Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A45—HAND OR TRAVELLING ARTICLES
  • A45D—HAIRDRESSING OR SHAVING EQUIPMENT; EQUIPMENT FOR COSMETICS OR COSMETIC TREATMENTS, e.g. FOR MANICURING OR PEDICURING
  • A45D33/00—Containers or accessories specially adapted for handling powdery toiletry or cosmetic substances
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A45—HAND OR TRAVELLING ARTICLES
  • A45D—HAIRDRESSING OR SHAVING EQUIPMENT; EQUIPMENT FOR COSMETICS OR COSMETIC TREATMENTS, e.g. FOR MANICURING OR PEDICURING
  • A45D33/00—Containers or accessories specially adapted for handling powdery toiletry or cosmetic substances
  • A45D33/38—Papers containing cosmetic powder or other powdery toiletry substances
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A45—HAND OR TRAVELLING ARTICLES
  • A45D—HAIRDRESSING OR SHAVING EQUIPMENT; EQUIPMENT FOR COSMETICS OR COSMETIC TREATMENTS, e.g. FOR MANICURING OR PEDICURING
  • A45D40/00—Casings or accessories specially adapted for storing or handling solid or pasty toiletry or cosmetic substances, e.g. shaving soaps or lipsticks
  • A45D40/0087—Casings or accessories specially adapted for storing or handling solid or pasty toiletry or cosmetic substances, e.g. shaving soaps or lipsticks for samples
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A45—HAND OR TRAVELLING ARTICLES
  • A45D—HAIRDRESSING OR SHAVING EQUIPMENT; EQUIPMENT FOR COSMETICS OR COSMETIC TREATMENTS, e.g. FOR MANICURING OR PEDICURING
  • A45D40/00—Casings or accessories specially adapted for storing or handling solid or pasty toiletry or cosmetic substances, e.g. shaving soaps or lipsticks
  • A45D40/26—Appliances specially adapted for applying pasty paint, e.g. using roller, using a ball
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A45—HAND OR TRAVELLING ARTICLES
  • A45D—HAIRDRESSING OR SHAVING EQUIPMENT; EQUIPMENT FOR COSMETICS OR COSMETIC TREATMENTS, e.g. FOR MANICURING OR PEDICURING
  • A45D2200/00—Details not otherwise provided for in A45D
  • A45D2200/10—Details of applicators
  • A45D2200/1009—Applicators comprising a pad, tissue, sponge, or the like
  • A45D2200/1027—Tissues, i.e. thin applicator sheets
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A45—HAND OR TRAVELLING ARTICLES
  • A45D—HAIRDRESSING OR SHAVING EQUIPMENT; EQUIPMENT FOR COSMETICS OR COSMETIC TREATMENTS, e.g. FOR MANICURING OR PEDICURING
  • A45D2200/00—Details not otherwise provided for in A45D
  • A45D2200/10—Details of applicators
  • A45D2200/1009—Applicators comprising a pad, tissue, sponge, or the like
  • A45D2200/1036—Applicators comprising a pad, tissue, sponge, or the like containing a cosmetic substance, e.g. impregnated with liquid or containing a soluble solid substance

