Fluid material dispenser

Coating implements with material supply – Projectable and retractable tool – With movable closure or gate

Reexamination Certificate

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Details

C401S107000, C401S121000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06231256

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to dispensers for fluid material, such as liquid cosmetic products. In an important specific sense it is directed to mascara dispensers, particularly dispensers of the pen type in which an applicator is retractably carried by a pen-shaped body having a reservoir of mascara.
An illustrative pen-type dispenser for mascara is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,687,364.
As used herein, the term “fluid material” refers to materials which are themselves liquid or incorporate a liquid vehicle, e.g. liquid and pasty cosmetic substances. The term “dispenser” refers to a body defining a reservoir containing a quantity of fluid material such as cosmetic material typically sufficient for a number of repeated applications by a user, and provided with an applicator such as a small brush, comb or the like for transferring and applying to an end-use location (for example, a user's face) fluid material from the reservoir. Such a dispenser is ordinarily dimensioned to be held in the hand and is designed for retail sale to the end user.
A typical present-day mascara dispenser includes a container that holds the mascara, a wiper, a rod to which is attached an applicator (commonly a twisted-in-wire brush), and a closure or cap. The combined length of the rod and applicator is determined by the internal depth of the container. In use, the applicator is moved from the container interior, where it picks up mascara, through a mouth or opening of the container to the exterior, where it is manipulated to apply the mascara, and is thereafter returned to the container interior through the opening.
The wiper, mounted in the container opening for engaging the moving applicator, serves the purpose of controlling the amount of mascara carried on the applicator from the container for use. Its aperture is less than the cross section of the applicator, thus removing (wiping) excess mascara. The cross section of the attached rod, however, is usually smaller than the wiper orifice so as to ease its removal from the container; therefore, the rod usually carries a coating of mascara over its length and periphery.
Because of the nature and density of a typical twisted-in-wire brush, the user seldom applies all of the mascara carried on or within the confines of the brush. Therefore, with every removal and reentry of the brush through the wiper, there is a buildup of residue on the outer side of the wiper; i.e., a reverse wiping action occurs during the return movement of the brush and transfers residual mascara from the brush to the wiper. With usage, an undesirable quantity of mascara collects at the entrance area of the wiper and then transfers onto the rod with each application. This condition is messy and unsightly and may cause smearing on the hands, face or hair of the user; it is prevalent in all mascara dispensers on the market today and is called “backwipe.”
An additional difficulty is presented by conventional mascara dispensers wherein the applicator is carried by the cap and is thus fully immersed in the mascara when inserted in the container reservoir. As the applicator is withdrawn from the reservoir, there follows, at the applicator tip, a tail or dollop of mascara. This tail is a problem and a nuisance to the user, in that it is messy (and a hazard to the mascara application) as well as being wasteful. Typically, the user removes the tail with a tissue or brushes it off into the container mouth; in any event, it has to be removed with each repetition of use.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide a mascara dispenser with a unique wiping system that opens and closes as necessary and eliminates the condition known as backwipe.
Another object is to provide a mascara dispenser which avoids the formation of a tail of mascara at the applicator tip.
To these and other ends, the present invention in one aspect broadly contemplates the provision of a dispenser for fluid material, comprising a body defining an interior reservoir for holding a quantity of the fluid material, the reservoir having an opening; an applicator for conveying fluid material from the reservoir through the opening to a locality, external to the body, at which it is desired to deliver and apply the fluid material, the applicator being movable from the reservoir forwardly through the opening to an extended location outside the reservoir and rear-wardly through the opening to a retracted location within the reservoir; a wiper disposed in the reservoir and having a wiping portion movable into and out of a position for engaging the applicator to wipe excess fluid material therefrom; and structure, including a movable member, disposed within the reservoir for causing the wiping portion to move into and out of its applicator-engaging position, the member being actuated by arrival of the applicator at the retracted and extended locations, respectively, such that the wiping portion is in its applicator-engaging position during forward movement of the applicator from the retracted location and is out of its applicator-engaging position during rearward movement of the applicator from the extended location.
In the described dispenser of the invention, the wiper and movable member are so designed and constructed that the wiping portion wipes the applicator to the appropriate measure for use and then automatically opens the orifice (is disposed away from contact with the applicator) on the return of the applicator for replenishment or closure, so that no excess of mascara is ever collected or transferred during the in and out process of use; thereby, the problem of backwipe is avoided.
In one particular embodiment of a mascara dispenser in accordance with the invention, the applicator used is a comb which is housed within the body of the container. It can be extended or retracted through the wiper opening with the unique opening action described. In this configuration, which resembles a slim pen or pencil, the rod carrying the applicator is never exposed since it remains within the confines of the container and only the applicator moves in and out through the automatic wiper. The same arrangement can be used with other applicators such as a spiral brush, a straight bristle brush, a threaded rod or any variation of these.
The wiping portion conveniently or preferably comprises a pair of resiliently flexible wiping jaws, and the movable member may, for example, be an element carrying the jaws forwardly into or rearwardly away from contact with the applicator. Alternatively, the jaws may be mounted so that they do not undergo any forward or rearward displacement, and the movable member may be an element that advances forwardly to push the jaws away from contact with the applicator and retracts rearwardly to permit the jaws to return to contact with the applicator.
In a second aspect, the invention contemplates the provision of a dispenser for fluid material comprising a body defining an interior reservoir for holding a quantity of the fluid material, the reservoir having an opening; an applicator for conveying fluid material from the reservoir through the opening to a locality, external to the body, at which it is desired to deliver and apply the fluid material, the applicator having an axis and a free tip and being retractably carried by the body so as to be movable along its axis from the reservoir outwardly through the opening to an extended location external to the body, and inwardly to and through the opening to a retracted location within the reservoir, the applicator tip being disposed adjacent the opening when the applicator is in the retracted location; and a wiper disposed in the reservoir in a position for engaging the applicator to wipe excess fluid material therefrom as the applicator moves outwardly through the opening, the wiper being in contact with the applicator adjacent the tip when the applicator is in its retracted location to maintain the tip clean and free of the fluid material, and thereby to avoid formation of a tail of material on the tip. Both

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