Cosmetic container and applicator

• US 4,886,387 A
• Filed: 06/01/1984
• Issued: 12/12/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/1984
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Estee Lauder Incorporated (The Estee Lauder Companies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Estee Lauder Incorporated (The Estee Lauder Companies Inc.)
• Inventors: Ferguson, Susan H., Goldberg, Ronald N., Mavroudis, Eugene G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bratlie, Steven A.
• Application Number:
  US06/616,126
• Time in Patent Office: 2,020 Days
• Field of Search: 132/88.5, 132/88.7, 401/109, 401/115, 401/122, 401/274, 401/129
• US Class Current: 401/122
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 40/267 comprising a wiper

Abstract

Disclosed is an improved cosmetic container and applicator comprising: (a) a container having an open and a closed end; (b) an applicator including a cap, an elongated rod, and a brush; (c) an upper wiper element located at or near the open end of the container; and (d) a lower wiper element located further from the open end of the container than the first wiper element, the lower wiper serving to divide the container into two chambers. The upper wiper removes excess makeup from the brush when it is removed from the container and, preferably, also wipes the surface of the rod clean when the rod is removed from the container. The lower wiper cleans the brush after every use, thereby virtually eliminating the building up and drying of makeup that would otherwise occur on the brush.

Claims

1. A cosmetic container and applicator comprising:

(a) a container having an opening at its top for reciprocably receiving the applicator specified in subparagraph (b) hereof;

(b) an applicator comprising a brush at its bottom and an elongated rod that extends longitudinally upwardly from the brush;

(c) an upper wiper element, said upper wire element comprising a wiping surface that defines a first opening through which the elongated rod and brush of the applicator may pass, the first opening in said upper wiper element being dimensioned to engage the brush to remove excessive makeup from the brush when the brush is moved out of the container;

(d) a lower wiper element, said lower wiper element being positioned further from the opening of the container than the upper wiper element, said lower wiper element dividing the container into a top chamber and a bottom chamber, and having a wiping surface which defines a second opening through which the brush may pass, said second opening having a smaller dimension than that of the first opening, said second opening being dimensioned to engage the brush as it passes through the opening so as to remove substantially all of the makeup from said brush as it is passed therethrough, and further wherein said top chamber contains makeup.

2. The cosmetic container and applicator of claim 1 wherein the bottom chamber contains makeup.

3. The cosmetic container and applicator of claim 2 wherein the makeup in the top and bottom chambers is mascara.

4. The cosmetic container and applicator of claim 1 wherein the bottom chamber does not contain makeup.

5. The cosmetic container and applicator of claim 4 wherein the makeup is mascara.

6. The cosmetic container and applicator of claim 4 wherein the bottom chamber contains a material for cleaning makeup from the brush.

7. The cosmetic container and applicator of claim 4 wherein the bottom chamber contains a material for disinfecting the brush.

8. The cosmetic container and applicator of claim 1 wherein the upper wiper element is dimensioned to engage the elongated rod of the applicator to remove makeup from said rod when the rod is moved out of said container.

9. The cosmetic container and applicator of claim 1 wherein the second opening is dimensioned smaller than the diameter of the elongated rod of the applicator.

10. The cosmetic container and applicator of claim 1 wherein the upper wiper element comprises a frusto-conical portion that converges inwardly of the inside wall of the container in a direction away from the top of the container.

11. The cosmetic container and applicator of claim 1 wherein the lower wiper element comprises a frusto-conical portion that converges inwardly of the inside wall of the container in a direction away from the top of the container.

12. The cosmetic container and applicator of claim 10 wherein the lower wiper element comprises a frusto-conical portion that converges inwardly of the inside wall of the container in a direction away from the top of the container.

13. The cosmetic container and applicator of claim 1 wherein the upper wiper element is made of a material that is more resilient than the material from which the lower wiper element is made.

14. The cosmetic container and applicator of claim 1 wherein when the brush is fully inserted into the bottom chamber, the wiping surface of the lower wiper element is positioned beneath the elongated rod.

15. The cosmetic container and applicator of claim 1 wherein the bottom chamber is about the same length as the brush.

16. The cosmetic container and applicator of claim 14 wherein the brush comprises bristles disposed on a brush core.

17. The cosmetic container and applicator of claim 16 wherein the diameter of the brush core is smaller than the diameter of the elongated rod.

18. A cosmetic container and applicator comprising:

(a) a container for holding makeup having a neck and an opening at its top;

(b) an applicator comprising a handle at its top, a brush at its bottom, and an elongated rod having a longitudinal axis that extends between the handle and the brush, the brush and the rod being adapted to be moved into and out of the container through the opening in the container;

(c) an upper wiper element, said upper wiper element comprising a wiping surface that defines a first opening through which the rod and brush of the applicator may pass, said first opening in said upper wiper element being dimensioned to engage the brush to remove excess makeup from the brush when the brush is moved out of the container; and

(d) a lower wiper element said lower wiper element being positioned further from the opening of the container than the upper wiper element, said lower wiper element dividing said container into a top chamber and a bottom chamber, and having a wiping surface that defines a second opening through which the brush may pass, said second opening being dimensioned smaller than the first opening so that in use substantially all of the makeup on the brush is removed therefrom when the brush is moved through the second opening, and further wherein said top chamber contains makeup.

19. The cosmetic container and applicator of claim 18 wherein the upper wiper element is dimensioned to engage the elongated rod of the applicator to remove makeup from said rod when the rod is moved out of said container.

20. The cosmetic container and applicator of claim 19 wherein the lower wiper element comprises a frusto-conical portion that converges inwardly of the inside wall of the container in a direction away from the top of the container.

21. The cosmetic container and applicator of claim 20 wherein the upper wiper element comprises a frusto-conical portion that converges inwardly of the inside wall of the container in a direction away from the top of the container.

22. The cosmetic container and applicator of claim 21 wherein when the brush is fully inserted into the bottom chamber the wiping surface of the lower wiper element is positioned beneath the elongated rod.

23. The cosmetic container and applicator of claim 22 wherein the brush comprises bristles disposed on a brush core.

24. The cosmetic container and applicator of claim 23 wherein the bottom chamber is about the same length as the brush.

25. The cosmetic container and applicator of claim 24 wherein the diameter of the brush core is smaller than the diameter of the elongated rod.

26. The cosmetic container and applicator of claim 25 wherein both the top and bottom chambers contain mascara.

27. The cosmetic container and applicator of claim 18 wherein both the top and bottom chambers contain mascara.

28. The cosmetic container and applicator of claim 18 wherein the top chamber contains mascara and the bottom chamber contains a material for cleaning makeup from the brush.

29. The cosmetic container and applicator of claim 18 wherein the top chamber contains mascara and the bottom chamber contains material for disinfecting the brush.