Rotating Mascara Applicator Body for Unobstructed Visual Field

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional mascara applicators obstruct the visual field and require hand switching, making it difficult to apply mascara to both eyes with precision and stability, especially when trying to reach the lash roots.

Innovation Solution

A mascara applicator with a rotatably attached application body that can be bent at an arbitrary angle relative to the application stick, utilizing a ridge formed by orthogonal side surfaces for stable application, featuring a ball joint and spring mechanism for controlled rotation and a polygonal or triangular prism shape for enhanced usability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If the application body is kept horizontally, then the visual field is blocked and hand switching is required, but the makeup operation becomes difficult and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevisual fieldVSAvoidmakeup operation
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The application body is made rotatable relative to the application stick, allowing dynamic adjustment of its orientation. This enables the user to rotate the application body to a vertical or angled position during application, clearing the visual field obstruction while maintaining ease of operation on both eyes without hand switching

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The application body is extended perpendicular to the application stick axis, creating a three-dimensional configuration. This dimensional change allows the application body to be positioned out of the direct line of sight when rotated, eliminating visual obstruction while preserving operational accessibility

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Device complexity

If the application body has a columnar shape, then the structure is simple, but it cannot contact the roots of eyelashes securely

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveapplication body structureVSAvoidlash root contact precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The application body features a ridge part formed by orthogonal side surfaces, creating a localized geometric feature with enhanced precision. This ridge structure provides a sharp edge that can securely contact and define the lash root position, improving application precision without significantly increasing overall structural complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Stability of the object's composition

If the brush is kept horizontally, then the position becomes unstable and mistakes occur, but the elbow must be kept high

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebrush position stabilityVSAvoidoperation stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The rotatable application body allows dynamic repositioning to a vertical or stable angled orientation, eliminating the need to maintain an unstable horizontal position. This dynamic adjustment capability provides inherent stability while maintaining ease of operation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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

Enables smooth, stable application of mascara to both eyes using one hand without visual obstruction, allowing effective curling of eyelashes by maintaining the brush horizontally and reaching the lash roots with ease.

Implementation Method 1

a spring (8) that biases the abutting member (7) against the ball joint (6)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP2789259B1Mascara applicator
Publication Date: 2018.04.04 SHISEIDO CO LTD
  • EP2789259B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2789259B1 patent drawingFigure 2(a)~2(b)
  • EP2789259B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An object is to provide a mascara applicator that can be used for applying makeup on eyelashes of both eyes by using one's dominant hand, without the need of switching between the right and left hands for holding a brush in order to secure the visual field, and that allows its brush to be kept horizontally with ease, and moreover that provides excellent makeup finish. The mascara applicator includes an application stick that is attached to a cap sealing and covering an opening part of a mascara accommodation container and that can be accommodated in the mascara accommodation container, and an application body that is rotatably attached to a tip end of the application stick and that extends in a substantially axial direction of the application stick, in which one side surface on a side opposite to a rotating direction of the application body is orthogonal to a plane including a rotation path, and a ridge part that is formed by the one side surface and a side surface adjacent to the one side surface is used, while the application body is rotated and an axis of the application body is bent with respect to an axis of the application stick, so as to apply mascara.