CONTROL SURFACES FOR APPLICATOR WITH MOVEABLE APPLICATOR HEAD

• US 20090154985A1
• Filed: 07/29/2008
• Published: 06/18/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Galleria Co (Agnaten SE)
• Original Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Inventors: Wyatt, Peter Jonathan, Beattie, Neil Scott, Rabe, Thomas Elliot, Ager, Colin Dennis, Cauwood, Peter David, Wilson, David Edward, Winter, Florina
• Granted Patent: US 8,985,883 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 401/126
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 5/0095 Removable or interchangeable brush heads
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 7/04 interchangeably removable bristle carriers

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a cosmetic applicator comprising a handle having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the handle comprises a drive; an applicator head operatively associated with the drive to move at least part of the applicator head relative to the handle; and a control surface disposed at the proximal end of the handle and operatively associated with the drive. The control surface may be rotatable about a control surface axis through a plurality of positions and the control surface axis may be aligned with the longitudinal axis of the handle. The control surface may be moveable through a plurality of positions. The applicator may comprise an additional control surface, such as a second control surface or temporary control surface, which may be operated independently or in combination with the first control surface.

Claims

1. A cosmetic applicator comprising:

a handle having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the handle comprises a drive;

an applicator head operatively associated with the drive to move at least part of the applicator head relative to the handle; and

a control surface disposed at the proximal end of the handle and operatively associated with the drive;

wherein the control surface is rotatable about a control surface axis through a plurality of positions;

wherein the control surface axis is aligned with the longitudinal axis of the handle.

2. The applicator of claim 1, wherein the plurality of positions comprises at least a first position corresponding to a first state, a second position corresponding to a second state, and a third position corresponding to a third state;

wherein movement of the control surface among the plurality of positions causes the drive to operate according to the first state, the second state, and the third state;

wherein the first state corresponds to rotation of the applicator head in a first direction and the third state corresponds to rotation of the applicator head in a second direction; and

wherein the direction of rotation of the control surface corresponds to the direction of rotation of the applicator head.

3. A cosmetic applicator comprising:

a handle having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the handle comprises a drive;

an applicator head operatively associated with the drive to move at least part of the applicator head relative to the handle; and

a control surface disposed at the proximal end of the handle and operatively associated with the drive, the control surface moveable through a plurality of positions;

wherein the plurality of positions comprises at least a first position corresponding to a first state, a second position corresponding to a second state, and a third position corresponding to a third state;

wherein movement of the control surface among the plurality of positions causes the drive to operate according to the first state, the second state, and the third state;

wherein two or more states correspond to no motion of the applicator head and one or more states correspond to motion of at least part of the applicator head.

4. The applicator of claim 3, wherein the plurality of positions comprises a fourth position corresponding to a fourth state;

wherein movement of the control surface among the plurality of positions causes the drive to operate according to the first state, the second state, the third state, and the fourth state;

wherein the first state corresponds to no motion of the applicator head, the second state corresponds to a first motion of at least part of the applicator head, the third state corresponds to no motion of the applicator head, and the fourth state corresponds to a second motion of at least part of the applicator head; and

wherein the second position and fourth position are separated by a position corresponding to no motion.

5. The applicator of claim 4, wherein the first motion and second motion are rotating motions, and wherein one of the first motion or second motion rotates in a first direction and the other of the first motion or second motion rotates in a second direction.

6. The applicator of claim 3, wherein the control surface axis is aligned with the longitudinal axis of the handle.

7. The applicator of claim 3, wherein the control surface axis is orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the handle.

8. The applicator of claim 3, wherein the control surface is biased towards one or more of the plurality of positions.

9. The applicator of claim 3, wherein between any two positions there may be a continuum of states which correspond to varying speeds or intensities of the motions of the two positions.

10. The applicator of claim 9, wherein between any two positions there may be one or more states corresponding to no motion of the applicator head.

11. The applicator of claim 3, wherein the applicator comprises a bottle, wherein the drive is moveable into a state corresponding to no motion when the handle is torqued onto the bottle, wherein the state corresponds to a lock position.

12. The applicator of claim 3, wherein the applicator comprises a bottle, wherein the drive is moveable into a state corresponding to no motion when the handle is torqued off of the bottle, wherein the state corresponds to a lock position.

13. A cosmetic applicator comprising:

a handle having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the handle comprises a drive;

an applicator head operatively associated with the drive to move at least part of the applicator head relative to the handle;

a first control surface disposed at the proximal end of the handle and operatively associated with the drive, the first control surface moveable through a plurality of positions; and

a second control surface disposed at the proximal end of the handle and operatively associated with the drive, wherein the second control surface may be operated independently or in combination with the first control surface.

14. The applicator of claim 13, wherein operation of the second control surface in combination with the first control surface varies the type of movement for at least part of the applicator head.

15. The applicator of claim 13, wherein operation of the second control surface in combination with the first control surface varies the speed of movement for at least part of the applicator head.

16. The applicator of claim 13, wherein operation of the second control surface engages a fixed speed of movement for at least part of the applicator head for a fixed period of time.

17. The applicator of claim 13, wherein operation of the second control surface engages a record or playback mode.

18. A cosmetic applicator comprising:

a handle having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the handle comprises a drive;

an applicator head operatively associated with the drive to move at least part of the applicator head relative to the handle;

a first control surface disposed at the proximal end of the handle and operatively associated with the drive, the first control surface moveable through a plurality of positions; and

a temporary control surface operatively associated with the drive which prohibits operation of the first control surface, wherein operation of the temporary control surface causes the drive to operate according to a state corresponding to motion of the applicator head.

19. The applicator of claim 18, wherein an insulating strip operatively associates the temporary control surface with the power source.

20. The applicator of claim 18, wherein the temporary control surface is operatively associated with the power source.

21. The applicator of claim 18, wherein the temporary control surface is operatively associated with a power source separate from the applicator.

22. The applicator of claim 18, wherein the temporary control surface is disposed on a secondary packaging.