Applicator for liquid cosmetic compositions

• US 20060233594A1
• Filed: 12/17/2003
• Published: 10/19/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/14/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Conopco, Inc. (Unilever PLC)
• Original Assignee: Conopco, Inc. (Unilever PLC)
• Inventors: Erickson, Gregory Alan
• Application Number:
  US10/542,425
• Publication Number:
  US 20060233594A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 401/198
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 19/0041 Processes for treating the hair of the scalp
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 2200/1018 comprising a pad, i.e. a cushion-like mass of soft material, with or without gripping means
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 34/04 Appliances specially adapted for applying liquid, e.g. using roller or ball
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 35/003 Portable hand-held applicators having means for dispensing or spreading integral media hand-held massage devices with liquid delivery A61H7/003
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 47/42 with pads or like contents-applying means contents-applying means associated to aerosol container nozzles B65D83/285; brushes combined or associated with containers A46B11/00; swabs for applying media to the human body from an integral supply A61F13/40

Abstract

A product comprising a liquid cosmetic composition (3) and a device (14) for applying the same, said device (14) comprising a porous polymeric applicator head (1), an absorbent material (2) fixed in intimate contact therewith, and a reservoir (4) for the liquid cosmetic composition (3) from which said composition is delivered to the absorbent material (2), characterised in that the total capacity of the absorbent material (2) for the liquid cosmetic composition (3) is less than the amount of liquid cosmetic composition (3) that may be held in the reservoir (4).

Claims

1. A product comprising a liquid cosmetic composition (3) and a device (14) for applying the same, said device (14) comprising a porous polymeric applicator head (1), an absorbent material (2) fixed in intimate contact therewith, and a reservoir (4) for the liquid cosmetic composition (3) from which said composition is delivered to the absorbent material (2), characterised in that the total capacity of the absorbent material (2) for the liquid cosmetic composition (3) is less than the amount of liquid cosmetic composition (3) that may be held in the reservoir (4).

2. A product according to claim 1, wherein contact between the liquid composition (3) in the reservoir (4) and the absorbent material (2) is orientation dependent.

3. A product according to claim 1, comprising a means for maintaining contact between the liquid composition (3) in the reservoir (4) and the absorbent material (2) independent of the orientation of the product.

4. A product according to claim 3, wherein the means for maintaining contact between the liquid composition (3) in the reservoir (4) and the absorbent material (2) comprises a wick-like extension (10, 12) to the absorbent material (2) that extends to the bottom of the reservoir (4) for the liquid composition (3).

5. A product according to claim 4, wherein the surface area of the absorbent material (2) making contact with the porous applicator head (1) is greater than the maximum total cross-sectional area of the one or more wick-like extensions (10, 12).

6. A product according to claim 1, wherein 10% or greater of an inner or lower surface of the applicator head (1) is in intimate contact with the absorbent material (2).

7. A product according to claim 6, wherein 50% or greater of an inner or lower surface of the applicator head (1) is in intimate contact with the absorbent material (2).

8. A product according to claim 1, wherein the applicator head (1) is made of a non-flexible, non-deformable, sintered material.

9. A product according to claim 1, wherein the outer face of the applicator head (1) is domed.

10. A product according to claim 1, wherein absorbent material (2) is a fibrous material or open foam.

11. A product according to claim 1, wherein absorbent material (2) has a gram-for-gram holding capacity for the liquid composition (3) that is greater than the gram-for-gram holding capacity of the porous polymeric applicator head (1).

12. A product according to claim 1, wherein the absorbent material (2) has a total capacity for the liquid composition (3) that is greater than the total capacity of the porous polymeric applicator head (1) for the liquid composition (3).

13. A product according to claim 1, wherein the absorbent material (2) has a total capacity for the liquid composition (3) that is less than half the amount of liquid cosmetic composition that may be held in the reservoir (4).

14. A product according to claim 1, wherein the reservoir (4) takes the form of a collapsible bag.

15. A product according to claim 1, comprising a vent (13) giving the absorbent material (2) and/or the reservoir (4) access to the atmosphere.

16. A method of applying a liquid cosmetic composition (3) to the human body, said method comprising moving across the body surface a device (14) comprising a porous polymeric applicator head (1), an absorbent material (2) fixed in intimate contact therewith, and a reservoir (4) for the liquid cosmetic composition (3) of total capacity for the liquid cosmetic composition (3) greater than that of the absorbent material (2) for the liquid cosmetic composition (3), the liquid cosmetic composition (3) being transferred from the reservoir (4) to the absorbent material (2) and, from there, onward to the body surface via the porous polymeric applicator head (1).

17. A method according to claim 16, wherein the delivery of the liquid cosmetic composition (3) from the absorbent material (2) and through the porous polymeric applicator head (1) is entirely the result of wicking.