Coating implements with material supply – Supply container and independent applicator – Applicator includes container closure or overlies material
Reexamination Certificate
2002-04-22
2004-04-06
Walczak, David J. (Department: 3751)
Coating implements with material supply
Supply container and independent applicator
Applicator includes container closure or overlies material
C401S126000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06715951
ABSTRACT:
The present invention relates to a unit for applying at least one product. The at least one product may be chosen from cosmetic products and care products. Further, the at least one product may be in the form of one of a powder and a fluid. Examples of products that may be used may include lip make-up, foundation, blush, mascara, eye shadow, eye liner, and nail varnish.
Some conventional cosmetic product applicators are equipped with a foam member attached to a cap. Such applicators may be enclosed in a sealed space to preserve them from any contamination or evaporation. The applicators may be compressed in the sealed space. When this type of applicator is to be used for full-face applications or, alternatively, for applications to the body, a foam member having a larger diameter may be needed. Use is often made of high density foams with small cells which have a significant ability to retain the product by capillarity. High density foams provide a relatively firm foam member having a high density and a large diameter. Furthermore, because of their high rigidity, it may be difficult for such foams to conform to the various reliefs of the surface to which the product is applied. Moreover, these foams, which are often hydrophilic, and which contain moisture absorbers, have a tendency to swell upon contact with the product and to rub against the edges of the walls of the space in which they are housed. It thus may become difficult to re-introduce the applicator member into its housing because of the excessive resistance.
One of the aspects of the invention relates to a unit for applying at least one product that may allow cosmetic products and care products to be applied gently.
Another aspect of the invention relates to a unit for applying at least one product that may be able to adapt to various reliefs of the surface to which the product is applied.
A further aspect of the invention relates to a unit for applying at least one product that may be easily introduced into a sealed housing.
It should be understood that the invention could be practiced without one or more of the aspects discussed herein. Furthermore, it should be understood that all embodiments discussed herein are exemplary regardless of whether they are referred to as “exemplary” embodiments. It should also be understood that features associated with different embodiments described herein may be combined to form any number of additional embodiments.
In an exemplary embodiment, a unit for applying at least one product may comprise a first housing configured to contain at least one product, a second housing configured to be at least temporarily in flow communication with the first housing, a removable closure element configured to substantially seal the opening of the second housing, and an applicator member removably disposed in the second housing. The second housing may comprise an opening defined by an edge. The applicator member may comprise an application surface, a first portion adjacent to the application surface, and at least one second portion separated from the application surface by the first portion. The at least one second portion may be configured to have a greater compressibility than the first portion such that the applicator member at least partially absorbs pressing force exerted on the application surface during application of the at least one product. The at least one second portion of the applicator member may absorb at least substantially the pressing force.
As used herein, the “substantial seal” imparted by the closure element may limit or prevent product in the second housing from passing to the exterior of the unit via the opening of the second housing under normal use conditions. In one embodiment, the “substantial seal” may limit or prevent passage of air into the second housing under normal use conditions, but other embodiments are possible without such air sealing. It should be understood that the removable closure element could be configured in a variety of different ways. For example, the removable closure could abut the edge defining the opening. Alternatively (or additionally), in some embodiments, the closure element could abut an interior of the second housing and/or an exterior of the second housing.
The “application surface”, as used herein, may be any surface of the applicator member intended to apply product. For example, the application surface may be configured in the form of an exterior surface arranged to apply product to skin, nails, or hair.
In another exemplary embodiment, the at least one second portion may be configured to have a greater compressibility than the first portion such that the application surface pivots in response to pressing force exerted on the application surface during application of the at least one product. The application surface may pivot at least at the at least one second portion of the applicator member.
In a further exemplary embodiment, the at least one second portion may be configured to have a greater compressibility than the first portion such that the applicator member flexes in response to pressing force exerted on the application surface during application of the at least one product. Additionally, the at least one second portion of the applicator member may flex in response to pressing force exerted on the application surface during application of the at least one product. Further, flexing of the applicator member may occur at least substantially at the at least one second portion of the applicator member.
In some embodiments, by virtue of the configuration of the applicator member comprising at least one second portion that may have a greater compressibility than the first portion, the pressing force exerted on the applicator member when the user applies the product to her skin, for example, may be at least in part absorbed. This may provide a unit that has a flexibility that allows relatively gentle application to the surface that is to be treated.
In some examples, the second portion may be configured in such a way as to encourage a specific compression of the applicator member. For example, by arranging the more compressible portion on one side of the applicator member, the first part of the applicator member and its application surface may be made to pivot with respect to an axis of the applicator member so that the application surface adapts to the relief of the surface receiving product application with an angle different from the angle at which the user is holding the applicator member and using it to apply product.
For some embodiments, the presence of the at least one second portion having a greater compressibility than the first portion may make it easier for the applicator member to be re-introduced into its housing by limiting the friction that the applicator member may have against the internal walls of the housing when, for example, the diameter of the applicator member is equal to or greater than that of the housing.
According to an aspect of the invention, the first portion of the applicator member may comprise a compressible material. The first portion of the applicator member may comprise at least one of an open-cell foam, a semi-open-cell foam, and a frit comprising a flexible material. The at least one of an open-cell foam and a semi-open-cell foam may comprise at least one of polyurethane, polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, polyester, polyether, polyethylene-vinyl acetate, polyvinyl acetate foam, natural foam rubber, and synthetic foam rubber. In addition, the flexible material may be chosen from elastomers, thermoplastic elastomers, polyvinyl chlorides, and polyethylene-vinyl acetates.
In an exemplary embodiment, at least a part of the at least one second portion of the applicator member may comprise the same material as the first portion of the applicator member. Further, the at least a part of the at least one second portion of the applicator member may have a cross-sectional area over at least part of its axial height smaller than a cross-sectional area of the first portion of the applicator member.
There are
Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett & Dunner, L..L.P.
L'oreal S.A.
Walczak David J.
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