Definitions

• the invention relates to cosmetics, and relates particularly, but not exclusively, to improvements in the application of cosmetics.
• Cosmetics preparations of various types have been in use for many, many years. Accordingly, a wide range of application methods have been trialed, though primarily facial cosmetics are applied using a pencil, brush or stick, or other similar means.
• US patents 4925667 and 4752496 disclose cosmetic samplers in which sample volumes are retained on a substrate, covered and accessed by removal of a tear strip.
• US patents 5690130 and 119704 describe cosmetic samplers in which fabric fibres or non woven material may be applied to cover an entire surface of a substrate to form an applicator surface, and in which the fibres are initially applied "by electrostatic assist". The cosmetic is retained on this substrate by an overlaid thermoplastics film.
• the inventive concept resides in a recognition that cosmetics preparations are advantageously provided by retaining a suitable amount of a cosmetics preparation on a suitable surface, so that the surface can be used to conveniently apply the cosmetics preparation to an appropriate part of the face.
• the invention provides a cosmetics applicator including a material surface and a cosmetics preparation provided on the surface.
• the cosmetics preparation is retained on, and may be initially attracted to, the surface at least in part with the assistance of electrostatic attraction between the surface and the cosmetics preparation.
• the material of the surface is preferably selected to facilitate retention of the cosmetics preparation thereon by said electrostatic attraction while allowing a major proportion of the cosmetics preparation retained thereon to be transferred to a human skin surface in a single wiping pass of the cosmetics preparation across the skin surface.
• the invention provides a cosmetics applicator including: a material surface, a cosmetics preparation provided on said surface, and a waxy or oily underlay between said surface and said cosmetics preparation, wherein the material of said surface is selected to facilitate retention of said cosmetics preparation and said underlay while allowing a major proportion of the cosmetics preparation retained thereon to be transferred to a human skin surface in a single wiping pass of the cosmetics preparation across the skin surface.
• said waxy or oily underlay is cosmetic foundation.
• the underlay transfers with said cosmetics preparation during said wiping pass to provide an outer protective coating therefor.
• said material surface is provided on a planar sheet shaped to provide a first portion defining said surface and a second portion to be gripped between fingers or thumb and a finger, for executing said single wiping pass.
• the first portion may typically be larger than the second portion.
• said material is provided as a planar sheet.
• the planar sheet of material is cut to an appropriate shape and size to allow said cosmetics applicator to be conveniently used as required.
• the surface preferably has a relatively low coefficient of friction.
• the surface may be substantially formed of PTFE (poly-tetrafluoroethylene), otherwise known as Teflon®, or of a PTFE-containing composite.
• the aforesaid electrostatic attraction is achieved by the surface of the material being electrostatically charged.
• the cosmetics preparation may be, eg, a granular, dust-like or powder-based substance such as, for example, as eyeshadow; or a ereme, wax or other liquid- based preparation such as, for example, lipstick, or foundation.
• a powder it may be applied to the surface of the material using a spray directed towards the surface, Preferably, the spray of the cosmetics preparation is efficiently directed to the material by virtue of the electrostatic attraction between the surface and the cosmetics preparation.
• the surface is shaped and sized to allow convenient use of the cosmetics preparation.
• the surface includes a covered region to which the cosmetics preparation is applied, and a clear region to which the cosmetics preparation is not applied.
• the cosmetics preparation includes different colours of the preparation in distinct areas of the surface to facilitate different colour effects when the cosmetics applicator is used.
• the invention further provides a method of providing a cosmetics applicator, the method including: providing a material having a surface; and applying a cosmetics preparation to at least part of the surface; wherein the cosmetics preparation is attracted to and/or retained on the surface at least in part with the assistance of electrostatic attraction between the surface and the cosmetics preparation.
• the cosmetics preparation may be applied to the surface by spraying.
• the method further includes applying on said surface, a stencil to confine the cosmetics preparation to one or more predetermined areas of the surface.
• the invention still further provides a method of applying a cosmetics preparation to a skin surface from a cosmetics applicator as aforedescribed, comprising transferring said cosmetics preparation from the applicator surface to the skin surface in a single wiping pass of the cosmetics preparation across the skin surface.
• Fig. 1 is an enlarged representation of a cosmetics applicator according to an embodiment of the invention, especially suitable for retaining and applying eyeshadow;
• Fig. 2 is a schematic representation of a facility used to manufacture cosmetic applicators of the kind depicted in Fig. 1 ;
• Fig. 3 is a representation of a set of cosmetic applicators of a shape a little different from those depicted in Fig. 1 , and produced by the facility depicted in Fig. 2.
• a cosmetics applicator 200 constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
• Manufacture of the cosmetics applicators is achieved using a production facility 10 as schematically represented in Fig. 2.
• a sheet of cosmetics applicators 200 that are produced using this facility 10 are represented in Fig. 3.
• An enlarged presentation of a cosmetic applicator is provided by Fig. 1.
• the cosmetics applicator 200 illustrated on an enlarged scale with a magnification a little greater than 2, is represented in Fig. 1 , and includes a surface 210 of a selected highly flexible PTFE containing material.
• the surface 210 can be considered as being divided into a relatively larger first portion 220 and a relatively smaller second portion 250.
• Larger portion 220 is covered with an underlay of a waxy or oily substance such as cosmetic foundation, overlaid with an outer layer of cosmetics preparation such as, for example, coloured make-up powder.
