Adjustable wiper container and applicator assembly for cosmetics and the like

• US 4,241,743 A
• Filed: 03/13/1979
• Issued: 12/30/1980
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/1979
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Noxell Corporation (Agnaten SE)
• Original Assignee: Noxell Corporation (Agnaten SE)
• Inventors: Chernack, Milton P., Perry, Gordon R., Wilkes, Lawrence T., Schnabel, Peter W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Granger, Theodore A.
• Application Number:
  US06/020,247
• Time in Patent Office: 658 Days
• Field of Search: 132/88.5, 132/88.7, 401/122, 401/128
• US Class Current: 401/122
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 40/268 with adjustable wiping action

Abstract

An adjustable wiper container and applicator assembly for applying cosmetics such as mascara and the like to eyelashes including an applicator having an elongated stem terminating in an elongated brush-like applicator head formation and a container for the cosmetic material in which the brush-like applicator head formation and adjacent stem portion is to be stored. The container has an opening through which the stem of the applicator is to extend, and an elastic deformable wiper mounted on the container at the opening having movable wiper edge portions providing a variable size wiper orifice through which the applicator head formation is withdrawn for use in applying cosmetic material to the eyelashes or the like. A manually adjustable orifice regulating member movable on the container adjacent the opening is provided for moving the wiper edge portions to vary the positions of the edge portions relative to each other and provide different wiper orifice sizes to control the amount of cosmetic material remaining on the head formation when it is withdrawn from the container.

Claims

1. A cosmetic applicator and container assembly comprising a container for cosmetic material having an opening, an applicator having an elongated stem to extend through the opening and an elongated brush-like applicator head formation extending from and carried by an end of the stem adapted to be stored in the container and coated by the cosmetic material, an elastic deformable wiper mounted on the container at said opening having movable wiper edge portions defining a variable size wiper orifice through which the applicator head formation is to be withdrawn for use of the applicator in applying cosmetic material, and a manually adjustable orifice regulating member movable to various different positions on the container adjacent said opening and having means to vary the positions of said wiper edge portions for moving said wiper edge portions relative to each other to provide different wiper orifice sizes and thereby vary the wiping action of the wiper on the applicator head formation as it is withdrawn for use to control the amount of cosmetic material remaining on the head formation.

2. A cosmetic applicator and container assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein said wiper is an annular collet member having flexibly deformable segment portions extending inwardly of the opening and mounted for movement axially of the opening to vary the wiper orifice size.

3. A cosmetic applicator and container assembly as defined in claim 2, wherein said segment portions are in the form of elongated flexibly deformable fingers spaced circumferentially from each other concentrically about the axis of said opening and having inwardly projecting arcuate wiper lips extending toward said axis and collectively encircling the wiper orifice.

4. A cosmetic applicator and container assembly comprising a container for cosmetic material having an opening, an applicator having an elongated stem to extend through the opening and an elongated brush-like applicator head formation extending from and carried by an end of the stem adapted to be stored in the container and coated by the cosmetic material, an elastic deforamable wiper mounted on said opening of the container having flexibly deformable wiper segment portions defining a variable size wiper orifice through which the applicator head formation is to be withdrawn for use of the applicator in applying cosmetic material, cam surface means engaging said wiper segment portions for flexing them to positions providing various wiper orifice sizes, and a manually operable adjustable ring member surrounding said opening for moving said wiper segment portions relative to said cam surface means to vary the positions of said segment portions for providing different wiper orifice sizes and thereby varying the wiping action of the wiper on the applicator head formation as it is withdrawn for use to control the amount of cosmetic material remaining on the head formation.

5. A cosmetic applicator and container assembly as defined in claim 4, wherein said wiper is an annular collet member having said segment portions extending inwardly of the opening and mounted for movement axially of the opening to vary the wiper orifice size.

6. A cosmetic applicator and container assembly as defined in claim 5, wherein said segment portions are in the form of elongated flexibly deformable fingers spaced circumferentially from each other concentrically about the axis of said opening and having inwardly projecting arcuate wiper lips extending toward said axis and collectively encircling the wiper orifice.

7. A cosmetic applicator and container assembly as defined in claim 5, wherein said container includes an annular throat formation encircling the segment portions of said collet member having a truncated conical inner surface in encircling engagement with said segment portions shaped to form the cam surface means and progressively constrict the wiper orifice as the collet member is moved progressively inwardly within the container opening by said ring member.

8. A cosmetic applicator and container assembly as defined in claim 6, wherein said container includes an annular throat formation encircling the segment portions of said collet member having a truncated conical inner surface in encircling engagement with said segment portions shaped to form the cam surface means and progressively constrict the wiper orifice as the collet member is moved progressively inwardly within the container opening by said ring member.

