Abstract:
Devices capable of holding a large amount of cosmetic product, applying a large amount of the cosmetic product to keratinous fibers without leaving clumps of cosmetic product on the keratinous fibers, while also separating individual keratinous fibers, are provided. Such devices include separators and fibers aligned in such manner as to achieve the aforementioned results.

Description:
[0001]    This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/970,468, filed Sep. 6, 2007. 
     
    
       [0002]    Many devices exist for applying a substance, such as a cosmetic product, to keratinous fibers (e.g., hairs), such as the eyelashes or the eyebrows. As used herein, the term “cosmetic product” includes make-up products. A cosmetic product includes but is not limited to a mascara, a gel product, or a hair dye. Mascara is a commonly used cosmetic product which both lengthens and thickens eyelashes. In order to obtain optimal results, ideally each eyelash should be liberally and uniformly coated with mascara, and the eyelashes should not clump together. In general, the more thickly mascara is applied, the greater the tendency is for the eyelashes to clump together. Despite the large number of devices available, there is still a need to further improve upon these devices in order to obtain the desired optimal results. 
         [0003]    Generally speaking, in accordance with the present invention, devices for applying a cosmetic product to keratinous fibers are provided which avoids the disadvantages of prior art devices. 
         [0004]    in accordance with the purpose of the invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, the invention includes a device for applying a substance to at least one keratinous fiber and includes an applicator with a support extending along a longitudinal axis and attached to a stem and a twisted wire internally contained within the support and extending along the longitudinal axis and having at least one fiber held by the twisted wire; and at least one separator attached or integrally formed as a single piece with the support; and the twisted wire and the fiber held by the twisted wire and the separator appear as alternating rows of separator and fiber on the applicator. A non-limiting example of the device appears in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0005]    in an embodiment the fiber may be a synthetic fiber, a natural fiber, or a mixture of natural and synthetic fiber. The fiber may have a cross-sectional diameter of about 2 to about 14 mils and a uniform density. In one embodiment the fiber may be combined with multiple fibers. In another embodiment the fiber can be a single fiber. The multiple fibers may be tufted. the multiple fibers may be shaped by trimming. 
         [0006]    In an embodiment the fiber density may be about 25 to about 800 fibers per ¼ inch of brush length and extend substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the support. 
         [0007]    In another embodiment the separators and fibers are not in alignment. 
         [0008]    In another embodiment the separators and fibers may be substantially in alignment. 
         [0009]    In another embodiment the separators and the fibers extend 360° around the circumference of the molded support. 
         [0010]    In an embodiment the separator and applicator is made of a synthetic material. In an embodiment the synthetic material may be the same for both the separator and applicator. In another embodiment the applicator and separator are made of different synthetic material. 
         [0011]    In an additional aspect, the invention may include a device for applying, a cosmetic product to at least one keratinous fiber and includes an applicator and a support having at least one hole in the support and the support extending along a longitudinal axis, a stem attached to the support along the longitudinal axis, a top attached to the stem along the longitudinal axis, at least one separator; and at least one fiber inserted in at least one hole in the support, wherein the hole is not a through hole and the fiber and held in at least one hole (not a through hole) in the support by a means that will prevent the fiber from slipping out of the hole when the applicator is inserted or removed from the container for holding the cosmetic product to be applied to the keratinous fiber or from being pulled off by hand. 
         [0012]    In an embodiment the separators and fibers occur in alternating rows along the support. 
         [0013]    In another embodiment the separators and fibers alternate along the same row. 
         [0014]    Still other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the description provided herein. 
         [0015]    The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate a number of non-limiting embodiments of the invention and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0016]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a representative device for applying a cosmetic product to keratinous fibers constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0017]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a representative device for applying a cosmetic product to keratinous fibers constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0018]      FIG. 3  is a partial perspective view illustrating an embodiment of the support having fibers and separators constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0019]      FIG. 4  is a partial perspective view illustrating an embodiment of the support and at least one separator constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0020]    Referring now to the drawing figures where like reference numerals are used for corresponding elements,  FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 2 ,  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4  show perspective views of embodiments of a device of the present invention for applying a cosmetic product to keratinous fibers. The device comprises an applicator  1  which further comprises a support  2 , a stem  3  and a top  4 . The support  2 , stem  3  and top  4  may be produced by molding applicator  1  as a single unit. 
