Applicator with helical applicator surface

• US 8,079,373 B2
• Filed: 09/18/2007
• Issued: 12/20/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Galleria Co (Agnaten SE)
• Original Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Inventors: Wyatt, Peter Jonathan, Sanford, Ronald Alan, Wilson, David Edward, Rabe, Thomas Elliot
• Primary Examiner(s): Manahan, Todd
• Assistant Examiner(s): O'Neill, Brianne
• Application Number:
  US11/857,313
• Publication Number:
  US 20090071499A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,554 Days
• Field of Search: 132/218, 132/318, 132/320, 15/34, 151/640.11, 151/040.4, 151/673, 152/204, 151/82, 151/049.4, 15 23- 24, 401/268
• US Class Current: 132/218
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 2200/155 Heating or cooling means, i.e. for storing or applying cosmetic products at a predetermined temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 2200/157 Heating means for mascara applicators
• 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 11/002 pressurised at moment of use manually or by powered means
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 13/02 power-driven carriers
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 2200/1053 Cosmetics applicator specifically for mascara
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 2200/106 Cosmetics applicator specifically for mascara including comb like element
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 9/021 arranged like in cosmetics brushes, e.g. mascara, nail polish, eye shadow
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 9/028 Bristle profile, the end of the bristle defining a surface other than a single plane or deviating from a simple geometric form, e.g. cylinder, sphere or cone
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 80/00 Products made by additive manufacturing

Abstract

An applicator includes a handle and an applicator head coupled to the handle. The applicator head includes at least one helical applicator surface, the at least one helical applicator surface disposed about a hollow space, and a plurality of projections attached only to a section of the at least one helical applicator surface facing the hollow space. The plurality of projections depend into the hollow space.

Claims

1. An applicator comprising:

a handle; and

an applicator head having two ends, one free end, and the other end coupled to the handle,

the applicator head comprising at least one helical applicator surface, the at least one helical applicator surface disposed about a hollow space that extends from one end to the other end and being longitudinally coextensive therewith, and a plurality of projections attached only to a section of the at least one helical applicator surface facing the hollow space, the plurality of projections depending into the hollow space.

2. The applicator of claim 1, wherein the helical applicator surface is defined by a coil.

3. The applicator of claim 1, wherein the applicator head comprises a plurality of helical applicator surfaces disposed about a hollow space, at least one of the plurality of helical applicator surface having a plurality of projections attached only to a section of the at least one of the plurality of helical applicator surface facing the hollow space, the plurality of projections depending into the hollow space.

4. The applicator of claim 3, wherein each of the plurality of helical applicator surfaces has a plurality of projections attached only to a section of the each of the plurality of helical applicator surfaces facing the hollow space, the plurality of projections depending into the hollow space.

5. The applicator of claim 1, wherein the plurality of projections comprise a plurality of knob-like projections depending from the helical applicator surface.

6. The applicator of claim 1, wherein the plurality of projections comprises a plurality of rod-like projections attached at one end to the helical applicator surface.

7. The applicator of claim 1, wherein the plurality of projections comprises a plurality of plate-like projections attached at one end to the helical applicator surface.

8. The applicator according to claim 1, wherein the helical applicator surface has a different color than at least one of the plurality of projections.

9. The applicator according to claim 8, wherein the at least one of the plurality of projections has a chromatic color, and the helical applicator surface has a non-chromatic color.

10. The applicator according to claim 1, wherein the head comprises a plurality of helical applicator surfaces, as least one of the helical applicator surfaces having a different color than the others of the plurality of helical applicator surfaces.

11. The applicator according to claim 10, wherein the at least one of the helical applicator surfaces has a chromatic color, and the others of the plurality of helical applicator surface has a non-chromatic color.

13. The applicator of claim 8, wherein the first ends of the plurality of projections are uniformly spaced along the at least one helical applicator surface.

14. The applicator of claim 9, wherein the plurality of projections are uniformly spaced along the at least one helical applicator surface.

15. The applicator of claim 8, wherein the applicator head comprises a plurality of helical applicator surfaces disposed about a hollow space, at least one of the plurality of helical applicator surfaces having a plurality of projections attached only to a section of the at least one of the plurality of helical applicator surfaces facing the hollow space, the plurality of projections having a first end attached to the at least one helical applicator surface and a second end depending into the hollow space.

16. The applicator of claim 8, wherein the plurality of projections comprise a plurality of knob-like projections depending from the helical applicator surface.

17. The applicator of claim 8, wherein the plurality of projections comprises a plurality of rod-like projections attached at one end to the helical applicator surface.

18. The applicator of claim 8, wherein the plurality of projections comprises a plurality of plate-like projections attached at one end to the helical applicator surface.

19. The applicator according to claim 1, wherein the helical applicator surface has a different color than the plurality of projections.

20. The applicator according to claim 8, wherein the projections have a chromatic color, and the helical applicator surface has a non-chromatic color.

21. The applicator according to claim 1, wherein the head comprises a plurality of helical applicator surfaces, as least one of the helical applicator surfaces having a different color than the others of the plurality of helical applicator surfaces.

22. The applicator according to claim 10, wherein the at least one of the helical applicator surfaces has a chromatic color, and the others of the plurality of helical applicator surface has a non-chromatic color.

12. An applicator comprising:

a handle; and

an applicator head having two ends, one free end, and the other end coupled to the handle,

the applicator head comprising at least one helical applicator surface, the at least one helical applicator surface disposed about a hollow space that extends from one end to the other end and being longitudinally coextensive therewith, and a plurality of projections attached only to a section of the at least one helical applicator surface facing the hollow space,

the plurality of projections having a first end attached to the at least one helical applicator surface and a second end depending into the hollow space.

23. An applicator comprising:

a handle; and

an applicator head having two ends, one free end, and the other end coupled to the handle,

the applicator head comprising at least one helical applicator surface, the at least one helical applicator surface disposed about a hollow space that extends from one end to the other end and being longitudinally coextensive therewith, and a plurality of projections attached to a section of the at least one helical applicator surface, the plurality of projections attached integrally and continuously to a section of the applicator surface, such that the profile of the head in a first section has a first cross-sectional area and the profile of the head in a second section has a second cross-sectional area.

24. The applicator according to claim 23, wherein the effective pitch in the first section is a first value, and the effective pitch in the second section is a second value different from the first value.

25. The applicator according to claim 23, comprising a drive coupled to the helical applicator surface to automatically move the helical applicator surface relative to the handle.