Patent Publication Number: US-7712914-B2

Title: Make-up applicator with LED light source

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 10/512,502, filed 15 Apr. 2005, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,270,440, issued 18 Sep. 2007, which is a national stage entry of PCT/US03/12957, filed 28 Apr. 2003, which claims priority to U.S. Ser. No. 60/375,982, filed on 26 Apr. 2002. This application is also a nonprovisional of U.S. Ser. No. 60/939,755, filed 23 May 2007. Each of the cited applications is incorporated by reference as if fully recited herein. 

   TECHNICAL FIELD 
   The present invention relates to a make-up applicator provided with a light-emitting diode (“LED”) light source. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE ART 
   Proper application of lipstick and other make-up requires a certain amount of visual input, so it is generally done in front of a mirror. In a low-light situation, additional lighting is sometimes required. Such additional lighting should be directed to the point of application. 
   A make-up applicator with a lighting source is an ideal solution to this problem. The prior art is replete with attempts to provide an effective solution, but apparently the attempts have been ineffective, as commercial products incorporating these concepts are simply not available. 
   One piece of prior art, U.S. Pat. No. 4,888,667 to Hwang (Dec. 19, 1989) teaches a lipstick cap with lamp devices, including a cap sleeve used to receive a common lipstick sleeve and a rotary switch engaged with the cap sleeve, wherein the cap sleeve is equipped with several lamp devices and a pair of conducting plates that electrically connect the lamp devices in series. The rotary switch has a battery container including an anode and a cathode conducting plate that can be selectively electrically connected with the conducting plates of the lipstick cap by rotating the rotary switch. When a battery is contained in the battery container, the lamp devices can be lighted for illuminating the make-up applicator. 
   Another piece of the prior art, U.S. Pat. No. 6,789,972 to Nadel, teaches a wand-type applicator that comprises a light-transmissive material, with an LED mounted at a fixed end of the wand. When the LED is activated, light emitted from the LED is diffusively emitted along the length of the wand. Although such a device may provide an applicator that is visually striking to others than the user, the diffuse lateral emission of the light and the ease with which the applicator wand is soiled with the opaque makeup material being applied greatly attenuate the value of the light to the user under low-light application conditions. Further, the Nadel &#39;972 patent is limited to wand-type applicators and has no utility with, for example, a conventional tube lipstick. 
   It is therefore a present object to provide an effectively lighted make-up applicator for use in low-light situations. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   This and other objects are provided by a device for applying make-up, useful in low-light situations. Such a device has a body tube, a make-up applicator, a lamp, a power source, and a switch. The body tube has first and second ends and an intermediate portion therebetween. The first end has a radial cross-section with an inner portion and an annular outer portion. A first end of the makeup applicator is positioned in the inner portion of the body tube first end and a second end thereof extends axially outwardly. The lamp is positioned in the annular outer portion of the body tube first end, and is adapted to project illumination through a light-transmitting material and then axially outwardly. The power source is mounted axially inwardly from the body tube first end in an interior of the body tube and communicated electrically to the lamp. The switch for selectively communicates the power source to the lamp. 
   In some embodiments, the switch is positioned in the second end of the body tube. 
   In some embodiments, the lamp comprises at least one light-emitting diode (“LED”). While the LED may emit “white” light, in some embodiments the LED is an ultraviolet LED, emitting light in the range of about 375 nm, and in other embodiments the light emitted by the LED is controllably variable in color. 
   The make-up applicator may be a tube adapted for containing a lipstick, a brush for applying mascara, lip gloss, lip liner or eye liner, or a pencil adapted for applying eye liner. 
   The first end of the body tube may be circular, elliptical, rectangular or triangular in cross-section. 
   In some aspects, the at least one LED is positioned in the annular outer portion of the first end, while in other aspects, the at least one LED is mounted in the interior of the body tube and is communicated by the light transmitting material to a light emitter in the annular outer portion of the first end. The light emitter can be an annular ring of a transparent material. 
