Method and apparatus for removing excess applique from an applicator

• US 6,264,390 B1
• Filed: 03/02/1999
• Issued: 07/24/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Jennifer Paulson Lee
• Original Assignee: Jennifer Paulson Lee
• Inventors: Utley, George D. III, Lee, Jennifer Paulson
• Primary Examiner(s): Walczak, David J.
• Application Number:
  US09/214,195
• Time in Patent Office: 875 Days
• Field of Search: 401/122, 401/121, 401/126, 401/127, 401/129, 401/118
• US Class Current: 401/122
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 2034/005 with a cartridge
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 40/268 with adjustable wiping action
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 15/00 Other brushes; Brushes with additional arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 15/0095 Brushes with a feature for storage after use
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 2200/1053 Cosmetics applicator specifically for mascara
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 3/18 the bristles being fixed on or between belts or wires
• CPC Class Codes: B44D 3/006 Devices for cleaning paint-applying hand tools after use removing dry paint from surfaces B44D3/16; apparatus for dissolving dry paints B44D3/24; devices for cleaning brushes A46B17/06; cleaning in general B08B

Abstract

A method for removing an excess amount of applique from an applicator including the steps of applying a force to a flexible structure, and pulling the applicator through the flexible structure to engage the applicator with the flexible structure. The device for removing excess applique has a flexible segment which is manually squeezable by the user to engage the flexible segment with the applicator to remove excess applique from the applicator upon passing the applicator through the flexible segment. In one embodiment, the flexible segment includes at least one projection extending from an aperture wall which engages the applicator as the applicator is pulled through the deformed aperture in the flexible segment. In a preferred embodiment, the applique is mascara and the applicator is a mascara brush.

Claims

1. A device for removing excess amounts of applique from an applicator, the device comprising:

a flexible segment having a first end, a second end, and an aperture passing therethrough from said first end to said second end, said aperture having a wall dimensioned to receive said applicator, said flexible segment having an exposed outer surface which is adapted to be grasped directly between the user'"'"'s fingers and also is adapted to engage said applicator upon applying finger pressure thereto so as to manually squeeze said segment and thereby remove excess applique therefrom;

a first threaded fitting connected to said first end of said flexible segment;

a second threaded fitting connected to said second end of said flexible segment;

a housing connected to said second threaded fitting, said housing including a hollow container for storing applique; and

a handle adapted to be connected to the applicator, said handle including a threaded section for engagement with said first threaded fitting.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said applique is mascara and said applicator includes a brush.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein said brush contains a plurality of brush segments, including a first portion having graduated spiraled bristles, a second portion having graduated bristles which are larger and less-spiraled than the bristles of said first portion, and a third portion having non-spiraled bristles which are larger than the bristles of said first and second portions, said non-spiraled bristles being of the same length.

4. The device of claim 2, wherein said housing includes a flat surface portion disposed at one end of said housing, said flat surface portion having a shape to prevent rolling of the device upon placement of the device on a flat surface.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein said flexible segment includes at least one projection extending inwardly from said aperture wall and further is deformable from an undeformed state to a plurality of deformed states upon application of manual force by a user, wherein in said undeformed state said flexible segment and said at least one projection form a space therethrough, said space being larger than the width of the applicator.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein said flexible segment is deformable over a continuously variable range from (a) an undeformed state to (b) a state which prevents removal and insertion of the applicator through said aperture.

7. A mascara applicator system, comprising:

brash means for applying mascara;

means for containing a supply of mascara and at least a portion of said brush means;

continuously variable interference means for removing a user—

selectable amount of excess mascara from said brush means upon removal of said brush means from said mascara supply means;

said continuously viable interference means includes an open-ended passageway and an exposed outer surface portion intermediate the ends of said passageway;

said continuously variable interference mean is fixedly mounted to said mascara container means at one end of said passageway and is removably fixedly mounted to a brush handle means at the other end of said passageway;

whereby upon removal of said brush handle means from said continuously variable interference means said brush means is withdrawn from said mascara container means through said passageway in said continuously variable interference means; and

said continuously variable interferce means is adapted to be squeezed and manipulated by applying finger pressure directly against said intermediate surface portion so as to engage said brush means as said brush means passes through said passageway to thereby wipe the desired amount of excess mascara from said brush means.

