Dual eyelash applicator with reverse action apparatus

• US 9,314,085 B2
• Filed: 10/04/2013
• Issued: 04/19/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/04/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lash Duet, LLC
• Original Assignee: Lash Duet, LLC
• Inventors: Hatch, Lisa
• Primary Examiner(s): Laurenzi, III, Mark A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Abebe, Thomas M
• Application Number:
  US14/046,760
• Publication Number:
  US 20140099152A1
• Time in Patent Office: 928 Days
• Field of Search: 401/126, 401/127, 401/122, 401/13, 401/14
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 34/042 using a brush or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 40/24 Casings for two or more cosmetics
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 40/262 using a brush or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 40/267 comprising a wiper
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 2200/1053 Cosmetics applicator specifically for mascara
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 5/0012 Brushes with two or more heads on the same end of a handle for simultaneous use, e.g. cooperating with each-other

Abstract

A mascara application system includes an applicator for mascara and a mascara container. The applicator may include two brushes, and have a reverse tweezers arrangement, by which the brushes may be spaced apart from one another when pressure is applied to a handle portion of the applicator, and the brushes may be positioned adjacent to one another when no pressure is applied to the handle portion. An optional applicator container may hold a handle portion of the applicator, while enabling its actuation to operate the applicator. The mascara container, which holds mascara and is configured to receive the brushes, may include a separate portal for each brush, as well as a squeegee or other element for removing excess mascara from each brush. Methods for applying mascara to lashes are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A dual brush mascara applicator, comprising:

a container comprising a handle portion and a chamber operating as a reservoir portion, interoperable to selectively close and open the container;

a handle, operably connected to the handle portion, including a first arm and a second arm, a first mascara brush on the first arm, and a second mascara brush on the second arm;

a supply of mascara disposed in the reservoir portion, the reservoir portion being shaped to receive the first and second mascara brushes simultaneously;

wherein the first arm crosses the second arm, so that transverse movement of the first arm relative to the second arm causes an opposite transverse movement of the first brush relative to the second brush.

2. The dual brush mascara applicator of claim 1, wherein the first arm and/or the second arm are movable relative to each other about a vertex interconnected therebetween.

3. The dual brush mascara applicator of claim 1, wherein the reservoir portion is further provided with:

a first opening for the first brush;

a second opening for the second brush; and

a the first and second openings constructed to be effective to remove excess mascara from the first and second brushes.

4. The dual brush mascara applicator of claim 3, wherein the mascara reservoir comprises a single chamber or dual chambers.

5. The dual brush mascara applicator of claim 1, further comprising:

a movable member on the applicator container for applying transverse force to the first arm and/or the second arm to cause transverse movement of the first arm and/or the second arm.

6. The dual brush mascara applicator of claim 5, wherein the movable member of the applicator container has moving parts that depress or expand to apply transverse force to the first arm and/or the second arm.

7. An eyelash mascara applicator comprising:

a container comprising a handle portion matingly securable to a chamber as a reservoir portion;

a first wand secured to the handle portion and having a first brush attached to a distal end thereof;

a second wand secured to the handle portion and having a second brush attached to the distal end thereof;

a reverse-action tweezer attached to said first and second wands so that the first and second wands are maintained substantially parallel to each other with the first and second brushes in contact with each other in a neutral position; and

the reverse action tweezer, comprising a vertex connected between proximal ends of the first and second wands, requiring transverse pressure near the proximal ends of the first and second wand to cause the first and second brushes to separate from each other.

8. The applicator of claim 7, further comprising:

first and second substantially parallel flexible cross arms on the reverse-action tweezer, each being attached to one of the first and second wands and the vertex.

9. The applicator of claim 8, wherein transverse pressure on the flexible cross arms in a first direction causes the first and second wands to separate from each in a second direction opposite to the first direction.

10. The applicator of claim 7, wherein said first wand has a first arm extending into said handle portion, and said second wand has a second arm extending into said handle portion, the first and second arms crossing over each other so that the first wand and the second wand are in on opposite sides of the applicator from the first arm and second arm, respectively.

11. A container for a mascara applicator having two brushes, comprising:

a mascara receptacle for containing mascara;

two ports in the mascara receptacle, each for accepting one of the two brushes;

a tool at each of the two openings in the mascara receptacle for removing excess mascara as the two brushes are removed from the storage unit; and

a handle portion fitted to selectively engage and disengage with the mascara receptacle to form an outer wall of the container, the handle portion containing a portion of a reverse tweezer fitted with the two brushes to selectively separate and engage the brushes by operation of the reverse tweezer.

12. The mascara container of claim 11, wherein the mascara receptacle comprises one mascara storage area common to both brushes of the applicator as they are inserted into the two openings of the two ports.

13. The mascara container of claim 11, wherein the mascara receptacle comprises two separate storage areas, each containing mascara for one of the two brushes.

14. The mascara container of claim 11, wherein the tool is a squeegee.

15. A mascara applicator container, comprising:

a mascara applicator having a reverse action mechanism with two brushes disposed within the container, and

an actuator on the container for actuating the reverse action mechanism.

16. The mascara applicator container of claim 15, wherein the actuator is a movable member adjacent to an arm of the reverse action mechanism to apply transverse pressure to the arm.

17. The mascara applicator container of claim 15, wherein the actuator comprises at least one movable section of the container that moves transversely to another section of the container to apply force to the reverse action mechanism and cause the two brushes to move towards or away from each other.

18. The mascara applicator container of claim 15, wherein the container has at least one moving component to facilitate depression of a pressure point of the reverse action mechanism and release of said pressure point.

19. An eyelash mascara applicator, comprising:

a first elongated wand with a first brush attached to the distal end thereof;

a second elongated wand substantially parallel with the first wand and having a second brush attached to the distal end thereof;

a reverse action mechanism having a first arm and a second arm attached to the mechanism, the first arm crossing over the second arm and attaching to the first elongated wand, the second arm crossing over the first arm and attaching to the second elongated wand;

a containment enclosing the first and second brushes, first and second wands, and first and second arms in a first, closed, configuration, and baring at least the first and second brushes and a portion of the first and second wands in a second, open, configuration;

whereby transverse pressure near the proximal ends of the first and second wand causes the first and second brushes to separate from each other.

20. The applicator of claim 19,

wherein the reverse action mechanism is characterized by an effective diameter, and the effective diameter of the reverse action mechanism depresses and expands along its length when pinching or pressure is applied;

whereby pressure applied by a user to the reverse action mechanism opens the distal ends of the first and second wands with attached first and second brushes and then release of said pressure brings together the first and second brushes simultaneously against opposite sides of an eyelash of the user.

21. The applicator of claim 19, further comprising:

the containment, further comprising a movable outer container to encase the reverse action mechanism, having a movable member on the container to apply force to the reverse action mechanism to move the distal arms with brushes away from each other and to release force from the reverse action mechanism to move the distal arms with brushes back together.

22. The applicator of claim 19, further comprising:

a mascara chamber having mascara therein to apply to the first and second brushes, and a dual portal that enables the first and second wands to be inserted therein so that the first and second brushes may access the mascara in the mascara container.

23. The applicator of claim 22, further comprising:

a squeegee member that removes any excess mascara as the first and second brushes are pulled from the mascara chamber.