Cosmetic Applicator with Torque Limiter

• US 20080196735A1
• Filed: 02/21/2007
• Published: 08/21/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/21/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Galleria Co (Agnaten SE)
• Original Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Inventors: Wyatt, Peter Jonathan, Rainey, Donald Frank, Wilson, David Edward, Jadin, Tamela Suzanne
• Granted Patent: US 8,485,201 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 132/218
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 2200/207 Vibration, e.g. ultrasound
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 40/265 connected to the cap of the container
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 13/02 power-driven carriers
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 2200/1053 Cosmetics applicator specifically for mascara

Abstract

A cosmetic applicator includes a handle, a drive coupled to the handle, an applicator head coupled to the drive, and a torque limiter. The torque limiter includes a magnetic coupling, the magnetic coupling being coupled to at least one of the drive and the applicator head such that the torque applied via the applicator head does not exceed a predetermined allowable torque.

Claims

1. A cosmetic applicator comprising:

a handle;

a drive coupled to the handle;

an applicator head coupled to the drive; and

a torque limiter comprising a magnetic coupling,

the magnetic coupling being coupled to at least one of the drive and the applicator head such that the torque applied via the applicator head does not exceed a predetermined allowable torque.

2. The cosmetic applicator according to claim 1, wherein the drive comprises an electric motor.

3. The cosmetic applicator according to claim 1, wherein the drive comprises a mechanical motor.

4. The cosmetic applicator according to claim 1, wherein the magnetic coupling is coupled between the applicator head and the drive to transmit motion between the drive and the applicator head.

5. The cosmetic applicator according to claim 1, wherein the magnetic coupling comprises at least one electromagnet.

6. The cosmetic applicator according to claim 1, wherein the magnetic coupling comprises at least one permanent magnet.

7. The cosmetic applicator according to claim 1, wherein the magnetic coupling comprises a first magnet coupled to the drive and a second magnet coupled to the applicator head.

8. The cosmetic applicator according to claim 7, the first and second magnets aligned along a common axis in a first, coupled state, and aligned along parallel axes in a second, decoupled state.

9. The cosmetic applicator according to claim 7, wherein the first and second magnets are disposed with opposing surfaces of the first and second magnets abutting.

10. The cosmetic applicator according to claim 9, at least one of the opposing surfaces of the first and second magnets comprising a coating having a static coefficient of friction and a kinetic coefficient of friction.

11. The cosmetic applicator according to claim 7, wherein the first and second magnets are disposed with a gap therebetween, and wherein the magnetic coupling comprises a spacer disposed in the gap.

12. The cosmetic applicator according to claim 11, wherein the spacer comprises a first layer and a second layer, the first and second layers having opposing surfaces frictional connected to each other.

13. The cosmetic applicator according to claim 1, wherein the magnetic coupling comprises a first magnet coupled to one of the drive and the applicator head and a material having a medium to high magnetic permeability coupled to other of the drive and the applicator head.

14. The cosmetic applicator according to claim 13, wherein the material comprises iron.