Cosmetic applicator

Abstract

A cosmetic applicator for applying a cosmetic or care product includes an applicator member having a proximal portion and a distal portion. The distal portion of the applicator member is formed as an application portion and includes a first application side and a second application side opposite the first application side. The application portion includes a peripheral edge that extends around a periphery of the application portion. The peripheral edge has a maximum thickness at a widest portion of the application portion.

Description

This application is a divisional application of a Chinese patent application with an application date of February 3, 2020, an application number of 202010078561.9, and an invention title of "Cosmetic Applicator". Technical Field

[0001] Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to a cosmetic applicator for applying products including cosmetic, care, or pharmaceutical products to human skin or keratinous materials. The products include viscous liquid or semi-solid products for application to the skin of the face, eyes, etc. Background Art

[0002] Cosmetic applicators, such as dip applicators or stick applicators, are known in the cosmetic industry. Cosmetic packaging typically includes such an applicator for dispensing a particular cosmetic contained in a packaging container. A cosmetic applicator generally includes a handle having a cap at one end and an applicator head in the form of a brush, spatula, or other applicator structure that is adapted to apply cosmetic or care products, including viscous cosmetics, mascara, eyeliner, lip gloss, hair color, wound care, skin care, under-eye cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and similar products.

[0003] One such applicator for applying and transporting a quantity of cosmetic product to a user's skin is disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 6331085B1. The applicator includes a generally cylindrical elastomeric tip having a long axis, the tip including a distal portion having a distal end with at least one material receiving recess formed therein, and the recess having a rim.

[0004] Another U.S. Patent No. 7481591 discloses an applicator that includes a rod and an application surface formed by a plurality of cones. These cones have a certain elasticity and mobility and are thus capable of massaging a cosmetic product that is stored between them into the wrinkled and uneven areas of a user's skin.

[0005] Another U.S. Patent No. 7918619 discloses an application portion that projects laterally from a handle and includes at least two branches of plastic material for increasing the retention of a cosmetic product. The branches have corresponding ends, and the ends meet each other to define a cavity between the branches. The application portion is capable of holding a cosmetic in its cavity and thus has increased retention.

[0006] Although such applicators are generally satisfactory, there is still a need for an applicator that can hold a given large quantity of a cosmetic product for application and that enables accurate application of the cosmetic product. Summary of the Invention

[0007] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a cosmetic applicator that can hold a given large amount of cosmetic product without inconveniences such as dripping or threading.

[0008] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, the cosmetic applicator can be used to apply products including cosmetic or care products. Cosmetic or care products include viscous or semi-solid cosmetics such as lip gloss, hair color, skin care, under-eye cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and the like.

[0009] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, the cosmetic applicator includes an applicator member, a handle, and a cap. The applicator member is held at the distal end of the handle for applying the cosmetic product; and the cap is held at the proximal end of the handle.

[0010] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, the distal end of the handle includes an internal longitudinal cavity for receiving and holding the applicator member.

[0011] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, the applicator member includes a distal portion and a proximal portion. The proximal portion of the applicator member is formed as a shank configured to be received in the cavity of the handle. The distal portion of the applicator member is formed as an application portion and is constituted by a first application side and a second application side opposite to the first application side. The distal portion of the applicator member is formed as a curved and flat application portion.

[0012] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the proximal portion of the applicator member is configured to be connected to the opening of a container containing a cosmetic or care product, and in this case, the applicator member may have a channel for allowing the cosmetic or care product to flow from the container onto the applicator member.

[0013] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, the application portion is longer in length than in width. The application portion has a width axis perpendicular to the central longitudinal axis of the application portion.

[0014] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, the application portion is wider than the handle.

[0015] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, the application portion is offset from the central longitudinal axis of the handle. In other words, the central longitudinal axis of the application portion is parallel to the central longitudinal axis of the handle but does not coincide with the central longitudinal axis of the handle. In an alternative embodiment, the application portion has a central longitudinal axis that is not parallel to the central longitudinal axis of the handle.

[0016] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, at least a portion of the application part is bent around an axis transverse to the central longitudinal axis of the application part, forming a longitudinal cavity on a first application side of the application part. At least a portion of the second application side is convex. Further, the cavity has a cross-sectional profile whose width can vary along the central longitudinal axis of the application part. The cavity is for holding a cosmetic product on the first application side.

