Patent ID: 7651288

Claim:
A cosmetic applicator, comprising: (a) an elongate hollow threadable insert having a mouth situated at a front end thereof and an interior diameter defining, at a proximal end thereof, a circumferential plurality of elongate splines, said proximal end upon an exterior surface thereof including an integral partially circumferential cam terminating in a radial edge, said threadable insert having a direction of rotation about a longitudinal axis of said applicator, (b) a cartridge for receiving a column of cosmetic to be applied to the user, said cartridge including a front portion having a radial cross-section, an annular collar, and a proximal portion having a cylindrical internal diameter proportioned for press-fittable receipt of said threaded insert, said cam of said proximal end of said threadable insert engaging a plurality of segmented resilient locking surfaces of said proximal portion and defining a limit of rotation of said cam of said threadable insert relative to said cartridge; (c) a piston having a threaded rod proportioned in diameter for push-fittable axial insertion through said threadable insert and for threadable engagement therewith when said insert is locked into said cartridge, said threaded rod proportioned in length to extend to said elongate splines within said interior diameter of said threadable insert, said piston integrally dependent from a front end of said threaded rod; and (d) an elongate proximal hollow body proportioned for press-fittable, rotational engagement about said cartridge.