Cosmetics applicators

Abstract

An applicator for applying a cosmetic substance to the skin of a user has a body with a metallic component defining a generally flat skin-contacting surface adapted to contact the skin of a user during application of cosmetic substance. A cavity is defined within the body having a loading opening at a first end to receive a complementary receptable containing the cosmetic substance, and at a second end having a formation for sealing engagement with a dispensing outlet of the receptacle received in the cavity. A conduit provides communication between the formation and an opening defined within the skin-contacting surface. A securing mechanism secures the receptacle within the cavity with the dispensing outlet of the receptacle in sealing engagement with the formation. When a complementary receptacle is secured within the cavity and the skin-contacting surface is applied to a user's skin, a cosmetics substance may be dispensed from the receptacle, passing through the conduit to emerge at the opening, to be spread between the skin-contacting surface and the user's skin as the applicator is moved across the user's skin in contact with the skin.

Description

[0001] Cosmetics applicators

[0002] Description

[0003] Technical Field

[0004] This invention relates to applicators for applying cosmetic substances to the skin of a user, including substances for skincare, makeup, fragrance, moisturisers, serums and the like.

[0005] Background Art

[0006] Cosmetic substances can be applied to the skin of a user in many ways, from simply rubbing on with one’s fingers, to using devices such as brushes, sprays, roll-on applicators and so on.

[0007] Many of these application devices and techniques expose the cosmetic substance to risk of contamination during application. Additionally, the uniformity of the applied cosmetic substance may be compromised by uneven application methods, or may overly depend on the care, attention and skill of the person applyingthe substance. In the case of cosmetic substances that are intended to be absorbed by the skin, it is desirable to have an even, uniform application.

[0008] There is a need for an improved cosmetic applicator which provides less risk of contamination, more even application, and better absorption by the skin (in case of substances that are intended to be absorbed).

[0009] Disclosure of the Invention

[0010] There is provided an applicator for applying a cosmetic substance to the skin of a user, comprising: a body having a metallic component defining a generally flat skin-contacting surface adapted to contact the skin of a user during application of said cosmetic substance; a cavity defined within the body having a loading opening at a first end to receive a complementary receptacle containing said cosmetic substance, and at a second end thereof having a formation for sealing engagement with a dispensing outlet of a complementary receptacle received in the cavity; a conduit defined within the body which provides communication between said formation at a first end thereof and an opening defined within said skin-contacting surface at a second end thereof; and a securing mechanism for securing a complementary receptacle within the cavity with the dispensing outlet of the receptacle in sealing engagement with said formation; whereby, with a complementary receptacle secured within the cavity and the skincontacting surface applied to a user’s skin, a cosmetics substance dispensed from the receptacle passes through the conduit to emerge at the opening, to be spread between the skin-contacting surface and the user’s skin as the applicator is moved across the user’s skin in contact with the skin.

[0011] The application of a cosmetic substance through an opening in a metallic skincontacting surface allows the substance to be spread in a thin film between the skin-contacting-surface and the skin, assisting with an even application.

[0012] Furthermore, the use of a metallic component, which will typically be at ambient room temperature (e.g. 20°C), and significantly below the temperature of the user’s skin (typically 33°C - 35°C in moderate environments), provides a cooling effect which is beneficial to the absorption of the cosmetic substance and which is perceived as soothing and pleasurable to the user.

[0013] The cooling effect provided by the metallic skin-contacting surface is beneficial in a number of ways:

[0014] - the cooled surface helps to soothe irritation

[0015] - the cooled surface lifts and firms the complexion the appearance of pores is reduced lymphatic drainage is encouraged, reducing puffiness blood vessels are constricted, causing blood to leave the skin surface; upon removal, as the blood vessels return to normal, they fill with a refreshed blood supply having fresh nutrients due to the above-mentioned temperature differential and the inherent thermal conductivity of the metallic component, the cooling effect is provided without having to actively cool the applicator by refrigeration before use unlike products which are at freezing temperatures, the cooling effect is sufficiently gentle to avoid broken capillaries, redness and irritation

[0016] By providingthe applicator with a securing mechanism which secures the receptacle from which the cosmetic substance is dispensed, with the dispensing outlet in sealed engagement with the inner end of the conduit within a cavity inside the body, contamination of the substance is avoided, exposure of the substance to air is minimised, and the receptacle can afterwards be removed and resealed (e.g. with a sealing cap) without ever touching the dispensing outlet.