[0017] According to a preferred embodiment of the present disclosure, at least a portion of the application part is bent around an axis transverse to the central longitudinal axis of the application part, forming a longitudinal recess on a first application side of the application part. At least a portion of the first application side of the application part is concave, and at least a portion of the second application side is convex. The longitudinal recess on the first application side is curved on the width axis. The recess has a generally U-shaped transverse cross-sectional profile, whose width can vary along the longitudinal axis of the application part. The recess is for holding a cosmetic product on the first application side.

[0018] According to yet another aspect of the present disclosure, the longitudinal recess of the application part extends on the first application side from the proximal end portion of the application part towards the distal end portion or tip of the application part.

[0019] According to yet another aspect of the present disclosure, the application part can be covered with a flocking-like application element. A flocking finish of the surface of the application part can be achieved by known techniques selected appropriately, such as electrostatic flocking.

[0020] According to yet another aspect of the present disclosure, the application part has at least one widest part when viewed from the front. The at least one widest part is located at any length of the application part. Preferably, the widest part is approximately at half of the length of the application part. In other embodiments, the widest part can extend above a certain portion of the length of the application part. The widest part is at a position away from the tip or distal end portion of the application part. The application part gradually decreases in width from the widest part of the application part towards the proximal end portion, where the application part and the handle are connected to each other. The width of the application part and the width (i.e., diameter) of the handle can be substantially equal, where the application part and the handle are connected to each other. The application part also gradually decreases in width from the widest part towards the tip or distal end portion. In short, the application part has its width gradually increasing from the tip towards the widest part and gradually decreasing from the widest part towards the proximal end portion. The tip may or may not be sharply pointed. The distal end portion of the application part is formed as a sharply pointed tip.

[0021] According to yet another aspect of the present disclosure, the first application side forming the longitudinal recess of the application portion includes a molded continuous centerline rib that extends along the central longitudinal axis of the application portion from the proximal end of the application portion to a part of the length of the application portion up to. Preferably, the centerline rib extends to half of the length of the application portion or to the widest part of the application portion. The centerline rib has a width that gradually decreases along the central longitudinal axis of the application portion from the proximal end of the application portion towards the distal end of the application portion. The centerline rib provides structural strength to the application portion such that when the applicator member is withdrawn from the reservoir, during the wiping action by the wiper, the application portion does not bend away from the central longitudinal axis of the application portion. This means that the position of the tip of the application portion relative to the handle does not change during wiping.

[0022] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the second application side having the convex portion is smooth and flat.

[0023] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the application portion includes a peripheral edge that extends around the periphery of the application portion. The peripheral edge of the application portion has a thickness. As used herein, the term "thickness" is the distance measured between the first application side and the second application side. The thickness of the peripheral edge can vary along the central longitudinal axis of the application portion. The peripheral edge has a maximum thickness at the widest part of the application portion. Alternatively, the peripheral edge has a maximum thickness along a part of the widest part that extends over a part of the length of the application portion. The peripheral edge is curved and does not have any sharp points in order to provide a softer feel to the user during application. A sharp peripheral edge is not preferred because a sharp edge is uncomfortable and can cause scratching. The greater thickness at the peripheral edge produces an advantageous effect: effectively preventing the dripping and threading of the cosmetic product.

[0024] According to yet another aspect of the present disclosure, in a side view of the application portion, the peripheral edge along the lateral side of the application portion has a curvature that includes a concave bend followed by a convex bend that extends from the proximal end towards the distal end of the application portion. The convex bend extends over more than half of the length of the application portion (more preferably more than 60% of the length of the application portion).

[0025] According to yet another aspect of the present disclosure, the application portion can be covered in flocking. Due to the synergistic effect brought about by the combination of the bending of the application portion and the effect of the flocked finish, the application portion is able to hold an increased amount of the cosmetic product when applying the cosmetic product. As a result, the number of application operations is reduced. Covering the application portion in flocking produces another advantage: when applied to the user's lips or any other area of the skin, the application portion feels soft.

[0026] Briefly, fibers for flocking (which can be any commonly used material such as nylon, polyester or any natural fiber) are applied to the surface to be flocked using an adhesive (such as epoxy resin). Preferably, the flocking process occurs in an electrostatic field, which results in proper orientation of the fibers. The flocking on the application portion provides a convenient "container" that can hold a small amount of cosmetic product sufficient for one or two applications. According to yet another aspect of the present disclosure, the cosmetic applicator of the present disclosure is to be used in a cosmetic package that includes a reservoir for holding a cosmetic product and the cosmetic applicator. The cap of the cosmetic applicator includes threads on its inner surface that can be screwed onto threads formed on the neck of the reservoir for closing the reservoir in a leak-proof manner. The reservoir includes a wiper in the neck that is used to wipe excess product from the cosmetic applicator.

