Patent Abstract:
A pen and/or pencil having an opening positioned opposite its writing end for retaining or storing a cosmetic preparation which can be applied to a user. Caps may also be included to cover both the writing end and/or the opposite end containing the cosmetic preparation. The cap covering the cosmetic preparation may also include an applicator such as a wand having a flat, round, or brush shaped tip.

Full Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This patent application is a continuation of Ser. No. 10/308,824 filed Dec. 2, 2002, which claims the benefit of provisional application Ser. No. 60/334,143 filed Nov. 28, 2001. 

   FIELD OF INVENTION 
   The present invention generally relates to a pen and/or pencil apparatus having a cosmetic application and, more particularly, to a pen and/or pencil apparatus containing a cosmetic preparation and/or cosmetic applicator. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Companies that produce cosmetic products are continually trying to make their products more marketable by making them smaller and more compact thereby allowing them to be conveniently carried in a user&#39;s purse or handbag, or even in a student&#39;s backpack. Such companies also know that aside from reducing the space required to carry such items, users of cosmetic products value products that are convenient to use yet capable of discreetly being carried. 
   Accordingly, in an effort to provide compact cosmetic products that can be easily accessed for use while being discreetly carried, the present invention uses small everyday functional items such as pens and pencils to dually function as carriers of cosmetic products. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention is directed to a pen and/or pencil apparatus comprising a first end containing lead or ink for writing, and at least one second end containing a cosmetic preparation for application to a user. The cosmetic preparation may include one or more of a lipstick, a lipliner, a lip color, an eyeliner, an eyelid color, an eyebrow pencil, a cheek color, a mascara, and any other cosmetic preparation capable of being contained within a tubular shaped opening having a diameter approximately equal to the diameter of a functioning pen and/or pencil. The pencil may be either a regular lead based pencil or a mechanical pencil having a telescoping feature to expose additional lead. The pen may be any type of pen such as, for example, a roller ball, a felt tip, etc., and may also have a telescopic feature for presenting the pen during use and storing the pen when not in use. 
   In one aspect of the invention, the first and second ends of the pen and/or pencil may have caps to cover the ink, lead, or cosmetic preparation when not in use. In another aspect of the invention, a cap covering the end containing the cosmetic preparation may include an applicator attached thereto for applying the cosmetic preparation. In still another aspect of the invention, the applicator may include a wand and a tip that is flat, rounded or brush shaped for applying the cosmetic. 
   In yet another aspect of the invention, the end of the pen and/or pencil containing the cosmetic preparation may also include a telescopic feature for presenting non-used portions of the cosmetic preparation when visible portions of the preparation are used up. 
   The present invention is also directed to a method for making a pen and/or pencil apparatus having a cosmetic application which includes providing a tubular member having first and second ends, installing a writing element Such as a pen or pencil tip and ink(or lead in one end of the tubular member for writing, and installing a cosmetic preparation in the opposite end of the tubular member for application to a user. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Additional aspects of the present invention will become more evident upon reviewing the non-limiting embodiments described in the specification and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying figures, wherein like numerals designate like elements, and: 
       FIGS. 1 and 2  are perspective views of a mechanical pencil and roller ball pen, respectively, each having a rounded lip gloss applicator positioned on their opposite ends; 
       FIGS. 3 and 4  are perspective views of a mechanical pencil and roller ball pen, respectively, each having screw caps including wand applicators with rounded tips positioned at their opposite ends; 
       FIGS. 5 and 6  are perspective views of a mechanical pencil and roller ball pen, respectively, each having screw caps including wand applicators with brushes positioned at their opposite ends; 
       FIGS. 7 and 8  are perspective views of a mechanical pencil and roller ball pen, respectively, each having a lip or eye color pencils positioned at their opposite ends; 
       FIGS. 9 and 10  are perspective views of a mechanical pencil and roller ball pen, respectively, each having a lipliner or eyeliner pencil positioned at their opposite ends; and 
       FIGS. 11 and 12  are perspective views of a mechanical pencil and roller ball pen, respectively, each having more than one lip or eye color pencil positioned at their opposite ends. 
       FIG. 13  is a cross-sectional view of  FIG. 5  taken along line  13 - 13  of  FIG. 5  to show the telescopic elements for presenting lead or ink at one end of the pen and/or pencil. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   Preferred exemplary embodiments of the present invention will hereafter be described in conjunction with the description that follows. It will be understood that the detail provided herein is for illustration purposes only and that the subject invention is not so limited. 
   While specific embodiments of the pen/pencil apparatus having cosmetic application will be described in greater detail below, in general, the apparatus of the present invention includes a pen and/or pencil having a first end containing ink or lead for writing, and a second end containing a cosmetic preparation for application to a user. 
     FIGS. 1 and 2  show perspective views of a mechanical pencil  10  and roller ball pen  20 , respectively, each having a rounded lip gloss applicator  30  positioned on their opposite ends. Pencil  10  includes first end  12  having lead  14  for writing and second end  16  having applicator  30  for applying lipgloss and the like. Pencil  10  may also include one or more caps  18  for covering lead  14  and applicator  30  when not in use. It will also be understood by those skilled in the art that ends  12  and  16  of pencil  10  may include telescopic members which allow lead  14  and applicator  30  to be alternatively projected and retracted within ends  12  and  16 , respectively. 
