Open-Cell Foam Cosmetic Applicator with Machined Free Strands
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cosmetic applicators for eyelashes, eyebrows, and capillary fibers fail to effectively apply and comb products while avoiding damage to the fibers, with issues in product distribution and retention.
Innovation Solution
A cosmetic applicator featuring a core with a block of open-cell polymer foam, where the foam's free strands machined to specific lengths comb and separate fibers while the cells retain product, allowing for gentle application and release.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a traditional brush with metal arms or plastic teeth is used, then the applicator can comb and separate eyelashes, but it may damage or pull out the eyelashes due to insufficient gentleness
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs an open-cell foam material for the applicator tip, which provides a soft, porous structure that gently contacts and separates eyelashes without causing damage. The porous nature allows the material to be compliant and forgiving, reducing the risk of pulling out delicate eyelashes while still achieving effective combing and product distribution.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent specifies a cell density range of 10-80 PPI for the foam material, optimizing the balance between softness (for gentleness) and structural integrity (for combing effectiveness). This parameter control ensures the applicator is gentle enough to avoid damage while maintaining sufficient rigidity to effectively separate and comb eyelashes.
2Quantity of substance
If a foam tip with high cell density is used, then the applicator can hold more product, but the free strands become too short to effectively comb and separate eyelashes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent defines a specific cell density range of 10-80 PPI that optimizes the balance between product retention capacity and free strands length. Within this range, the foam cells are dense enough to hold sufficient cosmetic product while maintaining cell edge corners long enough to effectively comb and separate eyelashes during application.
Solution Approach 2:
The open-cell foam structure provides different functional zones: the interior cells serve as product reservoirs, while the machined edge corners provide combing elements. This local differentiation of function within the same material structure allows simultaneous optimization of both product retention and combing effectiveness.
3Length of moving object
If a foam tip with low cell density is used, then the free strands are longer for better combing, but the applicator cannot retain sufficient cosmetic product
Solution Approach 1:
The patent establishes a minimum cell density of 10 PPI to ensure sufficient product retention capacity while maintaining free strands long enough for effective combing. This lower bound prevents the foam from being too sparse, which would compromise its ability to hold adequate cosmetic product for proper application.
4Ease of operation
If the foam is machined to create free strands, then combing and separation are improved, but the manufacturing process becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes the inherent porous structure of open-cell foam, which can be relatively easily machined compared to solid materials. The foam's soft, compliant nature allows for machining processes that create the necessary free strands and edge corners without requiring extremely complex manufacturing equipment or multi-step processes.
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 applicator effectively applies and combs cosmetic products to eyelashes and eyebrows without damaging them, providing a satisfactory load of product and maintaining cleanliness by retaining and releasing the product through surface tension.
Implementation Method 1
the foam being an open-cell polymer foam which on its outer surface has free strands formed by all or part of the edge corners of cells that have been cut through by the machining of the foam, the foam having a number of cells per unit length (PPI) comprised between 10 and 80 PPI
Implementation Method 2
the ends formed by the free strands allow the eyebrows, eyelashes and/or capillary fibres to be combed, separated and/or lengthened gently
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~3
Figure 4~5C
AI summary
The present invention relates to an applicator (10) for a cosmetic product to keratinous materials, particularly to keratinous fibres, notably to the eyelashes, the eyebrows and/or the capillary fibres, comprising at least: a core (40) that extends along a longitudinal axis (X), a cosmetic product application element (30), comprising at least one block (41) of a foam (80) attached to the core (40), the foam (80) being an open-cell polymer foam which on its outer surface (46) has free strands (47) formed by all or part of the edge corners of cells that have been cut through by the machining of the foam (80).