[0027] After the application portion passes through the wiper, there is very little retention of cosmetic product on the second application side compared to the first application side that holds a large amount of cosmetic product due to the recess.

[0028] According to yet another aspect of the present disclosure, the handle can have a longitudinal axis that is straight as shown (or in alternative embodiments, it can be curved). The handle can have a circular cross-section, but it is not beyond the scope of the present disclosure for it to be otherwise (especially when the cross-section of the handle can be oval, elliptical or polygonal (such as square, rectangular or triangular)). The handle can be solid or hollow.

[0029] When the handle does not have a circular cross-section, the cap may be able to be fastened to the reservoir by snap-fastening or by some other means without rotating relative to the reservoir. Accordingly, the wiper can present a non-circular wiper orifice with a section complementary to a section of the handle.

[0030] In alternative embodiments, the applicator member and the handle can be integrally formed of the same material or can be formed as separate members connected to each other by any suitable fixing means known in the art. For example, the applicator member can be fastened to the handle by an adhesive, by heat sealing, by a force fit, by snap-fastening, by crimping or by screw fastening. In alternative embodiments, the applicator member is made integrally with the handle (such as of the same material or of different materials, for example by double injection).

[0031] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, at least a portion and preferably all of the applicator member can be made by molding (such as by injection molding), for example from a material selected from the following list: thermoplastic materials; elastomers; thermoplastic elastomers; such as for example Thermoplastic elastomer polyesters; nitrile rubbers; silicone rubbers; ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymer rubbers (EPDM); styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene (SEBS); styrene-isoprene-styrene (SIS); polyurethanes (PU); ethyl vinyl acetate (EVA); polyvinyl chloride (PVC); polyethylene (PE); polyethylene terephthalate (PET); polypropylene (PP); this list is not restrictive.

[0032] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, the applicator member can be made of a material that is at least partially more flexible than the material from which the handle is made.

[0033] Although the present disclosure has been described with reference to specific embodiments, it is to be understood that these embodiments are merely illustrative of the principles and applications of the present disclosure. Accordingly, it is to be understood that many modifications can be made to the illustrative embodiments and other arrangements can be designed without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0034] Thus, in a manner enabling the above-described features of the present disclosure to be understood in detail, a more particular description of the present disclosure briefly outlined above can be made by reference to the embodiments, some of which are illustrated in the additional drawings.

[0035] Figure 1 A longitudinal cross-sectional view of a cosmetic package including a cosmetic applicator of the present disclosure is shown; Figure 2 Shows Figure 1 An enlarged isometric view of a portion of a cosmetic applicator; Figure 3A Shows Figure 2 A front view of a cosmetic applicator; Figure 3B Shows along Figure 3A A cross-sectional view of a cosmetic applicator taken along axis A-A; Figure 4 Shows Figure 2 A rear view of a cosmetic applicator; Figure 5 Shows Figure 2 A side view of a cosmetic applicator; and Figure 6 Shows Figure 2 A cosmetic applicator, having flocking on the application portion of the cosmetic applicator in Figure 2 the cosmetic applicator.

[0036] For the sake of promoting understanding, the same reference numerals have been used to denote identical elements common to the figures wherever possible. However, it should be noted that the additional drawings merely illustrate typical embodiments of the present disclosure and should not be considered as limiting its scope, since the present disclosure admits other equally effective embodiments. Detailed Description

[0037] Throughout the specification, the terms “comprise,” “comprises,” “comprising,” etc. shall consistently mean that the set of elements is not limited to the specifically recited elements.

[0038] Figure 1 A longitudinal cross-sectional view of a cosmetic package 1 according to the present disclosure is illustrated. The cosmetic package 1 includes a reservoir 200 for containing a cosmetic product (not shown) and a cosmetic applicator 100. The cosmetic applicator 100 includes an applicator member 10, a handle 20, and a cap 30. The cap 30 of the applicator 100 has threads 32 on its inner surface that can be screwed onto threads 202 formed on the outer surface of the neck 204 of the reservoir 200 for closing the reservoir 200 in a leak-proof manner.

[0039] According to an alternative embodiment, the neck 204 and the cap 30 can be joined by other engaging means known in the art, such as snap fits, J-locks, etc.

[0040] Inserted in the neck 204 of the reservoir 200 is a wiper 206 for wiping excess product from the applicator 100.

