Abstract:
The present invention is an improved cosmetic applicator which contains a new and novel apparatus to expose and retract a cosmetic stick contained within the applicator apparatus. The apparatus comprises an internal threaded shaft supported on a base which includes rotation means such as a knob, the shaft having a multiplicity of spaced apart threads on its exterior surface. A hollow cylindrical shelf having means at one end to support a cosmetic and a pair of interior oppositely disposed male teeth adjacent its opposite end which interact with the threads enables the shelf to ride up and down on the threaded shaft as the knob is turned to thereby expose and retract the cosmetic supported at the upper end of the cylindrical shelf. A hollow exterior cylindrical casing is supported at one end within the base and surrounds the hollow cylindrical self and the cosmetic supported thereon. The cylindrical casing is covered by an exterior cylindrical casing when the apparatus is not in use.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to the field of cosmetic applicators and more particularly to applicators which are used to expose portions of cosmetics such as lipstick, soaps, and cosmetics which are contained in a stick form and which are applied to a body part such as the face through the applicator. 
   2. Description of the Prior Art 
   In general, cosmetic applicators such as lipstick dispensers are known in the prior art. However, they all work on the principle of having and interior casing with internal threads which ride on interior threads of an external casing to expose the cosmetic product such as lipstick. There is a significant need for an improved cosmetic applicator which functions in a more efficient way to expose and retract the cosmetics such as lipstick contained within the applicator. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention is an improved cosmetic applicator which contains a new and novel apparatus to expose and retract a cosmetic stick contained within the applicator apparatus. The apparatus comprises an internal threaded shaft supported on a base which includes rotation means such as a knob, the shaft having a multiplicity of spaced apart threads on its exterior surface. A hollow cylindrical shelf having means at one end to support a cosmetic and a pair of interior oppositely disposed male teeth adjacent its opposite end which interact with the threads enables the shelf to ride up and down on the threaded shaft as the knob is turned to thereby expose and retract the cosmetic supported at the upper end of the cylindrical shelf. A hollow exterior cylindrical casing is supported at one end within the base and surrounds the hollow cylindrical shelf and the cosmetic supported thereon. The cylindrical casing is covered by an exterior cylindrical casing when the apparatus is not in use. 
   It has been discovered, according to the present invention, that an improved cosmetic applicator can be achieved by having the apparatus which exposes and retracts the cosmetic; created from an internal cylindrical shaft having a rotation means such as a knob at one end and further having a multiplicity of spaced apart threads on its exterior surface which threads interact with a pair of oppositely disposed male teeth adjacent one end of an interior shelf which causes the shelf to move up and down as the threaded shaft is caused to rotate by turning the knob at one end of the shaft. 
   It has further been discovered, according to the present invention, that if a hollow cylinder surrounds the internal shelf and the internal shelf which interacts with the threaded shaft also comprises a means to support a cosmetic adjacent its end opposite from the internal teeth, then as the internal shelf rides up and down on the threaded shaft as the threaded shaft is rotated, then the cosmetic will be exposed when the knob is turned in one direction as the teeth ride up on the threads and the cosmetic will be retracted when the knob is turned in the opposite direction as the teeth ride down on the threads. 
   It has also been discovered, according to the present invention, that by having the assembly of an internal threaded shaft interacting with teeth on an internal cylindrical shelf which supports a cosmetic, the assembly eliminates the need to have the casing which supports the cosmetic interact with and ride on and within the exterior casing which encloses the cosmetic. 
   It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved cosmetic applicator by having the apparatus which exposes and retracts the cosmetic created from an internal cylindrical shaft having a rotation means such as a knob at one end and further having a multiplicity of spaced apart threads on its exterior surface which threads interact with a pair of oppositely disposed male teeth adjacent one end of an interior shelf which causes the shelf to move up and down as the threaded shaft is caused to rotate by turning the knob at one end of the shaft. 
   It is a further object of the present invention to provide an internal shelf having internal teeth at one end which interact with the threads of threaded shaft and also comprises a means to support a cosmetic adjacent its end opposite from the internal teeth, and to further provide a hollow cylinder which surrounds the internal shelf and cosmetic supported thereon, so that as the internal shelf rides up and down on the threaded shaft as the threaded shaft is rotated, then the cosmetic will be exposed when the knob is turned in one direction as the teeth ride up on the threads and the cosmetic will be retracted when the knob is turned in the opposite direction as the teeth ride down on the threads. 
   It is another object of the present invention to provide an assembly of an internal threaded shaft interacting with teeth on an internal cylindrical shelf which supports a cosmetic, to thereby eliminate the need to have the casing which supports the cosmetic interact with and ride on and within the exterior casing which encloses the cosmetic. 