   In some aspects, the switch is located integral to a portion of the body tube adapted for receiving a cap to cover the make-up applicator. 
   In some embodiments, the device further comprises at least one of: a memory chip, positioned in the body tube and communicated to the power source and the switch to play words or music upon activation of the switch; and a vibrating device, positioned in the body tube and communicated to the power source and the switch to cause vibration of the body tube upon activation of the switch. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The disclosed embodiments will be better understood when reference is made to the accompanying drawings, wherein identical parts are identified with identical reference numerals and wherein: 
       FIG. 1  shows an exploded view of a first embodiment; 
       FIG. 2  shows an assembled view of the first embodiment; 
       FIGS. 3   a  through  3   d  show a bottom view of the second end of the first embodiment applicator, 
       FIGS. 4   a  through  4   c  show side views of variations means for applying make-up; 
       FIG. 5  shows an assembled side view of a second embodiment; 
       FIG. 6  shows an exploded view of a third embodiment; 
       FIG. 7  shows an assembled side sectional view of the third embodiment; 
       FIG. 8  shows the third embodiment in use; 
       FIG. 9  shows various aspects of a fourth embodiment; and 
       FIGS. 10 through 23  show assembly drawings for a fifth embodiment. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   Many of the features of the make-up applicator  10  of the present invention shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2  (in respective exploded and assembled views) are well known and are not particularly different than the make-up applicator known in the prior art. For example, a lipstick cap  12  is provided for association with the first means  13  for applying make-up, in this particular case a lipstick mechanism with a sleeve  18  containing a lipstick makeup  16 , which may be rotatably withdrawn into the lipstick sleeve when not in use. The lipstick sleeve  18  fits engagingly into a body tube  14  so that the lipstick sleeve extends axially outwardly from a first end of the body tube. In many embodiments, the lipstick cap  12  can be alternatively associated with the second end of the body tube  14  in a reverse direction during use. 
   The make-up applicator  10 , however, has several features that are not disclosed or suggested by the prior art, which has taught the use of small incandescent lamps around the lipstick mechanism  13 . The prior art has also taught the incorporation of a switch mechanism to provide selective lighting of the lamps. In contrast to this, this embodiment provides the lighting in a different manner. Referring to  FIG. 1 , a circuit board  20  is shown that includes at least one light emitting diode (“LED”)  22 , a small battery  24  for powering the LED and appropriate electrical communication to selectively connect the battery to the LED. In the specific embodiment illustrated, in fact, two LEDs  22  are shown on the circuit board  20 . The circuit board  20  is adapted to fit into the bottom of the body tube  14 , that is, an interior portion of the body tube axially inwardly from the first end. 
   Surrounding the lipstick mechanism  13  in the body tube  14  is a lightpipe arrangement  26 . This lightpipe arrangement  26  is characterized by a ring  28  of light-transmitting material with at least one leg member  30 . The number of leg members  30  should correspond to the number of LEDs  22  used in the circuit board  20 . Lightpipe arrangement  26  acts as an annular outer portion of the first end of body tube  14  and fits around the lipstick mechanism  13  to help secure it in the lipstick sleeve. The leg members  30  gather light from the LEDs and transmit the light to the ring, where it is emitted, preferably in a diffuse and uniform manner. In preferred embodiments, there may be some reflective material applied to non-emitting surfaces of the lightpipe arrangement in order to prevent light losses out of these non-emitting surfaces. Also, the index of refraction of the material may be selected to retain light in the lightpipe. For these reasons, the preferred material for the lightpipe mechanism  26  and the leg members  30  will be a clear, polymeric material. 
