Concave-convex roller assembly

• US 8,844,543 B2
• Filed: 08/24/2011
• Issued: 09/30/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ELC Management LLC (The Estee Lauder Companies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ELC Management LLC (The Estee Lauder Companies Inc.)
• Inventors: Bickford, William R., Carullo, Anne T., Bouix, Herve F.
• Primary Examiner(s): STEITZ, RACHEL RUNNING
• Application Number:
  US13/216,490
• Publication Number:
  US 20130048011A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,133 Days
• Field of Search: 132/320, 132/317, 132/318, 151/18, 152/301.1, 152/301.8, 492/13, 492/19, 601/119, 601/120
• US Class Current: 132/320
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 2200/1018 comprising a pad, i.e. a cushion-like mass of soft material, with or without gripping means
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 34/041 using a roller, a disc or a ball
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 40/28 Appliances specially adapted for spreading already applied paint
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 15/0092 hand-held A61H15/0085 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2015/0014 cylinder-like, i.e. rollers
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2015/0064 with freely rotating spheres
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/105 with means for delivering media, e.g. drugs or cosmetics
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2205/022 Face
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2205/023 Nose
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2205/025 Forehead
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2205/04 neck

Abstract

A dual-ended applicator is provided. The applicator includes a handle, a first roller having a broad concave surface at one end of the handle, and a second, ball-like roller having a convex surface, at the opposite end of the handle. The first roller, having a greater axial length and surface area than does the second roller is intended for applying a cosmetic to broader convex areas of the skin. The second roller, having a lesser axial dimension and surface area as compared with the first roller is intended for distributing a cosmetic to the narrower, concave areas of the skin. The first roller is mounted on the applicator so as to rotate about a fixed axis lateral to the longitudinal axis of the applicator, and will move in straight paths along the skin, in line with the longitudinal axis of the applicator. The second, ball-like roller is mounted on the applicator so as to travel along both straight and curved paths, automatically adjusting between positions as the applicator is moved along the skin surface.

Claims

1. An applicator for applying a cosmetic to a skin surface, comprising:

a handle having a longitudinal axis and opposite ends;

a first rolling member having a concave application surface and a first axial dimension, the first rolling member mounted at one end of the handle for rotation about a fixed axis extending laterally of the longitudinal axis of the handle;

not more than one second rolling member having a convex application surface and a second axial dimension, wherein the second rolling member is a wheel enabled for biaxial rotation or wherein the second rolling member is a ball, the second rolling member rotatably mounted at the opposite end of the handle; and

means for mounting the first and second rolling members to respective opposite ends of the handle;

wherein a ratio of the first axial dimension to the second axial dimension is in the range of from about 5;

1 to about 2;

1, and wherein the respective application surfaces of the first and second rolling members are configured to uniformly apply, distribute and blend the cosmetic on the skin surface of a user'"'"'s face and neck.

2. The applicator of claim 1, wherein the means for mounting the first rolling member to the handle comprises at least one support having a rolling member-engaging end and a handle-engaging end and at least one supporting member for the first rolling member extending from the rolling member-engaging end of the support allowing for rotation of the first rolling member, and wherein the means for mounting the second rolling member to the handle comprises at least one support having a rolling member-engaging end and a handle-engaging end and at least one supporting member for the second rolling member extending from the rolling member-engaging end of the support allowing for rotation of the second rolling member.

3. The applicator of claim 2, wherein the at least one support is individually selected from the group consisting of one-armed and two-armed supports.

4. The applicator of claim 2, wherein the supporting member is selected from the group consisting of axles, pins, shafts, spindles, magnetic connectors and cooperatively mating structures.

5. The applicator of claim 2, wherein the means for mounting at least one of the first and the second rolling members to the handle comprises a yoke having a rolling member-engaging end and a handle-engaging end, the rolling member-engaging end comprising a pair of spaced arms, the spaced arms being adapted to accommodate the rolling member.

6. The applicator of claim 5, wherein the means for mounting the first rolling member to the end of the handle comprises a first yoke having a rolling member-engaging end and a handle-engaging end, the rolling member-engaging end comprising a first pair of spaced arms separated by a first distance d1, the first pair of spaced arms being adapted to accommodate the first rolling member, and wherein the means for mounting the second rolling member to the handle comprises a second yoke having a rolling member-engaging end and a handle-engaging end, the rolling member-engaging end comprising a second pair of spaced arms separated by a second distance d2, the second pair of spaced arms being adapted to accommodate the second rolling member, wherein a ratio of d1:

d2 is in the range of from about 5;

1 to about 2;

1.

