Toilet – Shaped cosmetic applier
Reexamination Certificate
2000-05-05
2002-04-16
Manahan, Todd E. (Department: 3732)
Toilet
Shaped cosmetic applier
C015S244200
Reexamination Certificate
active
06371132
ABSTRACT:
The present invention relates to a device for applying a product, such as a make-up product, to a surface, particularly the skin. The invention is particularly suited for the treatment and/or making-up of the eyelids.
It is known to apply a make-up product, for example an eyeshadow, by means of an elongate, asymmetrical applicator delimited by two lateral edges, one forming a first radius of curvature and the other forming a second radius of curvature which is smaller than the first radius of curvature. The larger radius of curvature is adapted for the upper part of the eyelid, whilst the smaller radius is adapted for the lower edge of the eyelid. The applicator is formed from a relatively rigid support on which a sheet of foam, suitable for being loaded with product and forming a substantially planar application surface, is mounted. Because of the symmetrical orientation of the lid of the right eye with respect to that of the left eye, the use of an applicator of asymmetrical form of this type requires the use of a first applicator for the right eye and a second applicator for the left eye. All this substantially increases costs, poses problems of overall size and packaging, and multiplies the risks of losing one or other of the applicators.
It is also known from U.S. Pat No. 4,701,168 to produce an applicator of which the surface is deformable from a planar form to a domed or curved form. The surface is deformed perpendicularly to its starting plane so that the initially flat surface is no longer flat, but rather has been bent out-of-plane. In fact, the arrangement of the deforming means or upright members allows only this type of deformation. It is not possible for such an applicator configuration to be made suitable for the application of a product to different surfaces oriented in an opposite manner from each other, such as the right eyelid and the left eyelid.
A similar problem arises in the case of the treatment and/or making-up of other parts of the body or of the face. For instance, applicators having oppositely oriented surfaces are preferable for treating crow's feet at the corner of the eyes or bags and dark shadows under the eyes.
Accordingly, one of the preferred objects of the invention is to provide an application device which solves some or all of the abovementioned problems with regard to conventional devices.
It is, in particular, a preferred object of the invention to provide an application device which is suitable for applying a product, for example a make-up product, to surfaces with different contours.
It is a further preferred object of the invention to provide an application device suitable, in particular, for applying a product to at least two surfaces with asymmetrical contours oriented symmetrically with respect to each other.
It is an even further preferred object of the invention to provide an application device suitable both for treating and/or making-up the lid of the right eye and the lid of the left eye.
It is yet an even further preferred object of the invention to provide an application device that is simple to use and economical to produce.
It is still a further preferred object of the invention to provide a container, particularly a make-up case, which incorporates an application device according to the invention.
It should be understood that the invention could still be practiced without performing one or more of the objects and/or advantages described above. Still other objects will become apparent from the detailed description which follows.
To achieve those and other advantages, and in accordance with the purposes of the invention, as broadly described herein, the invention includes an application device for applying a product, including an applicator member and a grip on the applicator member. The applicator member is formed at least partially of a deformable material and has an application surface arranged substantially in a plane. The application surface has a first shape substantially parallel to the plane when the applicator member is undeformed and a second shape substantially parallel to the plane when the applicator member is deformed. In a preferred embodiment, the grip has a linking element on the applicator member and at least one actuation element coupled to the linking element. The grip is configured such that force applied to the grip deforms the application surface from the first shape to the second shape.
Preferably, the applicator member is substantially planar, at least when the applicator member is in the rest position or undeformed state. The applicator member may include a surface element having the application surface thereon. The surface element also is substantially planar in its rest position or undeformed state. In practice, in this rest position or undeformed state, the application surface on the surface element may be, in particular, slightly domed. The surface element may also have certain reliefs suitable, in particular, for facilitating its loading with product and/or for allowing a massaging effect. Furthermore, the surface element may be deformable in the thickness direction. During contact with a surface to be treated, the surface element may, on account of the deformability in the thickness direction, be more or less indented or contoured in order to shape its surface to the profile of the surface to be treated.
An elastic return force may be developed within the applicator member due to the deformation of the applicator member. This elastic return force, which may assist in the return of the application surface to the first form or undeformed state, may be generated, at least partially, by the elasticity of the material forming the applicator member. Similarly, an elastic return force may be developed within the grip due to the deformation of the grip. Thus, the elastic return force may be generated by the elasticity of the structure or material forming the grip. Preferably, the elastic return force is generated by the elasticity of the applicator member in combination with the elasticity of the grip. Preferably, the elastic return force generated by deforming the grip is greater than the return force generated by deforming the applicator member. Even more preferably, the elastic return force generated by the grip is substantially greater than the elastic return force generated by the applicator member.
With the application device according to the invention, it is advantageously possible to use the same application device for applying a product, for example a make-up product, to surfaces with different contours. The application device according to the invention is preferably economical to produce and simple to use. The case or other packaging for transportation and for protection of the application device and of the product to be applied, for example in a handbag, is small in terms of overall size and of simplified design compared with the overall size and design of a case having to contain a plurality of applicators.
According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the planar forms or shapes of the applicator member, application surface, and/or the surface element may assume a first geometry in the undeformed state and a second (or even third) different geometry in the deformed states. This is particularly the case, when a planar form or shape with straight edges is deformed in order to become a planar form or shape with curved edges. According to another preferred embodiment, the shapes of the applicator member, application surface, and/or the surface element may assume a first geometry in the undeformed state and an identical, but differently oriented geometry in the deformed state. For instance, a first form or shape of the surface element may be the mirror image of a second form or shape of the surface element.
According to a particular preferred embodiment, the application surface is configured for transforming from the first form or shape to a second form or shape constituting the mirror image of the first form. For example, in its first form the application surface may be adapted t
Finnegan Henderson Farabow Garrett & Dunner L.L.P.
L'Oreal
Manahan Todd #E.
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