Vibratable and reversibly rotatable mascara applicator

• US 8,240,316 B2
• Filed: 03/25/2010
• Issued: 08/14/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hitomi Hombo
• Original Assignee: Hideyoshi Takashima, Jung-Hui Huang
• Inventors: Luo, Yun-Fa
• Primary Examiner(s): Manahan, Todd
• Assistant Examiner(s): SHAH, NIYATI DILIP
• Application Number:
  US12/732,025
• Publication Number:
  US 20110088713A1
• Time in Patent Office: 873 Days
• Field of Search: 132/119.1, 132/218, 132/237, 132/238, 132/239, 132/313, 132/320, 401/118, 401/121, 401/127, 401/128, 401/122, 401/126, 401/129, 401/130, 401/195, 15/221, 15/23, 15/28, 310/81, 310/47
• US Class Current: 132/218
• 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 11/0006 specially adapted to feed the bristle upper surface
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 13/02 power-driven carriers
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 2200/1053 Cosmetics applicator specifically for mascara

Abstract

A mascara applicator includes a main body, a rod and a bottle. The main body defines a receiving space therein. The main body has a power source and a reversible DC motor. The power source electrically connects to the DC motor. The DC motor includes a rotor. At least one counterweight block is disposed on the rotor so that a center of mass of the rotor is offset from the axle. The rod has a first end attached to the axle in a rotational operative relationship and a second end attached with an applicator head. The bottle defines a liquid chamber and an opening. The opening communicates with the liquid chamber, and the rod extending into the liquid chamber through the opening. The rod is sleeved with a gasket, so that the gasket blocks the opening and seals the liquid chamber when the main body is affixed to the bottle.

Claims

1. A vibratable and reversibly rotatable mascara applicator, comprising:

a main body, defining a receiving space therein, the main body having a power source and a reversible DC motor disposed in the receiving space, the power source electrically connecting to the DC motor, the DC motor comprising a rotor and an axle about which the rotor rotates, wherein at lean one counterweight block is disposed on the rotor so that a center of mass of the rotor is offset from the axle;

a rod, having a first end directly or indirectly attached to the axle in a rotational operative relationship and a second end attached with an applicator head;

a bottle, defining a liquid chamber and an opening disposed on one end of the bottle, the opening communicating with the liquid chamber, the rod extending into the liquid chamber through the opening;

wherein the rod is sleeved with a gasket, so that the gasket blocks the opening and seals the liquid chamber when the main body is affixed to the bottle;

wherein the rod has a waist portion with a smaller diameter, the gasket has a joint section and a skirt section, extending from the joint section, the skirt section has an open end facing the DC motor, the joint section has a bore diameter corresponding to the waist portion, and the skirt section has a bore diameter larger than that of the joint section, the joint section sleeves around the waist portion;

wherein the applicator further comprising a collar disposed at a front end of the main body, the collar is formed with inner threads;

wherein the bottle is formed with outer threads around the opening to mate with the inner threads of the collar, and the opening is disposed with an annular wiper through which the rod extends into the livid chamber, the skirt section seals the wiper when the main body is affixed to the bottle;

wherein the collar defines a larger-diametered bore and a smaller-diametered bore which communicate with each other, the collar has an inner wall where the smaller-diametered bore is formed, the inner wall is located remote from the bottle, the collar is further formed with an annular rim surrounding the smaller-diametered bore and extending from the inner wall toward the bottle, the annular rim is received and sleeved by the skirt section of the gasket.

2. The applicator of claim 1, wherein a deceleration mechanism connects the axle with the rod.

3. The applicator of claim 2, wherein a connector connects the deceleration mechanism with the rod.

4. The applicator of claim 2, wherein the deceleration mechanism having a non-circular axle, the first end of the rod is formed with a non-circular bore to receive the non-circular axle, so that the rod and the non-circular axle are in a rotational operative relationship.

5. The applicator of claim 1, wherein a switch is disposed between the power source and the DC motor, the switch selectively electrically connects the power source with the DC motor and controls a direction of a current flow, so that the DC motor selectively turns normally or reversely.

6. The applicator of claim 5, further comprising an end cap rotatably sleeving around the main body, the end cap having an inner surface being formed with two protrusions, the main body being formed with a transverse slot, the switch being slidably disposed in the slot and being sandwiched between the protrusions, so that the protrusions are driving the switch to slide along the slot as the end cap is being turned, whereby the switch selectively electrically connects the power source with the DC motor and controls the direction of the current flow.

7. The applicator of claim 1, wherein the rotor comprises three winding sets, each of which makes an angle of 120 degrees to its adjacent winding set, a gap is defined between every two of the winding sets, at least one counterweight block is disposed in one or two of the gaps.

8. The applicator of claim 1, wherein the main body comprises an upper part and a lower part pivoting to the upper part so that the main body can be opened, the receiving space is defined between the upper and lower parts.

9. The applicator of claim 1, wherein the rod further has a neck portion with a smaller diameter, the neck portion is located between the waist portion and the second end of the rod.

10. The applicator of claim 1, wherein hardness of the gasket is bigger than hardness of the wiper.