Patent ID: 7500799

Claim:
A cosmetic dispenser for producing an axial movement of a volume of cosmetic between an extended disposition and a retracted disposition, the cosmetic dispenser comprising: a cam member with a proximal portion, a distal portion, and an annular outer wall surface with an outer diameter; an adapter member with a proximal end, a distal end, a wall with an inner wall surface with an inner diameter, and an open inner volume for receiving the distal portion of the cam member in a relatively rotatable, mating relationship; an elevator member comprising a cosmetic retaining portion and an elevator rod wherein the elevator rod is retained for axial movement in relation to the adapter member; a means for producing an axial movement of the elevator member in response to a rotation of the cam member in relation to the adapter member; a means for inducing frictional drag between the cam member and the adapter member during a rotation therebetween wherein the inner diameter of the adapter member is greater than the outer diameter of the cam member by a diametrical difference, wherein the means for inducing frictional drag between the cam member and the adapter member comprises at least one drag protuberance interposed between the inner diameter of the adapter member and the outer diameter of the cam member wherein the at least one drag protuberance produces an effective change in diameter greater than the diametrical difference between the inner diameter of the adapter member and the outer diameter of the cam member, wherein the at least one drag protuberance projects from the inner wall surface of the wall of the adapter member, wherein the effective change in diameter produces a reduced effective diameter of the adapter member, wherein the wall of the adapter member is resiliently deflectable in proximity to the at least one drag protuberance whereby the at least one drag protuberance can resiliently deflect to enable the cam member to be engaged with the adapter member in a mating relationship and to produce a frictional drag therebetween, wherein the wall of the adapter member has a portion with a general wall thickness, wherein the wall of the adapter member has a thinned wall portion having a smaller area than an area of the portion of the wall having the general wall thickness and that surrounds the at least one drag protuberance, and wherein the thinned wall portion has a thickness that is less than the general wall thickness and that is sufficiently thin to permit a resilient deflection of the at least one drag protuberance.