         [0021]    In an alternative embodiment, support  2 , stem  3  and top  4  may be produced as separate elements and then combined to form applicator  1 , where stem  3  runs along the longitudinal axis of support  2  and terminates with top  4 . Support  2  may be attached to stem  3  by any means that will prevent support  2  from slipping off stem  3  when applicator  1  is inserted or removed from a container (not shown) for holding the cosmetic product to be applied to keratinous fibers or from being pulled off by hand. 
         [0022]    Stem  3  may have a twisted wire (not shown) and support  2  would then be attached to stem  3 , and the wire would be encased within support  2 . In this case the support  2  would not be a solid piece to allow the fibers to protrude from the twisted wire and appear to alternate with separators  6  on the support  2 . 
         [0023]    Top  4  may connect to a handle  5 , which may serve as a cap for attaching applicator  1  to a container (not shown) for holding the cosmetic product to be applied to keratinous fibers. 
         [0024]    Support  2  further comprises at least one separator  6 , at least one hole  7  and at least one fiber  8 . In an embodiment, multiple separators  6  and fibers  8  are disposed on support  2  in the longitudinal direction of support  2 . In another embodiment, fibers  8  have a cross-sectional diameter between 2 to 14 mil and project radially outward from support at a length appropriate to apply cosmetic product to the keratinous fibers without any visual clumping. As used herein, the term “mil” means thousandths of an inch. Fibers  8  may be circular, solid or hollow, or have varying cross-sectional shapes such as triangular, square, pentagonal, hexagonal, oval, lobate, triocular, tetraocular and so on. In the case where the cross-section of fibers  8  has an irregular shape, the cross-sectional diameter is measured at its widest point. 
         [0025]    Fibers  8  are preferably inserted into holes  7  of support  2  and may be held in place within holes  7  by any means that will prevent fibers  8  from slipping out of holes  7  when applicator  1  is inserted or removed from a container for holding the cosmetic product to be applied to keratinous fibers or from being pulled off by hand. In an embodiment, fibers  8  are held in place within holes  7  by a twisted wire (not shown) encased within support  2 , the twisted wire having gripped there between fibers  8  (i.e. fibers are held by the twisted wire). Support  2  may have a fiber density ranging from about 25 to 800 fibers per ¼ inch of support length. As used herein, “about” shall generally mean plus or minus 20 percent. The holes are each independent of each other and do not create through holes in the support. 
         [0026]    Separators  6  may have varying cross-sectional shapes such as triangular, square, pentagonal, hexagonal, oval, lobate, triocular, tetraocular and so on, and may taper according to such shapes at the ends farthest away from support  2 . 
         [0027]    Separators  6  and fibers  8  are disposed 360° around the circumference of support  2 . Rows of separators  6  and fibers  8  may be disposed in the longitudinal direction of support  2 . The rows may be in substantial alignment with one another, or in the alternative, the rows may not be in alignment. Separate rows of separators  6  may alternate with separate rows of fibers  8  around the circumference of support  2 . Alternatively, rows comprising a mixture of separators  8  and fibers  6  may be disposed around the circumference of support  2 . 
         [0028]    The elements of applicator  1  (i.e., support  2 , stem  3 , top  4 , separators  6 , fibers  8 ) may be produced from a synthetic material, which may be relatively rigid or relatively soft. Examples of synthetic material include, but are not limited to, a thermoplastic polymeric material such as nylon, polyester, polytetrafluoroethylene, polyethylene, and polypropylene. Additional examples include, but are not limited to, styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene, silicone, ethylene-propylene, terpolymer rubber, nitrile, polyamide, vinyl elastomer, polyolefin, polystyrene, polyethylene terephthalate, polyoxymethylene, and polymethyl methacrylate. 