[0041] Figure 2 An enlarged isometric view of a portion of the cosmetic applicator 100 is illustrated, in which the applicator member 10 is depicted inverted relative to Figure 1 the applicator member 10 in. The cosmetic applicator 100 can be used to apply products (not shown) including cosmetic or care products. Cosmetic or care products include viscous or semi-solid cosmetics, such as lip gloss, hair color, skin care, under-eye cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and the like.

[0042] As Figures 1-5 shown in, the cosmetic applicator 100 includes: an applicator member 10 that is held at the distal end of the handle 20 for applying a cosmetic product; and a cap 30 that is attached to the proximal end of the handle 20. The distal end of the handle 20 includes an internal longitudinal cavity 22 for receiving and holding the applicator member 10. The handle 20 can have a longitudinal axis that is straight as shown (or in a variant, it can be curved).

[0043] In the described embodiment, the handle 20 presents a circular cross-section, but it is not beyond the scope of the present disclosure for it to be otherwise (in particular when the cross-section of the handle 20 is oval, elliptical or polygonal (such as square, rectangular or triangular)). The handle 20 can be solid or hollow.

[0044] When the handle 20 does not have a circular cross-section, the cap 30 may be able to be fastened to the reservoir 200 by snap-fastening or by some other means without rotating relative to the reservoir 200. Accordingly, the wiper 206 can present a non-circular wiper orifice of a section complementary to a section of the handle 20.

[0045] Reference Figure 1 Referring, the applicator member 10 includes a distal portion 10a and a proximal portion 10b. The proximal portion 10b of the applicator member 10 is formed as a shank 10b configured to be received within a cavity 22 of the handle 20. In an alternative embodiment, the applicator member 10 and the handle 20 may be integrally formed of the same material or may be formed as separate members configured to be connected to one another by any suitable securing means known in the art. For example, the applicator member 10 can be secured to the handle 20 by an adhesive, by heat-sealing, by a force fit, by snap-fastening, by crimping or by screw-fastening. In a variant embodiment, the applicator member 10 is made integrally with the handle 20 (such as of the same material or of different materials, for example by double injection moulding).

[0046] In other alternative embodiments not shown in the drawings, the proximal portion of the applicator member 10 may be configured to be connected to an opening of a container containing a cosmetic or care product, and in such a case, the applicator member 10 may have a channel for allowing the cosmetic or care product to flow from the container onto the applicator member 10.

[0047] The distal portion 10a of the applicator member 10 is formed as an application portion and is constituted by a first application side 11a and a second application side 11b opposite the first application side 11a. The distal portion 10a of the applicator member is formed as a curved and flat application portion.

[0048] The applicator member 10 can be made at least in part of a material that is more flexible than the material of which the handle 20 is made.

[0049] At least a part and preferably all of the applicator member 10 can be made by moulding (such as by injection moulding), for example from a material selected from the following list: thermoplastic materials; elastomers; thermoplastic elastomers; such as for example Thermoplastic elastomers such as polyester; nitrile rubber; silicone rubber; ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymer rubber (EPDM); styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene (SEBS); styrene-isoprene-styrene (SIS); polyurethane (PU); ethyl vinyl acetate (EVA); polyvinyl chloride (PVC); polyethylene (PE); polyethylene terephthalate (PET); polypropylene (PP); this list is not restrictive.

[0050] As Figure 6 shown in, the application portion 10a is covered with an application element 18, in this case, the application element 18 is flocked fibers 18. Briefly, the fibers 18 for flocking (which can be any commonly used material such as nylon, polyester or any natural fiber) are applied to the surface to be flocked with an adhesive (such as epoxy resin). Flocking finish on the surface of the application portion 10a can be achieved by a known technique selected appropriately (such as electrostatic flocking). Before being flocked, the application portion 10a is smooth over its entire surface, as Figures 1-5 shown in. That is, before being flocked, the application portion 10a does not have a surface texture such as a pleated finish or a matte finish above its entire surface. In other words, before being flocked, the application portion 10a is smooth and sleek. Preferably, the flocking process occurs in an electrostatic field, which results in proper orientation of the fibers. Flocking on the application portion 10a provides a convenient "container" that can hold a small amount of cosmetic product sufficient for one or two applications. In an alternative embodiment, the application element 18 can include injection-molded fibers, protrusions or grooves that can hold the cosmetic product.