9. A cosmetic applicator and container assembly as defined in claim 4, wherein said wiper is joined to said ring member for coordinate movement therewith and said ring member and container include coactive screw thread means producing predetermined axial movement of the ring member and wiper relative to the container upon rotation of the ring member about the container opening.

10. A cosmetic applicator and container assembly as defined in claim 6, wherein said wiper is joined to said ring member for coordinate movement therewith and said ring member and container include coactive screw thread means producing predetermined axial movement of the ring member and wiper relative to the container upon rotation of the ring member about the container opening.

11. A cosmetic applicator and container assembly as defined in claim 7, wherein said wiper is joined to said ring member for coordinate movement therewith and said ring member and container include coactive screw thread means producing predetermined axial movement of the ring member and wiper relative to the container upon rotation of the ring member about the container opening.

12. A cosmetic applicator and container assembly as defined in claim 8, wherein said wiper is joined to said ring member for coordinate movement therewith and said ring member and container include coactive screw thread means producing predetermined axial movement of the ring member and wiper relative to the container upon rotation of the ring member about the container opening.

13. A cosmetic applicator and container assembly as defined in claim 4, wherein said adjustable ring member is rotatable about the opening of said container through a predetermined angular range for moving the wiper axially between minimum and maximum orifice sizes, and the ring member and container having coactive releasable detent means for releasably restraining said ring member at a plurality of predetermined angular incremental postions within said range for indicating plural predetermined different orifice sizes.

14. A cosmetic applicator and container assembly as defined in claim 6, wherein said adjustable ring member is rotatable about the opening of said container through a predetermined angular range for moving the wiper axially between minimum and maximum orifice sizes, and the ring member and container having coactive releasable detent means for releasably restraining said ring member at a plurality of predetermined angular incremental postions within said range for indicating plural predetermined different orifice sizes.

15. A cosmetic applicator and container assembly as defined in claim 7, wherein said adjustable ring member is rotatable about the opening of said container through a predetermined angular range for moving the wiper axially between minimum and maximum orifice sizes, and the ring member and container having coactive releasable detent means for releasably restraining said ring member at a plurality of predetermined angular incremental positions within said range for indicating plural predetermined different orifice sizes.

16. A cosmetic applicator and container assembly as defined in claim 8, wherein said adjustable ring member is rotatable about the opening of said container through a predetermined angular range for moving the wiper axially between minimum and maximum orifice sizes, and the ring member and container having coactive releasable detent means for releasably restraining said ring member at a plurality of predetermined angular incremental positions within said range for indicating plural predetermined different orifice sizes.

17. A cosmetic applicator and container assembly as defined in claim 9, wherein said adjustable ring member is rotatable about the opening of said container through a predetermined angular range for moving the wiper axially between minimum and maximum orifice sizes, and the ring member and container having coactive releasable detent means for releasably restraining said ring member at a plurality of predetermined angular incremental positions within said range for indicating plural predetermined different orifice sizes.

18. A cosmetic applicator and container assembly as defined in claim 11, wherein said adjustable ring member is rotatable about the opening of said container through a predetermined angular range for moving the wiper axially between minimum and maximum orifice sizes, and the ring member and container having coactive releasable detent means for releasably restraining said ring member at a plurality of predetermined angular incremental positions within said range for indicating plural predetermined different orifice sizes.

19. A container applicator and container assembly as defined in claim 13, wherein said detent means comprises a plurality of angularly spaced outwardly facing detent notch formations on said container and an inwardly extending detent projection on said ring member disposed to interfit in said notch formations, and said ring member having a flexibly deformable annular wall carrying said detent projection and being manually distortable to withdraw the detent projection from its detent notch for angular adjustment of the ring member to another detent position.

20. A container applicator and container assembly as defined in claim 15, wherein said detent means comprises a plurality of angularly spaced outwardly facing detent notch formations on said container and an inwardly extending detent projection on said ring member disposed to interfit in said notch formations, and said ring member having a flexibly deformable annular wall carrying said detent projection and being manually distortable to withdraw the detent projection from its detent notch for angular adjustment of the ring member to another detent position.

21. A container applicator and container assembly as defined in claim 17, wherein said detent means comprises a plurality of angularly spaced outwardly facing detent notch formations on said container and an inwardly extending detent projection on said ring member disposed to interfit in said notch formations, and said ring member having a flexibly deformable annular wall carrying said detent projection and being manually distortable to withdraw the detent projection from its detent notch for angular adjustment of the ring member to another detent position.