APPLICATOR TIP ASSEMBLY FOR SKIN FORMULATION APPLICATOR

• US 20100300479A1
• Filed: 05/29/2009
• Published: 12/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: L'Oreal SA
• Original Assignee: Pacific Bioscience Laboratories Incorporated (L'Oreal SA)
• Inventors: Itano, Michael M., Reishus, Richard A., Pilcher, Kenneth A.
• Granted Patent: US 9,763,508 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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 34/04 Appliances specially adapted for applying liquid, e.g. using roller or ball

Abstract

The tip assembly includes a base portion which is sufficiently rigid to be conveniently insertable onto and removable from a drive end of a motor for the applicator and a tip portion which is securely attached to the base portion either by casting or molding, and is sufficiently soft to provide comfortable contact with the skin, the tip portion having a concave front surface for receiving skin formulations which are applied to the skin, such as the facial skin, of a user during operation of the applicator.

Claims

1. An applicator tip assembly for use in an appliance for applying skin formulations, comprising:

a base portion, sufficiently rigid to be insertable onto and removable from a drive end of a motor for the appliance and to move with the action of the motor drive end; and

a tip portion which is sufficiently soft to provide comfortable contact with the facial skin of a user, wherein the base portion and the tip portion are securely mated so that they move together by action of the motor.

2. The applicator tip assembly of claim 1, wherein the tip potion is soft silicone or rubber, approximately Shore scale OO Durometer 30.

3. The applicator tip assembly of claim 1, wherein the action of the motor end drive is oscillating in a linear direction.

4. The applicator tip assembly of claim 3, wherein the oscillation is within the frequency range of 50-200 Hz.

5. The applicator tip assembly of claim 3, wherein the oscillation is within the range of 100-140 Hz.

6. The applicator tip assembly of claim 1, wherein the tip portion is molded or cast onto a tip attachment element or elements which extend upwardly from the base portion.

7. The applicator tip assembly of claim 1, wherein the tip portion includes a concave forward surface for receiving skin formulations.

8. The applicator tip assembly of claim 1, wherein the drive end element includes a protrusion portion at a forward end thereof.

9. The applicator tip assembly of claim 8, wherein the protrusion is square or rectangular in cross-section and has a forward larger portion and a rear smaller portion.

10. The applicator tip assembly of claim 9, wherein the larger portion and the smaller portions both are tapered.

11. The applicator tip assembly of claim 8, wherein the protrusion has a conical forward section and a smaller rear section.

12. The applicator tip assembly of claim 8, wherein the base portion includes a lower element portion, having an opening which is configured and arranged to be smaller than the protrusion but sufficiently flexible to permit installation thereof onto the protrusion, wherein an inner edge of the opening abuts a rear taper portion of the protrusion, securely holding the applicator tip assembly onto the protrusion.

13. The applicator tip assembly of claim 6, wherein the attachment element is a continuous ring.

14. The applicator tip assembly of claim 1, wherein the base portion includes a lower element with a central opening through which the protrusion can move, and an inner surface having rib portions which are arranged and configured to latch and securely hold the tip assembly onto the protrusion following insertion of the tip assembly and rotation thereof a partial turn.

15. The applicator tip assembly of claim 8, wherein the base portion includes an outer wall and an inner ring secured to the outer wall by spaced web members, the inner ring including flexible legs/elements between the web members which extend downwardly and are arranged and configured to permit a first taper portion of the protrusion to move therethrough by spreading the leg elements outwardly, wherein the leg elements spring back against the protrusion, holding the tip assembly securely onto the protrusion.

16. The applicator tip assembly of claim 15, wherein the leg elements are equally spaced and sufficiently flexible to permit the tip assembly to be removed from and installed onto the protrusion, while holding the tip assembly against the protrusion in operation to prevent lost motion.