[0051] As Figures 1-5 shown in, the application portion 10a of the applicator member 10 is wider than the handle 20. The application portion 10a is longer than it is wide and has a central longitudinal axis X that is parallel to the central longitudinal axis L of the handle 20 but does not coincide with the central longitudinal axis L of the handle 20 (as Figure 2 shown in). In other words, the application portion 10a is offset from the central longitudinal axis L of the handle 20. In other alternative embodiments, the longitudinal axis X of the application portion 10a may not be parallel to the central longitudinal axis L of the handle 20.

[0052] In addition, the application portion 10a has a width axis Y perpendicular to the central longitudinal axis X. As used herein, the term "width" is defined as along Figure 3AThe length of the axis Y therein. The application part 10a is bent about an axis Y transverse to the central longitudinal axis X of the application part 10a to form a longitudinal cavity, which in this case is a recess on the first application side 11a of the application part 10a. Thus, the first application side 11a is concave, and the second application side 11b is convex relative to the axis Y. The first application side 11a has a longitudinal recess 12 that curves along the width axis Y. The longitudinal recess 12 has a generally U-shaped transverse cross-sectional profile, and its width varies along the central longitudinal axis X. The recess 12 is for holding a cosmetic or care product on the first application side 11a. The longitudinal recess 12 extends on the first side 11a from the proximal end 13 of the application part 10a to the distal end 14 or tip 14 of the application part 10a.

[0053] Due to the synergistic effect brought about by the combination of the bending and the effect of the flocked finish, the application part 10a can hold an increased amount of cosmetic product when applying the cosmetic product. As a result, the number of application operations is reduced. Covering the application part with flocking produces another advantage: when applied to the user's lips or any other area of the skin, the application part feels soft.

[0054] As Figure 3A shown, when viewed from the front, the application part 10a has a widest part 10c. The widest part 10c can occur at any part of the length of the application part 10a. As Figure 3A shown, the application part 10a has a widest part 10c approximately at the midpoint of the length of the application part 10a. In an alternative embodiment, the widest part 10c can extend above a certain portion of the length of the application part 10a.

[0055] In addition, the application part 10a gradually decreases in width from the widest part 10c towards the proximal end 13, where the application part 10a and the handle 20 are connected to each other. The width of the application part 10a and the width (i.e., diameter) of the handle 20 are substantially equal where the application part 10a and the handle 20 are connected to each other. The widest part 10c is at a position away from the tip 14 or distal end 14 of the application part 10a. The application part 10a also gradually decreases in width from the widest part 10c towards the tip 14. The tip 14 is preferably sharply pointed. The sharply pointed tip 14 helps in the fine and delicate application of the cosmetic product to the end, such as the user's lips. In short, the application part 10a has its width gradually increasing from the tip 14 towards the widest part 10c and gradually decreasing from the widest part 10c towards the proximal end 13.

[0056] As Figure 2 and Figure 3AAs shown, the recess 12 of the application portion 10a includes a molded continuous centerline rib 15 that extends along the central longitudinal axis X of the application portion 10a from the proximal end 13 of the application portion 10a to a part of the length of the application portion 10a, preferably up to half of the length of the application portion 10a. The centerline rib 15 has a width along the Y axis that gradually decreases from the proximal end 13 towards the distal end 14 along the central longitudinal axis X. The centerline rib 15 provides structural strength to the application portion 10a such that when the applicator member 10 is withdrawn from the reservoir 200, the application portion 10a does not bend away from the longitudinal axis X during wiping by the wiper 206. In other words, the centerline rib 15 resists deformation of the application portion 10a away from the central longitudinal axis X. This means that the position of the tip 14 of the application portion 10a relative to the handle 20 does not change during wiping.

[0057] After the application portion 10 passes through the wiper 206, there is very little retention of cosmetic product on the second application side 11b compared to the first application side 11a which retains a large amount of cosmetic product due to the recess 12.

[0058] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the second application side 11b with the convex portion is smooth and flat.

[0059] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the application portion 10a includes a peripheral edge 16 (refer to Figures 2 to 6 ) that extends around the periphery of the application portion 10a. The peripheral edge 16 of the application portion 10a has a thickness "t". As used herein, the term "thickness" is the distance measured between the first application side 11a and the second application side 11b. The thickness of the peripheral edge 16 can vary along the central longitudinal axis X of the application portion 10a. In a cross-sectional view taken along the width axis Y, the peripheral edge 16 has a maximum thickness "t" at the widest part 10c of the application portion 10a, as Figure 3B shown. Alternatively, the peripheral edge 16 has a maximum thickness "t" along a part of the widest part 10c that extends over a part of the length of the application portion 10a. The peripheral edge 16 is curved and does not have any sharp tips in order to provide a softer feel to the user during application. A sharp peripheral edge is not preferred because a sharp edge is uncomfortable and can cause scratching. The larger thickness at the peripheral edge 16 has the beneficial effect of effectively preventing dripping and threading of the cosmetic product.

