Integrally Molded Cosmetic Applicator Preventing Flock Shedding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cosmetic applicators, such as those using cotton heads with glue-coated flock layers, face issues with flock falling off and glue dissolution in cosmetic materials, affecting product quality and user health.
Innovation Solution
An applicator with a mounting portion and an application portion that are integrally injection-molded with flocks using a thermoplastic material, eliminating the need for a flocking process and glue coating.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a cotton head with glue-coated flock layer is used, then the applicator can be manufactured using conventional processes, but the flock may fall off and the glue may dissolve in cosmetic material
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the flock layer and the plastic body into a single integrally molded structure. The flock is directly embedded in the plastic material during injection molding, eliminating the separate glue coating step. This integration ensures the flock cannot fall off while removing the harmful glue component, resolving the contradiction between manufacturing ease and flock adhesion reliability.
2Ease of manufacture
If a cotton head with glue coating is used, then the conventional flocking process can be employed, but the glue dissolves in cosmetic material affecting quality and user health
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the glue component from the conventional cotton head structure. By using integrally molded flocks embedded directly in the plastic body, the harmful glue that dissolves in cosmetic material is completely eliminated. This maintains manufacturing feasibility while removing the harmful factor affecting product quality and user health.
3Device complexity
If conventional cotton head with multiple components is used, then the structure can accommodate flocks, but the production process is complex and efficiency is low
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple manufacturing steps (plastic body formation, glue coating, flock attachment) into a single injection molding process. The flock is embedded directly in the plastic material during molding, creating a one-step manufacturing process that simplifies the production workflow, reduces manufacturing complexity, and significantly improves production efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs the flock embedding action during the plastic body formation process itself. By incorporating the flock into the plastic material before the body is fully formed, the structure is created in a single operation rather than requiring separate assembly steps, thereby improving productivity and reducing complexity.
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 integrally injection-molded applicator simplifies production, improves efficiency, and reduces manufacturing costs, while preventing flock falling and glue dissolution, resulting in improved loading capability and user comfort.
Implementation Method 1
the mounting portion, the application portion and the flocks are an integrally injection-molded piece made of a thermoplastic material
Implementation Method 2
a shore hardness of the thermoplastic material is greater than 65 A
Data Source
AI summary
An applicator is configured to apply a cosmetic, a skin care product and/or a medicine to a hairless skin, and includes a mounting portion and an application portion fixedly connected to the mounting portion, where at least two flocks are provided on the application portion; the mounting portion, the application portion and the flocks are an integrally injection-molded piece made of a thermoplastic material; and a shore hardness of the thermoplastic material is greater than 65 A. Since the mounting portion, the application portion and the flocks are integrally formed by injection molding, the applicator omits the conventional flocking process to prevent flock falling and dissolution of a glue in a cosmetic material.