         [0029]    Support  2  is preferably manufactured using a molding process. The molding process may be, for example, a block molding process or a pour molding process, both of which are known in the art. The mold for either the block molding process or pour molding process may include at least one cavity for forming at least one separator  6 . In a preferred embodiment, the mold may include a plurality of cavities for forming a plurality of separators  6 . The mold for either the block molding process or pour molding process would also contain at least one protrusion for forming at least one hole  7  in support  2 . In a preferred embodiment, the mold would include a plurality of protrusions for forming a plurality of holes  7  in support  2 . In an alternative embodiment, at least one hole  7 , but preferably a plurality of holes  7 , may be formed in support  2  by applying a hole punch to support  2 . Regardless of how the holes are formed the holes do not extended through the support from one side to the other (through hole). 
         [0030]    In an embodiment, the holes contain at least one fiber held in place by a fastener. The fastener may extend in a direction substantially perpendicular to axis of the fiber. In a preferred embodiment there are more than one fiber contained in the hole and held in place by the fastener. In an embodiment, the fastener may be a peg. In another embodiment the fastener may be a twisted wire. 
         [0031]    The cross-section of the at least one hole could be one of square, oblong, and non-circular at some position between ends of the at least one hole. The at least one hole may comprise a countersink adjacent to an end thereof. 
         [0032]    In the embodiment having a plurality of holes, the plurality of holes may comprise at least one row of holes. The at least one row of holes may be disposed in a staggered configuration or a straight configuration. In all cases the holes do not extend through the support from one side to the other. 
         [0033]    In one embodiment, separators  6  are produced during the same molding process used to produce support  2  wherein separators  6  are integrally formed as part of support  2 . As used herein, “integrally formed” means to be made as a single piece with the molded separator. The separators may also be formed as a single piece attached to the molded support  2 . Separators  6  are also preferably made of the same synthetic material as support  2 . In an alternative embodiment, separators  6  may be produced from a different synthetic material than that of support  2  provided separators  6  and support  2  are integrally formed during the same molding process or attached to the molded support so the separator appears as a single piece with the molded support. One of skill in the art would know which synthetic materials would be most compatible with each other in order to produce a support of one synthetic material and separators of a second synthetic material during the molding process. 
         [0034]    in another embodiment, fibers  8  may be produced from synthetic material. In another embodiment, fibers  8  may be produced from natural fibers, which are fibers not made of synthetic material. Examples of natural fibers include, but are not limited to, animal hair/bristles and plant fibers. In an alternative embodiment, a plurality of natural fibers and synthetic fibers may be used together to form fibers  8 . In yet another alternative embodiment, support  2  may comprise a mixture of fibers  8  wherein at least one of a plurality of holes  7  contains fibers  8  produced from natural fibers only and at least one of a plurality of holes  7  contains fibers  8  produced from synthetic fibers only. 
         [0035]    Accordingly, the present invention provides devices which are capable of applying a visible amount of cosmetic product to keratinous fibers without leaving visible clumps of cosmetic product on the keratinous fibers while also separating the individual keratinous fibers. 
         [0036]    The terms used in this specification generally have their ordinary meanings in the art, within the context of the invention, and in the specific context where each term is used. Certain terms are discussed below, or elsewhere in the specification, to provide additional guidance to the practitioner in describing the compounds, compositions, and methods of the invention and how to make and use them. Moreover, it will be appreciated that the same thing can be said in more than one way. Consequently, alternative language and synonyms may be used for any one or more of the terms discussed herein, nor is any special significance to be placed upon whether or not a term is elaborated or discussed herein. The use of examples anywhere in this specification, including examples of any terms discussed herein, is illustrative only, and in no way limits the scope and meaning of the invention or of any exemplified term. Likewise, the invention is not limited to the examples presented.