Multi-Lobe Makeup Wipe Design for Eye-Contour Access

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional cotton pads and non-woven wipes are poorly adapted for applying and removing cosmetics around the eyes, failing to effectively access concave and convex surfaces and often leaving makeup remover composition trapped, reducing their effectiveness and shortening their lifespan.

Innovation Solution

A wiping product with a curvilinear peripheral edge and multiple lobes that conform to the user's finger and the eye area, allowing for intuitive use and easy access to hard-to-reach areas, featuring a non-woven substrate with a rectangular central portion and lobes with convex and concave portions, designed for both application and removal of makeup.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If conventional cotton pads or round non-woven wipes are used, then the applicator structure is simple, but the applicator cannot access confined spaces and contours around the eyes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptability to eye contoursVSAvoidapplicator structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The wipe is divided into multiple lobes (typically three or four) that can independently conform to different facial contours. Each lobe acts as a separate segment that can access confined spaces around the eyes, nose, and cheeks, allowing the single wipe structure to adapt to complex facial geometry without requiring multiple separate applicators.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The wipe features curvilinear peripheral edges with rounded lobes instead of straight edges or simple circular shapes. This curvature allows the wipe to naturally conform to the convex and concave surfaces of the face, particularly around the orbital bone structure, nasal bridge, and cheek contours, improving access to difficult-to-reach areas.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

2Adaptability or versatility

If square or round cotton pads are used, then the applicator is simple in shape, but it is poorly adapted to removing makeup around the eyes with convex and concave surfaces

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconformation to facial surfacesVSAvoidwipe geometry
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The wipe is divided into multiple lobes (typically three or four) that can independently conform to different facial contours. Each lobe acts as a separate segment that can access confined spaces around the eyes, nose, and cheeks, allowing the single wipe structure to adapt to complex facial geometry without requiring multiple separate applicators.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The wipe features curvilinear peripheral edges with rounded lobes instead of straight edges or simple circular shapes. This curvature allows the wipe to naturally conform to the convex and concave surfaces of the face, particularly around the orbital bone structure, nasal bridge, and cheek contours, improving access to difficult-to-reach areas.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

3Productivity

If conventional cotton pads are used, then the structure is simple, but a large proportion of the composition remains trapped in the pad without contributing to makeup removal

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemakeup removal effectivenessVSAvoidcomposition utilization
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The wipe is divided into multiple lobes (typically three or four) that can independently conform to different facial contours. Each lobe acts as a separate segment that can access confined spaces around the eyes, nose, and cheeks, allowing the single wipe structure to adapt to complex facial geometry without requiring multiple separate applicators.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different lobes of the wipe can be selectively applied to different facial areas requiring makeup removal. The composition is distributed across multiple lobes, allowing localized application to specific problem areas such as under-eye circles, eyelids, and cheekbones, ensuring that the composition is used where needed rather than being wasted on areas that don't require treatment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

4Duration of action of moving object

If conventional cotton pads are used, then the applicator is simple, but partially dissolved makeup becomes trapped in the fibers, fouling the pad and shortening its life

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepad lifespanVSAvoidpad fouling
Core Design Contradiction:
Duration of action of moving objectVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The wipe is divided into multiple lobes (typically three or four) that can independently conform to different facial contours. Each lobe acts as a separate segment that can access confined spaces around the eyes, nose, and cheeks, allowing the single wipe structure to adapt to complex facial geometry without requiring multiple separate applicators.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different lobes of the wipe can be selectively applied to different facial areas requiring makeup removal. The composition is distributed across multiple lobes, allowing localized application to specific problem areas such as under-eye circles, eyelids, and cheekbones, ensuring that the composition is used where needed rather than being wasted on areas that don't require treatment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

5Ease of operation

If conventional square or round applicators are used, then the shape is simple, but precise application around the eyes is difficult without folding or modifying the applicator

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprecision of applicationVSAvoidapplicator modification requirements
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The wipe is divided into multiple lobes (typically three or four) that can independently conform to different facial contours. Each lobe acts as a separate segment that can access confined spaces around the eyes, nose, and cheeks, allowing the single wipe structure to adapt to complex facial geometry without requiring multiple separate applicators.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The wipe features curvilinear peripheral edges with rounded lobes instead of straight edges or simple circular shapes. This curvature allows the wipe to naturally conform to the convex and concave surfaces of the face, particularly around the orbital bone structure, nasal bridge, and cheek contours, improving access to difficult-to-reach areas.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Data Source

PatentEP2811858B1Make-up removal wipe
Publication Date: 2017.12.06 KIMBERLY CLARK WORLDWIDE INC
  • EP2811858B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2811858B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2811858B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

To better facilitate the application and removal of make-up on the skin, including on the face, and especially around the eyes, the present invention provides a wiping product having two or more lobes which substantially conform to both the user's finger and the area around the user's eyes. The wiping product is not secured to the user's finger or worn like a glove, but rather is simply supported by one or more fingers in use. In this manner, the wiping product is both simple to use and provides excellent application and removal of make-up in often hard to reach areas, such as the recesses of the eyes.