Cosmetic Applicator with Conical Porous Tip for Stable Liquid Flow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cosmetic applicators face issues such as poor rigidity leading to wear, clogging with shining materials, and unsuitability for high viscosity liquids, along with high manufacturing costs and instability in liquid followability.
Innovation Solution
An applicator with a twist-up extrusion device and a conical applicator part made of elastomer or rubber, featuring a flow passage connecting the reservoir and applicator part, allowing extrusion of liquid through a mechanism that enhances capillary retention and flexibility, and treated with electrostatic flocking for improved liquid followability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a brush-type applicator is used to achieve suppleness and fine line control, then makeup flexibility is improved, but manufacturing cost increases and manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces expensive, difficult-to-manufacture brush applicators with a disposable pen core design. The pen core integrates the liquid reservoir and applicator tip in a single low-cost component that can be manufactured through simple injection molding, eliminating the need for complex brush assembly processes while maintaining makeup application flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the liquid reservoir, flow passage, and applicator tip into a single integrated pen core component. This consolidation simplifies manufacturing by reducing the number of separate parts and assembly steps, while the internal flow passage design ensures proper liquid delivery to the applicator tip.
2Quantity of substance
If a hole is formed in the central part of the brush to establish liquid flow passage, then liquid delivery is enabled, but the brush tip structure becomes unstable and liquid followability becomes inconstant
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a porous structure at the applicator tip region of the pen core, which allows liquid to be delivered through the material matrix rather than through a central hole. This porous configuration maintains structural integrity of the tip while enabling consistent liquid flow, eliminating the instability and irregular followability problems associated with central hole designs.
3Ease of manufacture
If a brush-type applicator is used with content liquid containing shining materials, then cosmetic effect is improved, but liquid clogging occurs between fibers
Solution Approach 1:
The porous structure of the applicator tip provides a controlled matrix for liquid delivery that prevents clogging of shining materials. The porous channels distribute liquid flow evenly and prevent particle accumulation, maintaining reliable liquid delivery and cosmetic effect even with glitter-containing formulations.
4Quantity of substance
If an applicator with porous structure and flocking is used to improve liquid retention, then capillary retention is improved, but tip rigidity decreases and wear occurs after application
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different structural characteristics to different regions of the pen core. The applicator tip region features a porous structure for capillary liquid retention, while the main body maintains sufficient rigidity. This local differentiation allows the tip to exhibit soft, retentive properties for liquid cosmetics while the overall structure maintains adequate strength to prevent wear during application.
Solution Approach 2:
The pen core utilizes composite material properties, combining regions with different structural characteristics. The porous tip region provides liquid retention through capillary action, while the denser main body provides structural support. This composite approach reconciles the need for both liquid retention and structural rigidity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution provides a cost-effective, flexible, and stable applicator suitable for fine line drawing and long-distance application, resistant to clogging, and suitable for a range of viscosities, with enhanced capillary retention and wettability.
Implementation Method 1
the applicator part is a conical part... allowing extrusion of liquid through a mechanism that enhances capillary retention
Implementation Method 2
treated with electrostatic flocking for improved liquid followability
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2(a)~2(c)
Figure 3(a)~3(e)
AI summary
Provided is an applicator for cosmetics (in particular, eyeliner) and writing implements, which can hold a liquid therein and achieve a long enough distance of application with a stable amount of discharge. The applicator includes an extrusion device that extrudes the content liquid to an applicator part 30. The applicator part 30 has a conical part 31 formed in an approximate conical shape. The conical part 31 has a plurality of thin disks 32a, 32b ··· 32i arranged concentrically. The outside diameters of thin disks 32a, 32b ··· 32i define a conical shape from a front end to a rear, and the thin disks 32a, 32b ••• 32i is connected at their approximate center by an approximate cone or approximate cylinder. A plurality of grooves 33 are formed in a front-to-rear direction of the applicator part. A liquid flow passage 34 connected to a flow path is formed inside the approximate cone or approximate cylinder. Also, slits connecting the liquid flow passage 34 and the grooves 33 are formed on an outer side of the approximate cone or approximate cylinder.