   While some of the prior art inventions provide relatively complex switching mechanisms for turning their light sources on and off, the use of an LED light source instead of an incandescent lamp in this embodiment eliminates some of this complexity. The low power requirement of the LED compared to an incandescent lamp allows much longer battery life, so it is no longer critical that the light source be deactivated when not needed. In fact, a simple switching mechanism (not shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 ) that activates the LEDs  22  whenever the cap is removed from the sleeve or whenever the cap is engaged with the bottom end of the cap, just to provide a few examples, should be sufficient to protect battery life for at least the expected life of the lipstick itself, at which point the entire device is discarded. In many instances, a switch may be installed in the second end of the body tube  14  to switch the lighting mechanism on and off. 
   As is readily observed, the body tube  14  of  FIG. 1  is elliptical in cross-section. A bottom view of four specific variations of the body tube, illustrating placement of a switch  32  in the second end of the elliptical body tube, is provided in  FIG. 3   a . Placement of an identical switch  32  in the bottom of a second type of body tube  114 , having a circular cross section, is shown in  FIG. 3   b . A yet further use of a switch  32  in the second end of a body tube  214 , having a rectangular cross-section, is shown in  FIG. 3   c . The use of a switch  32  in the second end of a body tube  314 , having a triangular cross-section, is shown in  FIG. 3   d.    
   Just as the cross section of the body tube  14  may be varied in the particular embodiment, the type of means  13  for applying make-up may be varied from embodiment to embodiment.  FIG. 1  shows a first means  13  that is exemplified by the lipstick mechanism.  FIGS. 4   a - c  show, in isolated side views, two types of brushes  113 ,  213  and a pencil  313 , any of which may serve as the means for applying make-up. The brush  113  in  FIG. 4   a  has short, radially extending bristles  40 , which are useful in applying a material such as mascara to the eye lashes. The brush  213  of  FIG. 4   b  has longer, axially extending bristles  42 , which can be used to apply lip gloss, lip liner, and eye liner, as a few examples. The pencil  313  in  FIG. 4   c  can be used to apply eye liner. In each of these cases, the make-up application is achieved by a second end of the mechanism, and it may be necessary to enlarge the diameter of a first end of the mechanism, or to affix a base member, so that the make-up application device is engagingly received in the body tube. 
   Another embodiment  410  of the device is shown in  FIG. 5 , in which the end caps, which would be typically provided, are not shown. In this embodiment  410 , the first means  13  for applying make-up is a lipstick mechanism with a sleeve  18  containing a lipstick makeup  16 , which may be rotatably withdrawn into the lipstick sleeve when not in use. The lipstick sleeve  18  fits engagingly into a first end of the body tube  414  so that the lipstick sleeve extends axially outwardly therefrom. This second embodiment device  410  has several features that are not disclosed or suggested by the prior art. Particularly, the second embodiment  410  has a second end with a cross-section with an inner portion and an annular outer portion. This second end is provided with a second means  43  for applying make-up, a first end thereof positioned in the inner portion of the body tube second end and a second end thereof extending axially outwardly. In the particular example shown, the second end is provided with a second means  43  for applying make-up that is a mascara-type brush of the type shown in  FIG. 4   a.    
   This second embodiment  410  also has a second illuminating means  60  that is equivalent to the first illuminating means represented in  FIG. 1  by the lightpipe arrangement  26 . Internal details of the illuminating means  60  are not specifically disclosed, but it will be understood that they may be similar to any of the internal mechanisms disclosed in this application. It will be understood also that the switch  32  of the previous embodiment will not longer work, since the second end of the body tube is now occupied with a second make-up application means. Thus, the internal mechanisms in the body tube are centrally positioned, and the switch  432  will be preferably centrally located on an external surface of the intermediate portion of the body tube  414 . This body tube  414  can be elliptical, circular, rectangular or triangular in cross section, just as the body tube  14  of the first embodiment  10  has already been demonstrated. 