[0060] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, in a side view of the application portion 10a, as Figure 5As can be seen, the peripheral edge 16 along the lateral side 17 of the application portion 10a has a curvature that includes a concave bend 16a, followed by a convex bend 16b that extends from the proximal end portion to the distal end of the application portion 10a. The convex bend 16b extends along more than half of the length of the application portion 10a (more preferably more than 60% of the length of the application portion 10a).

[0061] This embodiment provides advantageous effects: Excess cosmetic product is wiped off from the application portion 10a by the wiper 206 to leave a sufficient amount of cosmetic product remaining on the first side 11a of the application portion 10a. In addition to this effect, another advantage is obtained: dripping or stringing of the cosmetic product is prevented.

[0062] Although the present disclosure has been described with reference to specific embodiments, it is to be understood that these embodiments are merely illustrative of the principles and applications of the present disclosure. Accordingly, it is to be understood that numerous modifications can be made to the illustrative embodiments and other arrangements can be designed without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure, and the scope of the present disclosure is determined by the following claims.

[0063] Reference numerals: Part number Name of part in the specification 1 Cosmetic packaging 10 Applicator member Application portion 100 Cosmetic applicator Applicator 10a Application portion Distal portion 10b Proximal portion Shank 10c Portion 11a First application side First side 11b Second application side 12 Recess Longitudinal recess 13 Proximal end 14 Tip Distal end 15 Centerline rib Continuous centerline rib 16 Peripheral edge 16a Concave bend 16b Convex bend 17 Lateral side 18 Application element Fiber 20 Handle 200 Reservoir 202 Thread 204 Neck 206 Wiper 22 Cavity Internal longitudinal cavity 30 Cap 32 Thread.

Claims

1. An applicator for applying a cosmetic or care product, the applicator comprising: An applicator member that is held at the distal end of the handle; The applicator member includes a distal portion and a proximal portion; The proximal portion of the applicator member is configured to be received within a cavity of the handle; The distal portion of the applicator member is formed as a curved and flattened application portion; Wherein the application portion is offset from the central longitudinal axis of the handle; Wherein the application portion is longer in length than in width; Wherein the distal end of the application portion is formed as a sharply pointed tip; Wherein the width of the application portion gradually increases from the distal end of the application portion to the widest part of the application portion and gradually decreases from the widest part of the application portion to the proximal end of the application portion; Wherein the application portion includes a peripheral edge extending around the periphery of the application portion; Wherein the peripheral edge has a maximum thickness at the widest part of the application portion; Wherein the maximum thickness of the peripheral edge is greater than the thickness along the central longitudinal axis of the application portion; Wherein the application portion is constituted by a first application side and a second application side opposite to the first application side; Wherein at least a portion of the first application side is concave and at least a portion of the second application side is convex; Wherein the first application side forms a longitudinal cavity extending along the central longitudinal axis of the application portion; Wherein the width of the longitudinal cavity varies along the central longitudinal axis of the application portion; Wherein the first application side forming the longitudinal cavity includes a molded continuous centerline rib that extends along the central longitudinal axis of the application portion from the proximal end of the application portion to a part of the length of the application portion; And Wherein the second application side having the convex portion is smooth and flat, Wherein the centerline rib has a width that gradually decreases along the central longitudinal axis of the application portion from the proximal end of the application portion towards the distal end of the application portion.

2. The applicator according to claim 1, wherein the application portion is wider than the handle.

3. The applicator according to claim 1, wherein the application portion is covered with flocked fibers.

4. The applicator according to claim 1, wherein the widest part of the application portion is located at half of the length of the application portion.

5. The applicator according to claim 1, wherein the peripheral edge along the lateral sides of the application portion has a curvature, the curvature comprising a concave bend followed by a convex bend extending from the proximal end portion towards the distal end of the application portion.

6. The applicator according to claim 1, wherein the centerline rib extends along the central longitudinal axis of the application portion from the proximal end of the application portion up to half of the length of the application portion.

7. The applicator according to claim 1, wherein the centerline rib extends along the central longitudinal axis of the application portion from the proximal end of the application portion up to the widest part of the application portion.

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