Patent Publication Number: US-7223035-B1

Title: Device for containing and applying cosmetics

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates generally to cosmetic containers, and more particularly to a device for containing and applying brush-applied cosmetics. 
   A number of devices are well known for use in containing and applying brush-applied cosmetics, such as mascara. A typical one of these devices includes a rigid bottle containing a selected mascara product, and a removable applicator. The applicator attaches to the bottle to form a cover for the bottle, and includes an elongated wand that extends into the bottle when the applicator is attached. The wand has a brush on the end that becomes loaded with mascara when the wand is inserted into the bottle. When the cover and wand are removed from the bottle, the mascara on the brush can be applied directly to a user&#39;s eyelashes. 
   Unfortunately, conventional devices for packaging and applying mascara are subject to a number of drawbacks. First, the long, straight wand can make it difficult to access all of the mascara in the bottle, forcing consumers to waste some of the mascara in every container. Second, when the brush is removed from the bottle, a tail of excess mascara often remains on the tip of the brush, which can lead to improper application of mascara to unwanted parts of a user&#39;s eye area. Third, because the wand travels through the mascara during insertion and removal from the bottle, some mascara remains on the wand during application, which can be unsightly in appearance and potentially messy for users. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The aforementioned problems are overcome by the present invention, wherein a device for packaging and applying applicator-applied cosmetics includes a container having a flexible product containing portion and a neck portion. 
   In one embodiment, the device includes a container and an applicator. The container includes a flexible product containing portion, and an elongated neck extending therefrom. The applicator attaches to the neck of the container and includes a wand and brush that extend into the container such that the wands extends through the elongated neck and only the brush extends into the product containing portion. 
   In another embodiment, the container includes an integral wiper. The wiper is positioned near the base of the neck, and extends inwardly toward the wand when the wand is inserted into the container. The brush passes through the wiper when it is inserted or removed from the product containing portion, such that excess mascara is wiped off the brush during removal. 
   The mascara container of the present invention provides a number of advantages. First, the elongated neck keeps the wand clean for improved appearance and application. Second, the flexible product containing portion allows a user to access all of the mascara within the container, by squeezing the container to deposit mascara on the brush. The flexible portion also allows a user to pinch the brush as it is pulled from the container to remove the tail of mascara on the tip of the brush. Third, the integral wiper wipes excess mascara from the brush as the brush is pulled from the product containing portion. 
   These and other objects, advantages, and features of the invention will be readily understood and appreciated by reference to the detailed description of the current embodiments and the drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a cross sectional view of the device according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a front view of the device thereof. 
       FIG. 3  is an exploded view of the applicator removed from the container. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   I. Overview 
   A device for containing and applying cosmetics, such as mascara in accordance with one embodiment, is shown in  FIG. 1 , and generally designated  10 . The device  10  generally includes a container  12  and an applicator  14 . The container  12  includes a flexible product containing portion  20  and a neck  22 . The applicator  14  attaches to the container  12 , and includes a wand  16  and an applicator head  18 . When the applicator  14  is attached to the container  12 , the wand  16  extends through the neck  22  and the head  18  extends into the product containing portion  20 . 
   II. Structure 
   In the illustrated embodiment, the container  12  generally includes a flexible product containing portion  20  and a neck  22  and generally contains a cosmetic product  25 , such as mascara. As shown in  FIG. 2 , the product containing portion  20  may be constructed similar to a toothpaste container, such that it includes a flexible sidewall  24 . The flexible sidewall may be a resilient plastic, or another flexible material. The sidewall  24  has a first end  26  that is generally cylindrical, and tapers to a second end  28  that is generally flat. Alternatively, the flexible product containing portion may have a variety of shapes, for instance, it may be entirely cylindrical. The neck  22  extends from the product containing portion  20  from a first end  30  that forms a base to a second end  32  that forms the rim of the container  12 . The neck  22  generally extends from the product containing portion  20  a distance approximately equal to the length of the wand  16 , described in more detail below. The neck  22  may be rigid, such that it cannot be flexed in a manner similar to the product containing portion  20 . In one embodiment, this rigidity is accomplished by forming the neck  22  from a thicker material than the product containing portion  20 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , the neck  22  includes an outer surface  34  and an inner surface  36 . The neck  22  includes structure for attaching the applicator  14  to the container  12 . In the illustrated embodiment, the attachment structure is disposed on the outer surface  34 , but it may alternatively be disposed on the inner surface  36 . In the illustrated embodiment, this structure is threads  38 , however, a variety of attachment methods are available, such as snap fit or friction fit. 
