  to advance the push rod  215  so that the clamp ring  220  is again located at the cavity partition aperture  55 ; removing any portion of the spent refill cartridge  300  which may exist from the body  20 ; properly disposing of that spent refill cartridge  300 ; inserting a new refill cartridge  300  as previously indicated; and rotating the lid  60  to the closed position  115 . 
         [0032]    Although an illustrative embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, it is to be understood that various modifications and substitutions may be made without departing from the novel spirit and scope of the present invention.