   Pen  20  shown in  FIG. 2  includes first end  22  having roller ball tip  24  and second end  26  having applicator  30  for applying lipgloss and the like. Like pencil  10 , pen  20  may also include one or more caps  28  to cover first and second ends  22  and  26 . First and second ends  26  and  28  may also include telescopic members. Applicator  30  may also be replaced with a lipstick which can be projected and retracted within second ends  16  and  26  of pencil  10  and pen  20 , respectively. 
   Turning now to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , perspective views of a mechanical pencil  40  and roller ball pen  50 , respectively, are shown each having screw caps  48  including wand applicators  58  with rounded tips  59  positioned at their opposite ends. Pencil  40  includes first end  42  having lead  44  for writing and second end  46  having threads  60  which mate with screw cap  48  to secure screw cap  48  to second end  46  of pencil  40 . Second end  46  has an opening  47  that is contiguous with a reservoir (see, for example, reference number  85  in  FIG. 13 ) which functions to retain a cosmetic preparation. Pen  50  includes first end  52  having roller ball tip  54  and second end  56  having threads  60  which mate with screw cap  48  to secure crew cap  48  to second end  56  of pen  50 . Second end  56  has an opening  57  that is contiguous with a reservoir (see, for example, reference number  85  in  FIG. 13 ) which functions to retain a cosmetic preparation. Pencil  40  and pen  50  may also include a cap  61  for covering the first ends  42  and  52  of the pencil  40  and pen  50 , respectively, when not in use. 
   Any number of cosmetic preparations may be contained within the reservoirs contiguous with openings  47  and  57  of ends  46  and  56  of pencil  40  and pen  50 , respectively, thereby enabling tip  59  of applicator wand  58  to absorb and retain the cosmetic prior to its application to a user. Examples of suitable cosmetic preparations include, but are not limited to, powders, creams and lotions for eyes, cheeks and lips. 
     FIGS. 5 and 6  show perspective views of a mechanical pencil  70  and roller ball pen  80 , respectively, each having screw caps  78  including wand applicators  88  with spiral brushes  89  positioned at their opposite ends. Pencil  70  includes first end  72  having lead  74  for writing and second end  76  having threads  90  which mate with screw cap  78  to secure crew cap  78  to second end  76  of pencil  70 . Second end  70  has an opening  71  that is contiguous with a reservoir (see, for example, reference number  85  in  FIG. 13 ) which functions to retain a cosmetic preparation. Pen  80  includes first end  82  having roller ball tip  84  and second end  86  having threads  90  which mate with screw cap  78  to secure screw cap  78  to second end  86  of pen  80 . Second end  86  has an opening  81  that is contiguous with a reservoir (see, for example, reference number  85  in  FIG. 13 ) which functions to retain a cosmetic preparation. Pencil  70  and pen  80  may also include a cap  91  for covering the first ends  72  and  82  of pencil  70  and pen  80 , respectively, when not in use. Mascara is just one example of a suitable cosmetic preparation that might be used with spiral brush  89  of applicator wand  88 . 
     FIG. 13  shows a cross-sectional view taken along line  13 - 13  of  FIG. 5 . 
     FIG. 13  shows a telescopic element  87  contained within the pen and/or pencil apparatus which enables unused portions of a lead or ink based substrate to be extended from the first end  72  of the apparatus.  FIG. 13  also shows a reservoir  85  contiguous with an opening  71  at the second end  76  of pencil  70 . 
     FIGS. 7 and 8  are perspective views of a mechanical pencil  110  and roller ball pen  120 , respectively, each having a lip or eye color pencils positioned at their opposite ends. Pencil  110  includes first end  112  having lead  114  for writing and second end  116  having cosmetic pencil  130  for applying lip color, eye color, and the like. Pencil  110  may also include one or more caps  118  for covering lead  114  and cosmetic pencil  130  when not in use. It will also be understood by those skilled in the art that ends  112  and  116  of pencil  110  may include telescopic members which allow lead  114  and cosmetic pencil  130  to be alternatively projected and retracted within ends  112  and  116 , respectively. 
   Pen  120  shown in  FIG. 8  includes first end  122  having roller ball tip  124  and second end  126  having cosmetic pencil  130  for applying lip color, cheek color, eye color, and the like. Like pencil  110 , pen  120  may also include one or more caps  128  to cover first and second ends  122  and  126 . First and second ends  122  and  126  may also include telescopic members. Cosmetic pencil  130  may also be replaced with a lipstick which can be projected and retracted within second ends  116  and  126  of pencil  110  and pen  120 , respectively. 
     FIGS. 9 and 10  are similar to  FIGS. 7 and 8 , previously described, with the exception that cosmetic pencil  130  shown in  FIGS. 9 and 10  is smaller for cosmetic preparations such as eyeliners, lipliners, and the like. 
   Finally,  FIGS. 11 and 12  show perspective views of a mechanical pencil and roller ball pen, respectively, each having more than one lip or eye color pencil positioned at their opposite ends. For example, cosmetic pencils  130  having different colors  151  and  152  may be stacked on top of one another so that a user may have access to a variety of colors for cosmetic application. 
   While various principles of the invention have been described in illustrative embodiments, many combinations and modifications of the above described structures, arrangements, proportions, elements, materials and components used in the practice of the invention in addition to those not specifically described may be varied and particularly adapted for specific environments and operating requirements, without departing from the principles of the present invention.

Technology Classification (CPC): 1