Abstract:
A cosmetic applicator including a base container defining a cosmetic chamber with an opening thereinto and a cap supporting an applicator rod extending to an applicator head. A rechargeable power reservoir is positioned within the cap. A control panel is positioned within the cap and associated with the rechargeable power reservoir. A heating mechanism extends within the applicator rod and supports one or more heating elements adjacent the applicator head. The heating elements are associated with the control panel for selective activation thereof.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    This invention relates to a cosmetic applicator. More particularly, the invention relates a cosmetic applicator configured to selectively heat a desired portion of the applicator head. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Cosmetic products such as mascara and liquid eyeliner are stored in paste or fluid form in closed containers at room temperature. The product remains in this condition until it is exposed to air. One consequence of exposure to air is that during immediate use the user has a certain amount of time in which to apply additional coats of makeup before it starts to harden. Another consequence is that with continued use, the cosmetic tends to build, clog, and harden on the applicator rod, brush and inside the cosmetic container. 
         [0003]    Additionally, to achieve a desired look, many individuals utilize a heated curler to curl their eyelashes, either before or after application of the cosmetic. Consequently, a user must use two separate brushes or devices to apply the cosmetic and to also shape their lashes in a desired manner. 
         [0004]    Additionally, some cosmetic formulations are limited due to the room temperature nature of the formula which limits the variety of suitable ingredients. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    In at least embodiment, the present invention provides a cosmetic applicator including a base container defining a cosmetic chamber with an opening thereinto and a cap supporting an applicator rod extending to an applicator head. A rechargeable power reservoir is positioned within the cap. A control panel is positioned within the cap and associated with the rechargeable power reservoir. A heating mechanism extends within the applicator rod and supports one or more heating elements adjacent the applicator head. The heating elements are associated with the control panel for selective activation thereof. 
         [0006]    In another aspect, the cosmetic applicator may further include a charging assembly positioned within base container. The charging assembly may include a charging port in electrical communication with the control panel and rechargeable power reservoir. The cosmetic applicator may further include at least a first contact associated with the cap and a second contact associated with the base container and configured such that when the cap is secured on the base reservoir, the first and second contacts are engaged and the charging port is in electrical communication with the control panel and rechargeable power reservoir. 
         [0007]    In another aspect, the cosmetic applicator may include at least a first contact associated with the cap and a second contact associated with the base container and configured such that when the cap is removed from the base reservoir, the first and second contacts are disengaged and the control panel activates the at least one heating element. 
         [0008]    In at least one aspect, the inclusion of a heating mechanism allows application of an increased variety of ingredients and a superior quality of cosmetic formula to be used. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]    The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and constitute part of this specification, illustrate the presently preferred embodiments of the invention, and, together with the general description given above and the detailed description given below, serve to explain the features of the invention. In the drawings: 
           [0010]      FIG. 1  is a side elevation view of an exemplary cosmetic applicator in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view along the line  2 - 2  in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is a bottom view of the cosmetic applicator of  FIG. 1  illustrating the charging port cover in a closed position. 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is a bottom view similar to  FIG. 3  illustrating the charging port cover in an open position. 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view similar to  FIG. 2  illustrating another exemplary cosmetic applicator in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0015]    In the drawings, like numerals indicate like elements throughout. Certain terminology is used herein for convenience only and is not to be taken as a limitation on the present invention. The following describes preferred embodiments of the present invention. However, it should be understood, based on this disclosure, that the invention is not limited by the preferred embodiments described herein. 
         [0016]    Referring to  FIGS. 1-4 , an exemplary cosmetic applicator  10  in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention will be described. The cosmetic applicator  10  generally includes a base container  50  and a removable cap  20 . The cap  20  includes a housing  22  extending from a closed end to an open end  26 . Internal threads  28  are provided adjacent the open end  26  for connection of the cap  20  to the base container  50 . A bridge  30  extends across the housing  22  and supports a hollow applicator rod  32  which terminates in an applicator head  34 . In the illustrated embodiment, the applicator head  34  includes a plurality of radially extending bristles  35 , however, the applicator head  34  may have other configurations. A space  25  is defined within the housing  22  between the bridge  30  and the closed end  24 . The space  25  houses a control panel, for example, in the form of a printed circuit board (PCB)  40 , and a power reservoir  42 , as will be described in more detail hereinafter. 
         [0017]    The base container  50  includes a housing  52  extending from a closed end  54  to an open end  56 . The open end  56  preferably tapers to an externally threaded neck  57  configured to mate with the threads  28  of the cap  20 . An interior bottom wall  60  extends across the housing  52  spaced from the closed end  54  such that a charging port area  55  is defined between the closed end  54  and the wall  60  and a cosmetic chamber  59  is defined between the wall  60  and the open end  56 . The applicator head  34 , and in some cases a portion of the applicator rod  32 , are configured to be received through the open end  56  and into the cosmetic chamber  59  to access a cosmetic (e.g. mascara, eye liner or the like) (not shown) stored within the chamber  59 . 