[0017] Preferably, said opening is formed in the centre of the skin-contacting surface.

[0018] Preferably, said opening is formed in a recess provided in the skin-contacting surface.

[0019] Preferably, said metallic component has a mass and a heat capacity sufficient to act as a heat sink for at least one minute when applied to the skin of a user.

[0020] Preferably, said mass and heat capacity enable the metallic component, starting from an ambient temperature of 20°C, and applied to the facial skin of a typical user in a room-temperature environment, to maintain a temperature differential of at least 3°C for at least one minute. Preferably, said metallic component is a generally cylindrical body with one face thereof providing said skin-contacting surface, and with the conduit formed parallel to the cylindrical axis, the other face thereof being mounted against a housing in which the cavity is provided.

[0021] Preferably, said metallic component is formed of a material selected from aluminium, an aluminium alloy, copper and a copper alloy.

[0022] Preferably, said cavity is generally cylindrical to receive a cylindrical end of a complementary receptacle.

[0023] Preferably, said securing mechanism is a screw thread adapted to mate with a complementary screw thread of a complementary receptacle.

[0024] Preferably, said screw thread is provided on an internal wall of said cavity.

[0025] Preferably, said formation is a collar which in use receives and seals against a dispensing tip of a complementary receptacle.

[0026] It will be appreciated that by minimisingthe air volume in the collar and the conduit, an effectively airless dispensing system can be provided, with cosmetic substance being delivered to the surface of the skin with minimal air exposure and oxidisation.

[0027] Preferably, a non-return valve is provided in said conduit, preventing cosmetic substance dispensed through said opening from being suctioned back into the conduit.

[0028] Preferably, said non-return valve comprises a resilient, deformable member which seals the opening when subjected to negative pressure from within the conduit and which allows the passage of cosmetic substance past the opening when subjected to positive pressure from within the conduit.

[0029] Preferably, said resilient deformable member comprises a mushroom-shaped section with a stalk located within the conduit and a head section which is retained against the end of the conduit by the stalk. Preferably the head section is in sealing engagement with the end of the conduit when not subject to any pressure imbalance.

[0030] Preferably, said mushroom-shaped section is connected to an internal section that is captive within the body of the applicator and which is provided with openings to permit the passage of cosmetic substance therethrough.

[0031] Preferably, the applicator further comprises a removable plug sealing the cavity when not in use, the removable plug being provided with a graspable component to assist in its removal.

[0032] The graspable component also allows the user to grip the applicator more easily, without a cosmetics receptacle in place, and use it as a cooling device on the skin, with the graspable component acting as a handle.

[0033] Preferably, the body is generally hemispherical in shape with the face of the hemisphere providingthe skin-contacting surface.

[0034] There is also provided a method of applying a cosmetic substance to the skin of a user, comprising the steps of: providing an applicator as disclosed above, and a complementary receptacle containing a cosmetic substance to be dispensed via a dispensing outlet of the receptacle; securing the complementary receptacle within the cavity of the applicator with the dispensing outlet of the receptacle in sealing engagement with the formation at the second end of the cavity; applying the skin-contacting surface to contact the skin of a user; dispensing cosmetic substance from the receptacle to the skin of the user via the opening; and moving the skin-contacting surface across the skin to spread the cosmetic substance on the skin. Brief Description of the Drawings

[0035] Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a cosmetics applicator;

[0036] Fig. 2 is an elevation in cross-section, showing the removable plug in broken lines;

[0037] Fig. 3 is an elevation in cross-section, showing a complementary receptacle in the in-use position;

[0038] Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail of Fig. 3;

[0039] Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail, similar to Fig. 4 but showing the cosmetics substance being applied to the user’s skin; and

[0040] Fig. 6 is an enlarged view of a valve forming part of the applicator of Figs. 1 -5.