8. The mascara applicator system of claim 7, wherein said continuously variable means further includes projection means for removing excess mascara from said brush means.

9. The mascara applicator system of claim 8, wherein said projection means for removing excess mascara comprises a smooth-walled aperture capable of being manually deformed to thereby form an inwardly projecting surface portion.

10. The mascara applicator of claim, 8 wherein said projection means for removing excess mascara includes an aperture wall containing at least one projection member.

11. The mascara applicator system of claim 8 wherein said projection means for removing excess mascara includes an aperture wall having a roughened surface portion.

12. A method of removing an excess amount of applique from an applicator comprising the steps of:

storing a quantity of applique in a housing member, said housing member having an open end;

mounting an open-ended flexible-walled deformable structure to said open end of said housing member,

said open-ended, flexible-walled deformable structure having a passageway therethrough communicating with the ends thereof,

said passageway adapted to receive said applicator therethrough substantially without interference when said deformable structure is in its undeformed state;

inserting said applicator through said passageway in said deformable structure until said applicator is immersed in said applique;

withdrawing said applicator from said applique through said passageway in said deformable structure; and

simultaneously applying finger pressure directly against said deformable structure so as to constrict and engage the inner surface of said passageway with said applicator as said applicator is withdrawn through said passageway to thereby remove excess applique from said applicator.

13. The method of claim 12, further including the step of cleaning applique from said applicator, said step comprising passing said applicator back and forth through said passageway in said deformable structure while simultaneously applying continuous finger pressure directly against said deformable structure to thereby continuously engage the inner surface of said passageway with said applicator.

14. The method of claim 12, further including the step of fixedly mounting said deformable structure to said open end of said housing member.

15. The method of claim 14, farther including the step of removably fixedly mounting said applicator to said deformable structure when said applicator is immersed in said applique.

16. A method of removing an excess amount of applique from an applicator, comprising:

providing a flexible-walled deformable structure having a longitudinal axis and an inner surface defining a generally tubular passageway; and

applying finger pressure directly against the outer surface of said deformable structure so as to constrict said generally tubular passageway; and

pulling said applicator through said constricted generally tubular passageway to thereby forcefully engage said applicator with a longitudinal length of said inner surface thereof to remove an amount of applique from said applicator.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein said deformable structure includes at least one projection extending inwardly from said inner surface along said longitudinal length, and wherein said step of pulling includes engaging said applicator with said at least one projection.

18. The method of claim 16 further comprising:

releasing said finger pressure from said deformable structure, and

thereafter pushing said applicator through said generally tubular passageway so that said applicator passes through said deformable structure without forceful engagement with the inner surface of said generally tubular passageway.

19. The method of claim 16 further comprising:

pushing said applicator through said deformable structure while maintaining said finger pressure directly against the outer surface thereof, to thereby forcefully engage said applicator with said inner surface of said generally tubular passageway during both pushing and pulling of said applicator through said deformable structure.

20. A device for removing excess amounts of applique from an applicator, comprising:

a flexible-walled structure having art end, a second end, and an aperture passing therethrough from said first end to said second end, said aperture having a flexible-walled deformable segment adapted to be manually squeezed by applying finger pressure directly against said deformable segment intermediate said fist and second ends, said deformable segment adapted to engage the applicator when drawn through the aperture while maintained said finger pressure thereagainst and thereby remove excess applique therefrom.

21. The device of claim 20 wherein said flexible segment is substantially spherical in shape.

22. The device of claim 20 wherein the inner surface of said aperture wall includes a roughened surface area.

23. The device of claim 20 wherein said flexible segment includes at least one projection extending inwardly from said aperture wall.

24. The device of claim 20, wherein said flexible segment is deformable from an undeformed state to a plurality of deformed states upon application of finger pressure by a user, wherein in said undeformed state said flexible segment and said at least one projection form a space therethrough, said space being larger than the width of the applicator.

25. The device of claim 23 wherein said at least one projection includes bristles.

26. The device of claim 20 further comprising:

a housing connected to said second end, said housing including a hollow container for storing applique; and

a handle adapted to be connected to the applicator, said handle including a threaded section for engagement with said first end.

27. The device of claim 20, wherein said flexible segment is deformable over a continuously variable range from (a) an undeformed state to (b) a state which prevents removal and insertion of the applicator through said aperture.