   Further novel features and other objects of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, discussion and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Referring particularly to the drawings for the purpose of illustration only and not limitation, there is illustrated: 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the present invention cosmetic applicator in the closed condition with the exterior cylindrical cover surrounding the interior cylindrical casing; 
       FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the present invention cosmetic applicator in the opened condition with the exterior cylindrical cover removed from the interior cylindrical casing; 
       FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of the present invention cosmetic applicator in the opened and in use condition with the exterior cylindrical cover removed from the interior cylindrical casing and the cosmetic exposed from the interior cylindrical casing; 
       FIG. 4  is an exploded view of the entire operating assembly of the present invention cosmetic applicator; 
       FIG. 5  is an internal cross-sectional view of the entire operating assembly of the present invention cosmetic applicator showing the internal shelf and the cosmetic in the retracted condition; and 
       FIG. 6  is an internal cross-sectional view of the entire operating assembly of the present invention cosmetic applicator showing the internal shelf and the cosmetic in the fully extended condition. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   Although specific embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings, it should be understood that such embodiments are by way of example only and merely illustrative of but a small number of the many possible specific embodiments which can represent applications of the principles of the present invention. Various changes and modifications obvious to one skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains are deemed to be within the spirit, scope and contemplation of the present invention as further defined in the appended claims. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2  there is illustrated at  10  the present invention cosmetic applicator which comprises an exterior hollow cylindrical cover  12  having a cylindrical wall  14  and top  16  and an internal cavity surrounded by cylindrical wall  14  and closed at the top  16  and open at the bottom  18 . The cosmetic applicator  10  further comprises an internal cylindrical casing  20 . Referring to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the internal cylindrical casing  20  has an internal wall  22  having a pair of oppositely disposed internal longitudinal channels  24  ad  26  which as illustrated in  FIG. 5  extend along the lower portion internal cylindrical casing  20 . The longitudinal channels  24  and  26  terminate at an interior transverse channel wall  28 . 
   Referring to  FIGS. 4 ,  5  and  6  there is illustrated the new and novel operating mechanism of the present invention cosmetic applicator  10 . The first portion of the operating mechanism is a cylindrical shaft  30  which has an exterior cylindrical wall  32  onto which are formed a multiplicity of spaced apart threads  34 . The cylindrical shaft  30  has a bottom  36  and a top  38  onto which is formed a post  40 . The cylindrical shaft  30  is supported at its bottom  36  in a base  42  having an interior cavity  44  and an exterior cylindrical wall  46  having grasping means such as knobs  48  adjacent its lower end. The internal cylindrical casing  20  has an exterior wall  21  with a recessed area  23 . As illustrated in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the recessed area  23  of exterior wall  21  of casing  20  fits into the interior cavity  44  of base  42  and is retained therein. The next component of the operating mechanism is a hollow cylindrical shelf  50  having a exterior wall  52  which surrounds a hollow interior cavity  54 . At the top of the hollow cylindrical shelf  50  is a top platform  56  having a pair of cosmetic grasping and retaining means such as posts  58  and  60  and a top circumferential wall  62  which forms a top cavity  64  surrounded by the top circumferential wall  62  and the platform  56 . The lower portion of a cosmetic  100  is retained within the top cavity  64  and is supported on posts  58  and  60  onto which a cosmetic  100  is retained. The exterior wall  52  of hollow cylindrical shelf  50  has formed thereon a pair of oppositely disposed aligned exterior shelf teeth  66  and  68  which respectively are positioned within longitudinal channel  24  and  26  of internal wall  22  of interior cylindrical casing  20  to prevent the hollow cylindrical shelf  50  from rotating within internal cylindrical casing  20 . Hollow cylindrical shelf  50  has formed on interior surface  70  of wall  52  two oppositely disposed aligned interior shelf teeth  72  and  74  adjacent the bottom  76  of hollow cylindrical shelf  50 . As on option, tooth  72  can be aligned with tooth  66  and tooth  74  can be aligned with tooth  68  but this is not required. Interior shelf teeth  72  and  74  are positioned to be received within the space between adjacent threads  34  of cylindrical shaft  30 . As an option, exterior wall  52  of hollow cylindrical shelf  50  has a pair of oppositely disposed slots, of which one  78  is illustrated. This provides flexibility to the hollow cylindrical shelf  50  as it rides on the threads  34  of cylindrical shaft  30 . 
