Multi-Layered Cosmetic Wiper with Dual-Durometer Design
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wipers for cosmetic or medicinal products compromise between providing adequate installation characteristics and wiping characteristics due to being made of a single material, failing to perform either function effectively.
Innovation Solution
Multi-layered wipers are formed with a harder retention body and a softer wiping body, where the retention body is over-molded or insert molded onto the wiping body, allowing for exceptional installation and wiping capabilities through varying materials and designs such as vertical slits and raised ridges, enabling a press-fit or snap-fit into bottles while effectively removing products from applicators.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a single material is used for the wiper, then the wiper can be easily installed in a bottle via snap fit, but the wiping surface becomes too hard to effectively remove mascara from the applicator
Solution Approach 1:
The wiper is divided into two distinct segments: a retention body made of harder material for installation, and a wiping body made of softer material for effective mascara removal. This segmentation allows each part to be optimized for its specific function without compromise.
Solution Approach 2:
The wiper uses composite construction with two different materials having different durometer values. The retention body uses harder material (higher durometer) for structural integrity and snap-fit retention, while the wiping body uses softer material (lower durometer) for effective product removal through gentle contact.
2Strength
If a single material is used for the wiper, then the material can provide adequate stiffness for retention, but the wiping surface becomes insufficiently supple to conform to the applicator
Solution Approach 1:
Different regions of the wiper have different material properties tailored to their specific functions. The retention body region has high stiffness for structural support and retention, while the wiping body region has high suppleness for conforming to the applicator shape and effective product removal.
Solution Approach 2:
The wiper is segmented into a retention body and a wiping body, each made from materials with appropriately tailored mechanical properties. The retention body uses harder material for stiffness, while the wiping body uses softer material for suppleness.
3Ease of operation
If the wiper is made supple enough for effective wiping, then mascara removal improves, but the wiper becomes too soft to be securely retained in the bottle
Solution Approach 1:
The wiper is divided into a retention body that provides structural strength for bottle retention, and a wiping body that provides suppleness for effective mascara removal. The segmentation isolates the soft wiping function from the hard retention function.
Solution Approach 2:
The composite structure combines harder material for the retention body to ensure secure bottle retention, with softer material for the wiping body to ensure effective mascara removal through gentle, conforming contact.
Data Source
AI summary
A multi-layered wiper for removing a product (e.g., a cosmetic product) from an applicator. The multi-layered wiper comprises a wiping body having a wiping face, an acute wiping tip, and vertical slits, formed of a first material, over-molded to a retention body, formed of another material harder than the first material. By virtue of having a multi-layered wiper comprising a wiping body, formed of a first material, over-molded to a retention body, formed of another material, harder than the first material, the multi-layered wiper is capable of providing exceptional installation characteristics, while simultaneously providing exceptional wiping characteristics.