   In one embodiment, shown in  FIG. 1 , the neck  22  may include a wiper  40 . The wiper  40  extends inwardly from the inner surface  36  of the neck  22  to define an opening smaller than the head  18 . As shown, the wiper  40  extends around the entire circumference of the inner surface  36  of the neck  22 , however, it may alternatively be limited to a portion of the circumference. The wiper  40  may be flexible or substantially rigid, and may be formed from a variety of materials, such as plastic or metal. As shown, the wiper is substantially rigid. The wiper  40  may be formed integrally with the neck  22  and the container  12 , such that it extends from the base  30  of the neck  22  to substantially separate the product containing portion  20  from the neck  22 . As shown, the wiper  40  angles into the product containing portion  20 . As described below, the wiper  40  extends inwardly to a length that allows the wiper  40  to engage the head  18  as the head  18  is removed from the product containing portion. 
   The applicator  14  attaches to the container  12  and forms a cover for the container  12 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , the applicator includes a cap  42 , a wand  16  and a head  18 . As illustrated, the cap  42  is cylindrical, although it may be any shape. The cap  42  includes an inner surface  44  and an outer surface  46 . The cap  42  includes structure for attaching the applicator  14  to the container. The structure may vary from applicator to applicator, for instance, the attachment structure of the illustrated embodiment is threads  48  on the inner surface  44 . The wand  16  may be a variety of elongated structures, and includes a first end  50  attached to the inner surface  44  of the sidewall of the cap  42  and a second end  52  extending outwardly from the sidewall of the cap  42 . The length of the wand  16  is approximately the same as the length of the neck  22  of the container  12 , but its length may vary. In this embodiment, the head  18  is a brush  19 . The brush  19  extends from the second end  52  of the wand  16  and includes bristles  54  or other structure for applying a cosmetic product to a user&#39;s eyelashes. As shown in  FIG. 1 , when the applicator  14  is attached to the container  12 , the wand  16  extends through the neck  22  and approximately only the head  18  extends through the wiper  40  and into the product containing portion  20 . 
   III. Operation 
   The device  10  is generally distributed to consumers with the applicator  14  attached to the container  12 , as shown in  FIG. 1 . When a consumer desires to access the cosmetic  25 , the applicator  14  is unscrewed from the neck  22  of the container  12  and the consumer pulls the applicator  14  from the container  12 . As the applicator  14  is pulled from the container  12 , the consumer may grip the flexible product containing portion  20  and flex the sidewall  24  to engage the sidewall  24  with the head  18  and pinch the head  18  to prevent excess cosmetic  25  from collecting on the tip of the head  18 . The head  18  then passes through the wiper to additionally prevent the collection of excess cosmetic  25  on the head  18 . The wand  16  and head  18  are then removed from the container  12  completely, and the head  18  is used to apply cosmetic as desired. After this application, the head  18  and wand  16  are re-inserted into the container  12 . As the supply of cosmetic  25  in the product containing portion  20  is depleted, the flexible sidewall  24  can continually be flexed and pinched to move the remaining cosmetic  25  onto the head  18 , until all of the cosmetic  25  has been removed from the container  12  and applied. 
   The above description is that of the current embodiment of the invention. Various alterations and changes can be made without departing from the spirit and broader aspects of the invention as defined in the appended claims, which are to be interpreted in accordance with the principles of patent law including the doctrine of equivalents. Any reference to claim elements in the singular, for example, using the articles “a,” “an,” “the” or “said,” is not to be construed as limiting the element to the singular.