[0041] Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments

[0042] In Fig. 1 there is indicated, generally at 10, a cosmetics applicator comprising a plastic dome-shaped housing 12 with a metallic base component 14 which together make up the applicator body. A plug 16 having a ring-shaped handle 18 is removably mounted in the body.

[0043] Referring additionally to Fig. 2, it can be seen that the plug 16, which is made of rubber or a rubber-like polymer, is snugly fitted within a cavity 22 from which it can be removed by pulling on the handle 18.

[0044] The plug 16 is sufficiently firmly positioned in the cavity that the handle can be used to grasp the applicator and move it across the skin of a user with the flat skincontacting surface 20 of the metallic base component 14 in contact with the skin. In this way, without any application of cosmetic substances, the applicator can be used for a cooling effect. The metallic base component 14, made of aluminium has sufficient mass and heat capacity to exert a cooling effect on the skin without refrigerating the device. As also seen in Fig. 2, the cavity 22 has a cylindrical collar 24 leading to an opening in the centre of the base of the cavity. This collar provides a formation to sealingly engage with the tip of a cosmetics receptacle as will be described further below.

[0045] Fig. 3 shows the applicator in use, after removing the plug and inserting a complementary receptacle 26 containing a cosmetics substance to be applied to the skin. The receptacle is complementary due to being sized to fit the cavity, its engagement with a securing mechanism (namely screw threads 28 engaging complementary threads in the cavity’s internal cylindrical wall), and a dispensing tip 30 which mates with the collar 24 so that substance dispensed from the tip 30 is confined to the collar and only able to exit via the opening at the base thereof, from where it passes through a conduit 32 and out of the centre of the skincontacting surface as will be further explained.

[0046] Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail of the central portion of the base of the applicator shown in Fig. 3, from which it can be seen that a valve having a mushroom-shaped head 34 and a shaft 36 is mounted in the conduit 32, with the valve head 24 being recessed within a recess 38 formed within the skin-contacting surface of the aluminium base component.

[0047] Referring additionally to Fig. 6., the valve is shown in isolation, and it can be seen that the innermost portion 46 which is anchored inside the applicator base has a number of holes 48 which allow passage of the cosmetics substance through. The valve is made of a resilient, flexible polymer material so that the head 34 can flex away from the innermost portion 46 and the shaft 36 can also stretch under tension.

[0048] Therefore, when mounted as shown in Fig. 4, if the valve experiences negative pressure (i.e. a partial vacuum in the conduit 32 due to the release of pressure on the receptacle after squeezing to dispense cosmetic substance), the head will seal against the base, but if it experiences positive pressure, due to substance being squeezed from the receptacle tip, it can flex away from the base and allow the substance to pass out of the conduit. Fig. 5 shows the same view as Fig. 4 but with the receptacle being squeezed to dispense the contained cosmetic substance 40, and with the skin-contacting surface applied to the user’s skin 50, the substance fills the internal space 42 within the collar, the space 44 above the valve, the conduit 32, and the recess 38, with the head of the valve flexing away from the conduit to allow the substance to pass through, from where the substance 40 spreads alongthe skin contacting surface and across the user’s skin 50. By moving the applicator over the skin, a thin film of substance is spread onto the skin in a uniform layer.

[0049] The base component exerts a cooling effect on the user’s skin as it is moved over it in contact with it. In tests, a base component formed of aluminium, with a diameter of 60mm and a mass of 62g had sufficient heat capacity to continue to exert a readily perceptible cooling effect for at least a minute of continuous contact with facial skin, where the base component started at 20°C and the initial skin temperature started at 33°C prior to application of the applicator. This cooling effect is increased where an evaporative substance is applied to the skin adding a further cooling effect.

[0050] The invention is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed herein which may be varied without departingfrom the scope of the claimed invention.