• Relatively smaller second portion 250 is clear and uncovered.
• Portions 220, 250 meet at a boundary 225 marked by an edge of the powder layer and are defined at least in part by generally curved edges 221 , 251 of sheet 200.
• the portion 220 may be divided at a boundary 222 into a first region 230 and a second region 240, which are respectively overlaid with different colours and/or types of cosmetics preparation.
• the first and second regions 230, 240 of the portion 220 are positioned so that the two respective colours of these regions 230, 240 are similarly represented on the skin of the eyelid. While a simple arrangement of only two regions 230, 240 is depicted in Fig. 1 , intended to apply different colours respectively to the upper and lower portions of the eyelid, a wide variety of different colours, or of graded colour tones, of cosmetics preparation can be applied to the surface 210 of the applicator 200.
• the "teardrop" shape of the surface 210 shown in Fig. 3 is particularly suited for use of the cosmetics applicator 200 for applying cosmetic colouring, eg. eyeshadow, to the eyelids.
• cosmetic colouring eg. eyeshadow
• the index finger can be used to apply pressure to the back of the applicator 200 (which is, of course, disposed opposite the surface 210 and not covered with cosmetics preparation) so that most of the cosmetics preparation, together with the underlay, on the covered portion 220 of the applicator 200 rubs off onto, ie.
• the original underlay forms an outer protective and/or seal coating that assists in stabilising and maintaining the eyeshadow over subsequent hours.
• the surface 210 is of a PTFE - containing material having a low coefficient of friction, selected to facilitate retention of the cosmetics preparation and underlay thereon, preferably at least in part by electrostatic attraction, while allowing the major proportion of the cosmetics preparation retained thereon to be transferred to a human skin surface in a single wiping pass or swipe of the cosmetics preparation across the skin surface.
• the cosmetics preparation thus readily wipes off the surface 210 and onto the skin.
• the material should thus preferably be suitable both for being electrostatically charged at its surface and for having friction properties such that the cosmetics preparation, and preferably also the underlay, easily transfer by wiping action to the skin.
• a suitable PTFE - containing material for applicators 200 is FL100 Virgin PTFE supplied by Dotmar EPP, preferably of thickness 4 to 5 thousandths of an inch (about 0.100 to 0.125 mm), having a static co-efficient of friction at 0.23MPa of 0.04 and a dynamic co-efficient of friction at 0.23MPa, 0.75 m/sec of 0.05.
• the specific gravity is 2.16, tensile strength 30.0 MPa, flexural modulus 690 MPa, and compressive strength under 5% strain 12.1.
• Shore D Hardness is in the range 50- 65.
• PTFE-containing materials that may be suitable include PTFE-impregnated or coated paper or fibre, eg. glass fibre, mesh, or PTFE-coated plastics substrates.
• Electrostatic attraction between the cosmetics preparation and the surface 210 at least partly assists in retaining the cosmetics preparation to the surface 210 prior to it being wiped off.
• the waxy or oily underlay further assists in this retention.
• applicator 200 The principal dimensions of applicator 200 are, with reference to Figure 1 , about 60 to 75mm for x and about 15 to 25mm for y. Thus, the applicator is elongate with a length to width ratio in the region of 3 to 4.
• the surface 210 is cut from a sheet of the PTFE - containing material, and electrostatic attraction between the surface 210 and the cosmetics preparation assists in attracting the preparation to, and retaining it on, the portion 220 of the surface 210.
• the cosmetics applicator 200 can be manufactured by means of the production facility illustrated schematically in Figure 2.
• a roll of sheet comprising the selected PTFE - containing material is spooled, using rolls 30, between opposed friction plates 40 that develop an electrostatic charge on the material 20 as the material 20 runs between the plates 40.
• the sheet 20 is cut into individual rectangular sheets 50, which are fed along a conveyor line towards a robotic applicator 60.
• the robotic applicator 60 is used to apply the waxy or oily underlay and then the cosmetics preparation onto each sheet 50.
• the cosmetics preparation a coloured powder material
• Various colours of aerated powder of the cosmetics preparation are supplied to the robotic applicator 60 though powder lines 100.
• the air nozzles 110 deliver the actual aerated power to the stencil covered sheets 50 after application of the waxy or oily underlay.
• a computer control programme in controller 55 is used to control the actions of the robotic applicator 60 to ensure appropriate delivery of the aerated powder to the sheets 50.
• each block 205 of applicators 200 depicted in Fig. 3 can be supplied in a convenient package as required, for example laid out in a moulded tray 310 for easy grasping and use.
• the package thus forms a cosmetics application kit comprising an array of applicators 200 in a manually accessible receptacle. It will be seen that the applicators are, stamped out in complementary pairs 207 of "left" and "right” applicators 208, 209, ie. the applicators are handed to facilitate application of the preparation to the left or right eye respectively.
• the surface of sheet 20 is prepared by being wiped with a suitable alcohol.

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• Cosmetics (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (7)

Publications (3)

Family

ID=27158228

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (8)

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Citations (6)

Family Cites Families (4)

• 2001
  • 2001-07-05 NZ NZ523154A patent/NZ523154A/en not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2001-07-05 BR BR0112305-0A patent/BR0112305A/pt not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2001-07-05 EP EP01947050A patent/EP1299016B1/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2001-07-05 HK HK03106760.2A patent/HK1054306A1/zh unknown
  • 2001-07-05 WO PCT/AU2001/000807 patent/WO2002001982A1/en not_active Ceased
  • 2001-07-05 KR KR1020027018079A patent/KR100856110B1/ko not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2001-07-05 CA CA2414532A patent/CA2414532C/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2001-07-05 CN CNB018123473A patent/CN1231164C/zh not_active Expired - Fee Related

Patent Citations (6)

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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