Cosmetic applicator

• US 7,654,271 B2
• Filed: 06/02/2005
• Issued: 02/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Galleria Co (Agnaten SE)
• Original Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Inventors: Wyatt, Peter Jonathan, Rainey, Donald Frank, Wilson, David Edward
• Primary Examiner(s): Doan; Robyn
• Assistant Examiner(s): STEITZ, RACHEL RUNNING
• Application Number:
  US11/143,525
• Publication Number:
  US 20060272667A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,706 Days
• Field of Search: 132/218, 132309-311, 15/222
• 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 13/00 Brushes with driven brush bodies or carrierspower-driven toothbrushes A61C17/16
• 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: A61C 17/222 Brush body details, e.g. the shape thereof or connection to handle
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/3418 Rotation around the axis of the toothbrush handle
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/105 with means for delivering media, e.g. drugs or cosmetics
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 7/005 hand-held

Abstract

An apparatus for applying a cosmetic, such as mascara to eyelashes, includes a handle, a stem, and an applicator head coupled to the stem and supported for movement relative to the handle in a direction substantially parallel to the stem axis. An actuator moves the applicator head in an axial motion comprising a forward stroke and a reverse stroke. Additionally or alternatively, the actuator may move the applicator head in a composite motion including an axial component substantially parallel to the stem axis and having a forward stroke and a reverse stroke, and a rotational oscillating component. The actuator may be a motor having a rotating motor shaft, and the applicator may further include a transmission coupling disposed between the motor shaft and the applicator head for automatically converting rotation of the motor shaft in one direction into axially reciprocating movement of the applicator head.

Claims

1. A mascara applicator comprising:

a handle;

a stem defining a longitudinal stem axis and having a first end coupled to the handle and a second end;

a mascara applicator head coupled to the stem second end and supported for movement relative to the handle in a direction substantially parallel to the stem axis; and

an actuator operatively coupled to the applicator head for moving the applicator head in an axial motion comprising a forward stroke and a reverse stroke, wherein the forward stroke extends the applicator head away from the handle, and wherein the reverse stroke retracts the applicator head towards the handle; and

a container comprising a mascara composition;

wherein the applicator head comprises a major dimension oriented along the stem axis and a minor dimension oriented along a second axis perpendicular to the stem axis, and wherein the major dimension is greater than the minor dimension.

2. The applicator of claim 1, in which the axial motion comprises a displacement distance of approximately 0.1 to 10 mm.

3. The applicator of claim 1, in which axial motion comprises a frequency of approximately 0.5 to 1000 Hz.

4. The applicator of claim 1, in which the forward stroke comprises a forward stroke speed and the reverse stroke comprises a reverse stroke speed, wherein a ratio of the forward stroke speed to the reverse stroke speed is within a range of approximately 10:

1 to 1;

10.

5. The applicator of claim 1, in which the forward stroke is executed in a forward stroke time and the reverse stroke is executed in a reverse stroke time, wherein the axial motion further includes a pause period between the forward and reverse strokes of approximately 0.01% to 1000% of at least one time period selected from a group of time periods comprising the forward and reverse stroke times.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, in which the actuator comprises an electromagnetic coil.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, in which the electromagnetic coil is adapted to reciprocate a drive shaft in a linear direction, the apparatus further including a transmission coupling between the drive shaft and the applicator head for converting reciprocation of the drive shaft in the linear direction into the axial motion.

8. The apparatus of claim 6, in which the electromagnetic coil is adapted to generate a magnetic field, in which the apparatus further includes a magnet coupled to the applicator head and responsive to the magnetic field, and in which a power source is intermittently connected to the electromagnetic coil to actuate the applicator head in the axial motion.

9. The applicator of claim 1, in which the actuator comprises a motor having a rotating motor shaft, the apparatus further including a transmission coupling for automatically converting rotation of the motor shaft in one direction into axial movement of the applicator he d in both the forward and reverse strokes.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, in which the actuator further drives the applicator head in a rotational motion.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, in which the actuator further drives the applicator head in a vibrational motion.

12. A mascara applicator comprising

a handle;

a stem defining a longitude stem axis and having a first end coupled to the handle and a second end;

a mascara applicator head coupled to the stem second end and supported for movement relative to the handle in a direction substantially parallel to the stem axis;

a motor having a rotating motor shaft; and

a transmission coupling disposed between the motor shaft and the applicator head for automatically converting rotation of the motor shaft in one direction into axial movement of the applicator head, the axial movement having a forward stroke and a reverse stroke;

wherein the forward stroke extends the applicator head away from the handle, and wherein the reverse stroke retracts the applicator head towards the handle and a container comprising a mascara composition;

wherein the applicator head comprises a major dimension oriented along the stem axis and a minor dimension oriented along a second axis perpendicular to the stem axis, and wherein the major dimension is greater than the minor dimension.

13. The applicator of claim 12, in which the transmission coupling includes a stem disc coupled to the stem and a motor disc coupled to the motor shaft, wherein the motor disc engages the stem disc.

14. The applicator of claim 13, in which the motor disc is mounted eccentric to a motor shaft axis to provide a cam surface engaging the stem disc, wherein rotation of the motor disc drives the stem disc in an axial direction.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, in which the transmission coupling further includes a first cam surface coupled to the stem disc and a second cam surface coupled to the housing, and in which the motor disc frictionally engages and rotates the stem disc, wherein rotation of the first cam surface with respect to the second cam surface drives the stem disc in an axial direction.

16. The apparatus of claim 12, in which the applicator further comprises a spring.