         [0018]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , the PCB  40  supports electronic components and conductive elements. Among the conductive elements supported by the PCB, are electrical leads  41  and/or terminals that are effective to connect the PCB  40  to the power reservoir  42 . The power reservoir  42  is preferably in the form of a rechargeable power storage device or accumulator, for example, a rechargeable battery or capacitor. By utilizing a rechargeable storage device, the size of the power reservoir  42  may be minimized by requiring storage of sufficient energy for a number of applications, but not a need to store enough energy for the lifetime of the cosmetic product. By minimizing the size of the power reservoir  42 , the PCB  40  and power reservoir  42  may be stored within the space  25  without significantly increasing the length L 1  or weight of the cap  20 . This allows for the applicator  10  to provide nearly identical experience of a traditional cosmetic package. For example, in a cosmetic applicator, the cap  20  may have a length L 1  of approximately 40 mm while the base container has a length L 2  of approximately 75 mm. The length L 2  of the base container  50  is approximately twice the length L 1  of the cap  20 . 
         [0019]    In the present embodiment, the PCB  40  is electronically connected with a charging port  70  such that the PCB  40  controls charging of the power reservoir  42 . In the illustrated embodiment, the PCB  40  includes leads  43  connected to one or more contacts  44  adjacent the open end  26  of the cap  20 . Similarly, the charging port  70  includes pins  72  with contacts  74  connected via lead lines  75  to contacts  76  positioned proximate the open end  56  of the base container  50 . The contacts  44  and  76  are positioned such that they will be in electrically conductive relationship to one another when the cap  20  is secured to the base container  50 . As such, when the cap  20  is secured, the PCB  40 , and thereby the power reservoir  42 , is in electrical communication with the charging port  70 . The charging port  70  may have various configurations, for example, USB, Thunderbolt, Pogopin, Firewire, and any other similarly functioning methods. While wired charging is described herein, it is also contemplated that the power reservoir  42  may be charged utilizing a non-contact energy delivery method. For example, non-contact energy delivery methods may include Qi, Witricity, PMA and any other similarly functioning methods. 
         [0020]    Positioning of the charging port  70  in the closed end  54  of the base container  50  generally provides a better aesthetic appearance; however, it is contemplated that the charging port or a non-contact charging mechanism may be provided in the cap  20 . For further aesthetics, a cover  64  may be slidably positioned relative to the opening  62  into the charging port  70 . The cover  64  may be moved between the closed position illustrated in  FIG. 3  and the open position illustrated in  FIG. 4 . 
         [0021]    Referring again to  FIG. 2 , a heating mechanism  46  extends within the applicator rod  32  to the application head  34 . The heating mechanism  46  is connected via a lead  45  or the like to the PCB  40 . A plurality of heating elements  48  are positioned along the mechanism  46  in the area of the application head  34 . The PCB  40  is configured to selectively energize the heating elements  48 , the energy from which radiates to the application head  34 , and the bristles  35  if included. The heating elements  48  may include a plurality of fixed value resistors electronically arranged in series, parallel, or any combination thereof. The heating elements  48  may be arranged in any desired configuration with respect to the heating mechanism  46 . Additionally, while separate elements  48  are illustrated, it is contemplated that a single element may extend a desired length of the applicator head, for example, linearly or spirally thereabout. The PCB  40  is configured such that the heating elements  48  can deliver a varying amount of energy at any point along the length of the applicator head  34 . Additionally or alternatively, the mechanical arrangement of the heating element may further be utilized to control the amount of energy at any point along the length of the applicator head  34 . Preferably, one or more temperature sensors  47  are provided along the applicator head  34  to monitor the temperature and provide such information to the PCB  40 . Additionally or alternatively, the applicator head  34  and/or bristles  35  may be manufactured from a heat sensitive material such they change color in response to the temperature thereof. 
         [0022]    In the illustrated embodiment, the PCB  40  is configured to activate the desired heating elements  48  when the cap  20  is removed from the base container  50 , i.e. the PCB  40  recognizes when the contacts  44  and  76  are disengaged from one another and thereby activates the heating elements  48 . Alternative methods of operation, for example, an on/off switch may be utilized. 
         [0023]    Referring to  FIG. 5 , another exemplary cosmetic applicator  10 ′ in accordance with the invention will be described. The applicator  10 ′ is substantially the same as in the previous embodiment and only the differences will be described herein. In the present embodiment, the cap  20 ′ includes an opening in the housing  22 ′ through which a control button  29  extends. The control button  29  allows the user to control the amount of heat to be applied by the heating elements  48 . The button  29  may also be utilized as an on/off switch. 
         [0024]    Additionally, the applicator  10 ′ includes one or more heating elements  61  which extend within the chamber  59  along the interior of the housing  52 ′ of the base  50 ′. The heating elements  61  are connected via lead lines  63  or the like to the PCB  40 . The PCB  40  may activate the heating elements  61  to heat the cosmetic within the chamber  59 , for example, to melt dried up cosmetic. 
         [0025]    These and other advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the foregoing specification. Accordingly, it will be recognized by those skilled in the art that changes or modifications may be made to the above-described embodiments without departing from the broad inventive concepts of the invention. It should therefore be understood that this invention is not limited to the particular embodiments described herein, but is intended to include all changes and modifications that are within the scope and spirit of the invention as defined in the claims.