   While it is possible to have separate means for powering the illuminating means and separate switches  432  on the exterior of the body tube  414 , in most instances, the means for powering and the switch will be consolidated into a single powering means and switch, so that turning the illuminating means on effectively lights both ends of the body tube. 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 6 through 8 , a third embodiment  510  is disclosed. In this embodiment, a luminous body receptacle base  610  with a luminous body receiving holder  12  is provided. This allows placement of the luminous body  620 , the rear of which has a power source switch  621 . The rear of the luminous body also has inner diameter threading  616  on the assembly box cap  615 , to be combined with outer diameter threading  614  at the body of the luminous body receptacle base  610 , thereby forming a unitary body. An LED  625 , a negative electrode conducting plate  624  and a positive electrode conducting plate  623  are provided. There is also a battery  626 , a lipstick assembly  630 , a lipstick rotation ring  632  and a lipstick  633 . The bottom  631  of the lipstick rotation ring  632  can be placed into the lipstick assembly receiving holder  611  at the upper end of the luminous body receptacle base, while the inner diameter  642  of the mirror surface  641  of the top end of the mirror-containing sleeve  640  can be slipped onto the outer diameter of the lipstick receiving holder to contain the lipstick assembly  630 . 
   Further details of the third embodiment  510  are seen in assembled side view in  FIG. 7 . 
   Use of the third embodiment  510  is illustrated in  FIG. 8 . In such a use, the mirror-containing sleeve  640  is pulled off of the luminous body receptacle base  610 . The luminous body receptacle base  610  is held in one hand of the user. By activating the power source switch  621 , the LED  625  mounted near the lipstick assembly  630  is activated, thereby producing an axially extending illumination for the lips  660  of the user. The mirrored surface  641  of the mirror-containing sleeve  640  may be held in the other hand of the user, thereby providing a mirror, if desired. 
   It will be readily understood that this third embodiment  510  places the LEDs directly at the first end of the body tube  614 , rather than positioning them internally to the body tube. It will also be readily understood that the third embodiment shows the use of only one end of the body tube  614  for receiving make-up applying means, but that both ends of the body tube can be so provided if desired, in the manner described above. 
   Beyond the prior embodiments, additional embodiments are encompassed within the scope of the present invention. For example, an embodiment shown in  FIG. 9  replaces a conventional non-tapered housing for the applicator with a housing that closely resembles a writing pen, with the applicator apparatus extending from the “cap” end of the housing and the power supply and light source built into the cap. If the cap is threadingly fitted to the body, this embodiment is particularly amenable to a switch means that is activated by removing the cap from the body and deactivated by replacing the cap. 
     FIGS. 10 through 23  show a fifth embodiment of the device. Of these,  FIG. 10  shows various views of the assembled device.  FIG. 11  shows aspects of the bottle portion.  FIG. 12  shows aspects of the base or cap portion.  FIG. 13  shows the battery housing.  FIG. 14  shows the body housing.  FIG. 15  shows the screw neck for the bottle.  FIG. 16  shows the applicator, and particularly the female threading that corresponds to the male threading on the screw neck of  FIG. 15 .  FIG. 17  shows a square ring used at the mating face of the bottle and the body.  FIG. 18  shows a doefoot, for use at a distal end of the applicator.  FIG. 19  shows a wiper/filter.  FIGS. 20 through 23  show various pieces of the switch mechanism. 
   In yet further embodiments in which the conventional housing is utilized, the space provided may allow the implementation of further electronic features beyond the LED lighting. Particularly, incorporation of a memory chip can permit words or music to be played upon activation of the switch. The words or music may be selected by the purchaser of the device, or may be used to incorporate words, music, or both, that can serve as a source indicator. Installation of a “vibrator” device, as used in cell phones and the like, may also be feasible. Since these devices are conventionally available and are implemented by connecting a switched power source, the variety of combinations of such devices is large. 
   While the light source that is preferred for use in low-light application situations is a “white” LED, light emitting diodes are commercially available in a number of colors, as well as being controllably variable in color. A type of LED that may be particularly attractive in some applications is an ultraviolet (“UV”) or “blacklight” LED, which would typically have an emitted light in the 375 nm range. 
   Many variations within the scope of the appended claims will be apparent to those of skill in the art once the principles described herein are understood.