7. The applicator of claim 6, wherein the second rolling member is the wheel enabled for biaxial rotation, and the applicator further comprises means for mounting the second yoke to the handle, said means allowing the second yoke to rotate freely about its longitudinal axis at an abutment of the second yoke with the handle.

8. The applicator of claim 6, wherein said means for mounting the first rolling member between the spaced arms of the first yoke further comprises a supporting member for the first rolling member allowing for rotation of the first rolling member and said means for mounting the second rolling member between the spaced arms of the second yoke further comprises a supporting member for the second rolling member allowing for rotation of the second rolling member, and wherein said supporting member is selected from the group consisting of axles, pins, shafts, spindles, magnetic connectors and cooperatively mating structures.

9. The applicator of claim 8, wherein said supporting member for the first rolling member and said supporting member for the second rolling member comprise cooperatively mating structures, and wherein the first rolling member has opposite surfaces and each of the spaced arms of the first yoke has inner surfaces, and said cooperatively mating structures for mounting the first rolling member between the first pair of spaced arms comprise a first pair of projections on one of the opposite surfaces of the first rolling member and the inner surfaces of the spaced arms of the first yoke, and a first pair of recesses in the other of the opposite surfaces of the first rolling member and the inner surfaces of the spaced arms of the first yoke, and wherein the second rolling member has opposite surfaces and each of the spaced arms of the second yoke has inner surfaces, and said cooperatively mating structures for mounting the second rolling member between the spaces arms of the second yoke comprises a second pair of projections on one of the opposite surfaces of the second rolling member and the inner surfaces of the spaced arms of the second yoke, and a second pair of recesses in the other of the opposite surfaces of the second rolling member and the inner surfaces of the spaced arms of the second yoke.

10. The applicator of claim 7, wherein the wheel enabled for biaxial rotation has a flocked application surface.

11. The applicator of claim 7, wherein said means for mounting the second yoke to the handle is selected from the group consisting of a gimbal mount, a universal joint, a knuckle joint, and a dual joint.

12. The applicator of claim 11, wherein said means for mounting the second yoke to the handle comprises a dual joint, the dual joint comprising an annular projection on one of the second yoke and the handle and a sleeve on the other of the second yoke and the handle, wherein the sleeve comprises an inner wall dimensioned to accommodate the projection in mating engagement.

13. The applicator of claim 12, wherein the sleeve inner wall further comprises an annular ledge for maintaining the projection in snap-fitting engagement with said sleeve.

14. The applicator of claim 2, wherein the at least one support for the first rolling member and the at least one support for the second rolling member are aligned with the longitudinal axis of the handle.

15. The applicator of claim 2, wherein the at least one support for the first rolling member and the at least one support for the second rolling member are offset from the longitudinal axis of the handle in the same direction.

16. The applicator of claim 2, wherein the at least one support for the first rolling member and the at least one support for the second rolling member are offset from the longitudinal axis of the handle in opposite directions.

17. The applicator of claim 2, wherein one of the at least one support for the first rolling member and the at least one support for the second rolling member is aligned with the longitudinal axis of the handle, and wherein the other of the at least one support for the first rolling member and the at least one support for the second rolling member is offset from the longitudinal axis of the handle.

18. The applicator of claim 1, wherein the first rolling member is axially symmetric and symmetric across its length and the second rolling member is axially symmetric and symmetric across its width.

19. The applicator of claim 1, wherein the second rolling member is a ball.

20. The applicator of claim 19, wherein the means for mounting the first rolling member to the handle comprises at least one support having a rolling member-engaging end and a handle-engaging end and at least one supporting member for the first rolling member extending from the rolling member-engaging end of the support allowing for rotation of the first rolling member, and wherein the means for mounting the ball to the handle comprises at least one support extending from the handle and allowing for rotation of the ball.

21. The applicator of claim 20, wherein the means for mounting the first rolling member to the handle comprises a yoke having a rolling member-engaging end and a handle-engaging end, the rolling member-engaging end comprising a pair of spaced arms for accommodating the first rolling member, and wherein the means for mounting the ball to the handle comprises a socket provided by an expanded end of the handle for pivotally accommodating the ball.

22. The applicator of claim 20, wherein the means for mounting the first rolling member to the handle comprises a yoke having a rolling member-engaging end and a handle-engaging end, the rolling member-engaging end comprising a pair of spaced arms for accommodating the first rolling member, and wherein the means for mounting the ball to the handle comprises a loop element provided at an end of the handle for pivotally accommodating the ball.

23. The applicator of claim 1, wherein the handle is contoured to facilitate grasping by a user.

24. The applicator of claim 1, wherein the first and second rolling members have surfaces individually selected from the group consisting of flocked, textured and smooth.