   The operating assembly is positioned together so that cylindrical shaft  30  is positioned within hollow interior cavity  54  of hollow cylindrical shelf  50  so that the threads  34  of the cylindrical shaft  30  intermesh with oppositely disposed interior teeth  72  and  74  of hollow cylindrical shelf  50 . As knob  48  of base  42  is rotated, the teeth  72  and  74  ride on the threads  34 . When rotated in one direction such as counterclockwise, the teeth  72  and  74  rotate downwardly on the threads  34  and cause the hollow cylindrical shelf  50  to move upwardly within internal cylindrical casing  20  to expose the cosmetic  100  as illustrated in  FIG. 6 . When the knob  48  is rotated in the opposite direction such as clockwise, the teeth  72  and  74  ride downwardly on threads  34  and cause the hollow cylindrical shelf  50  to move downwardly within interior cylindrical casing  20  so that the cosmetic  100  is retracted as illustrated in  FIG. 5 . The exterior teeth  66  and  68  within channels  24  and  26  prevent the hollow cylindrical shelf  50  from rotating or spinning so it will only move up and down within interior cylindrical casing  20 . To facilitate the up and down movement, the threads  34  are at an angle “A” to the horizontal which by way of example only can be fifteen (15) degrees. Any other angle “A” is within the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
   While the embodiment as described is the preferred embodiment, it will be appreciated that the operating mechanism of the present invention can work with at least one interior tooth  72  or  74  and at least one exterior tooth  66  or  68 . 
   The entire mechanism of the operating assembly including the cylindrical shaft  30  and its components can be molded out of plastic. Similarly, the hollow cylindrical shelf  50  and its components can be molded out of plastic. 
   The present invention cosmetic applicator  10  can be used with any cosmetic  100  such as lipstick, a soap stick, rouge, mascara or any other cosmetic that is applied to any body part such as the face, hands, feet, etc. 
   Defined in detail, the present invention is a cosmetic applicator, comprising: (a) an internal cylindrical casing having an exterior wall having a top and a bottom with a recess in the exterior wall adjacent the location of the bottom, the exterior wall having an interior surface defining an interior chamber, the interior surface having a pair of oppositely disposed longitudinal channels extending from adjacent the bottom of the casing to an area between the top and bottom of the casing and terminating at an interior transverse wall; (b) a cylindrical shaft having an exterior cylindrical wall with a multiplicity of spaced apart parallel threads formed at an angle on the exterior cylindrical wall, the cylindrical shaft having a top and a bottom, a base having an exterior wall and a bottom which form an interior cavity into which the bottom of the cylindrical shaft is affixed with a space in the interior cavity around the bottom of the cylindrical shaft, the base having grasping means on its exterior wall; (c) a hollow cylindrical shelf having an exterior wall with a top and bottom, the top of the exterior wall terminating in a top platform with a top circumferential wall extending from the top platform to form a top cavity with a pair of cosmetic grasping means formed on the top platform and extending into the top cavity, a pair of oppositely disposed teeth extending transversely from the exterior wall, the exterior wall having an interior surface defining an interior cavity which is open at the bottom and a pair of oppositely disposed interior teeth adjacent the bottom of the interior surface and extending transversely from the interior surface into the cavity; (d) the cylindrical shaft and the hollow cylindrical shelf received within the interior chamber of the internal cylindrical casing with the recess in the lower area of the exterior wall of the internal cylindrical casing retained within the hollow cavity of the base and surrounding the cylindrical shaft; and (e) the cylindrical shaft being positioned within the hollow interior cavity of the hollow cylindrical shelf so that the threads of the cylindrical shaft intermesh with the oppositely disposed interior teeth of the hollow cylindrical shelf so that as the grasping means causes the base to rotate, the interior teeth ride on the threads and when the cylindrical shaft is rotated in one direction the teeth rotate upwardly on the threads and cause the hollow cylindrical shelf to move upwardly within internal cylindrical casing and when the grasping means is rotated in the opposite direction the teeth ride downwardly on threads and cause the hollow cylindrical shelf to move downwardly within interior cylindrical casing, each respective exterior tooth on the hollow cylindrical shelf respectively received within a longitudinal channel in the interior wall of the internal cylindrical casing to prevent the hollow cylindrical shelf from rotating or spinning so it will only move up and down within interior cylindrical casing. 