Claims

Claims1 . An applicator for applying a cosmetic substance to the skin of a user, comprising: a body having a metallic component defining a generally flat skin-contacting surface adapted to contact the skin of a user during application of said cosmetic substance; a cavity defined within the body having a loading opening at a first end to receive a complementary receptable containing said cosmetic substance, and at a second end thereof having a formation for sealing engagement with a dispensing outlet of a complementary receptacle received in the cavity; a conduit defined within the body which provides communication between said formation at a first end thereof and an opening defined within said skin-contacting surface at a second end thereof; and a securing mechanism for securing a complementary receptacle within the cavity with the dispensing outlet of the receptacle in sealing engagement with said formation; whereby, with a complementary receptacle secured within the cavity and the skincontacting surface applied to a user’s skin, a cosmetics substance dispensed from the receptacle passes through the conduit to emerge at the opening, to be spread between the skin-contacting surface and the user’s skin as the applicator is moved across the user’s skin in contact with the skin.

2. An applicator accordingto claim 1 , wherein said opening is formed in the centre of the skin-contacting surface.

3. An applicator accordingto claim 1 , wherein said opening is formed in a recess provided in the skin-contacting surface.

4. An applicator accordingto claim 1 , wherein said metallic component has a mass and a heat capacity sufficient to act as a heat sink for at least one minute when applied to the skin of a user.

5. An applicator accordingto claim 4, wherein said mass and heat capacity enable the metallic component, startingfrom an ambient temperature of 20°C, and applied to the facial skin of a typical user in a room-temperature environment, to maintain a temperature differential of at least 3°C for at least one minute.

6. An applicator accordingto claim 1 , wherein said metallic component is a generally cylindrical body with one face thereof providing said skin-contacting surface, and with the conduit formed parallel to the cylindrical axis, the other face thereof being mounted against a housing in which the cavity is provided.

7. An applicator accordingto claim 1 , wherein said metallic component is formed of a material selected from aluminium, an aluminium alloy, copper and a copper alloy.

8. An applicator according to claim 1 , wherein said cavity is generally cylindrical to receive a cylindrical end of a complementary receptacle.

9. An applicator accordingto claim 1 , wherein said securing mechanism is a screw thread adapted to mate with a complementary screw thread of a complementary receptacle.

10. An applicator according to claim 9, wherein said screw thread is provided on an internal wall of said cavity.

11. An applicator accordingto claim 1 , wherein said formation is a collar which in use receives and seals against a dispensing tip of a complementary receptacle.

12. An applicator according to claim 1 , wherein a non-return valve is provided in said conduit, preventing cosmetic substance dispensed through said opening from being suctioned back into the conduit.

13. An applicator accordingto claim 12, wherein said non-return valve comprises a resilient, deformable member which seals the opening when subjected to negative pressure from within the conduit and which allows the passage of cosmetic substance past the opening when subjected to positive pressure from within the conduit.

14. An applicator accordingto claim 13, wherein said resilient deformable member comprises a mushroom-shaped section with a stalk captured within the conduit and a head which is retained against the end of the conduit by the stalk.

15. An applicator accordingto claim 14, wherein said mushroom-shaped section is connected to an internal section that is captive within the body of the applicator and which is provided with openings to permit the passage of cosmetic substance therethrough.

16. An applicator accordingto claim 1 , further comprising a removable plug sealing the cavity when not in use, the removable plug being provided with a graspable component to assist in its removal.

17. An applicator accordingto claim 1 , wherein the body is generally hemispherical in shape with the face of the hemisphere providing the skincontacting surface.

18. A method of applying a cosmetic substance to the skin of a user, comprisingthe steps of: providing an applicator accordingto claim 1 , and a complementary receptacle containing a cosmetic substance to be dispensed via a dispensing outlet of the receptacle; securing the complementary receptacle within the cavity of the applicator with the dispensing outlet of the receptacle in sealing engagement with the formation at the second end of the cavity; applying the skin-contacting surface to contact the skin of a user;dispensing cosmetic substance from the receptacle to the skin of the user via the opening; and moving the skin-contacting surface across the skin to spread the cosmetic substance on the skin.

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