   Defined broadly, the present invention is a cosmetic applicator, comprising: (a) a generally cylindrical casing having an exterior wall having a top and a bottom and having retaining means on the exterior wall, the exterior wall having an interior surface defining an interior chamber, the interior surface having a pair of oppositely disposed longitudinal channels extending from adjacent the bottom of the casing to an area between the top and bottom of the casing and terminating at an interior transverse wall; (b) a cylindrical shaft having an exterior cylindrical wall with a multiplicity of spaced apart parallel threads formed at an angle on the exterior cylindrical wall, the shaft supported on a base having grasping means; (c) a hollow cylindrical shelf having an exterior wall with a top and bottom, the top of the exterior wall terminating in a top platform having means to retain a cosmetic, a pair of oppositely disposed teeth extending transversely from the exterior wall, the exterior wall having an interior surface defining an interior cavity which is open at the bottom and a pair of oppositely disposed interior teeth adjacent the bottom of the interior surface and extending transversely from the interior surface into the cavity; (d) the retaining means of the internal cylindrical casing engaging a portion of the base of the cylindrical shaft and retained by the base, the cylindrical shaft and the hollow cylindrical shelf received within the internal chamber of the generally cylindrical casing; and (e) the cylindrical shaft being positioned within the hollow interior cavity of the hollow cylindrical shelf so that the threads of the cylindrical shaft intermesh with the oppositely disposed interior teeth of the hollow cylindrical shelf so that as the grasping means causes the base to rotate, the interior teeth ride on the threads and when the cylindrical shaft is rotated in one direction the teeth rotate upwardly on the threads and cause the hollow cylindrical shelf to move upwardly within generally cylindrical casing and when the grasping means is rotated in the opposite direction the teeth ride downwardly on threads and cause the hollow cylindrical shelf to move downwardly within interior cylindrical casing, each respective exterior tooth on the hollow cylindrical shelf respectively received within a longitudinal channel in the interior wall of the internal cylindrical casing to prevent the hollow cylindrical shelf from rotating or spinning so it will only move up and down within interior cylindrical casing. 
   Defined more broadly, the present invention is a cosmetic applicator, comprising: 
   (a) a casing having an exterior wall having a top and a bottom and having retaining means, the exterior wall having an interior surface defining an interior chamber; (b) a shaft having an exterior wall with a multiplicity of spaced apart parallel threads formed at an angle on the exterior wall, the shaft supported on a base having grasping means thereon; (c) a hollow shelf having an exterior wall with a top and bottom, the hollow shelf having means to retain a cosmetic, a wall having an interior surface defining an interior cavity which is open at the bottom and a pair of oppositely disposed interior teeth adjacent the bottom of the interior surface and extending transversely from the interior surface into the cavity; (d) the retaining means of the casing retained by the base, the shaft and the hollow shelf received within the interior chamber of the casing; and (e) the shaft being positioned within the hollow interior cavity of the hollow shelf so that the threads of the shaft intermesh with the oppositely disposed interior teeth of the hollow shelf so that as the grasping means causes the base to rotate, the interior teeth ride on the threads and when the shaft is rotated in one direction the teeth rotate upwardly on the threads and cause the hollow shelf to move upwardly within the casing and when the grasping means is rotated in the opposite direction the teeth ride downwardly on threads and cause the hollow shelf to move downwardly within the casing. 
   Defined even more broadly, the present invention is a cosmetic applicator, comprising: 
   (a) a casing having an exterior wall having a top and a bottom and having retaining means, the exterior wall having an interior surface defining an interior chamber; (b) a shaft having an exterior wall with a multiplicity of spaced apart parallel threads formed at an angle on the exterior wall, the shaft supported on a base having grasping means thereon; (c) a hollow shelf having an exterior wall with a top and bottom, the hollow shelf having means to retain a cosmetic, a wall having an interior surface defining an interior cavity which is open at the bottom and at least one interior tooth disposed adjacent the bottom of the interior surface and extending transversely from the interior surface into the cavity; (d) the retaining means of the internal cylindrical casing retained by the base, the shaft and the hollow shelf received within the interior chamber of the casing; and (e) the shaft being positioned within the hollow interior cavity of the hollow shelf so that the threads of the shaft intermesh with the at least one interior tooth of the hollow shelf so that as the grasping means causes the base to rotate, the at least one interior tooth rides on the threads and when the shaft is rotated in one direction the at least one interior tooth rotates upwardly on the threads and cause the hollow shelf to move upwardly within the casing and when the grasping means is rotated in the opposite direction the at least one tooth rides downwardly on the threads and causes the hollow shelf to move downwardly within the casing. 
   Of course the present invention is not intended to be restricted to any particular form or arrangement, or any specific embodiment, or any specific use, disclosed herein, since the same may be modified in various particulars or relations without departing from the spirit or scope of the claimed invention hereinabove shown and described of which the apparatus or method shown is intended only for illustration and disclosure of an operative embodiment and not to show all of the various forms or modifications in which this invention might be embodied or operated.