WO1989009555A1

WO1989009555A1 - Cosmetic tester

Info

Publication number: WO1989009555A1
Application number: PCT/US1989/001496
Authority: WO
Inventors: Charles Schaller; Heinz Welschoff
Original assignee: Heinz Industries, Inc.
Priority date: 1988-04-11
Filing date: 1989-04-10
Publication date: 1989-10-19
Also published as: AU3547889A

Abstract

A cosmetic testing assembly includes a container (12) having disposable and identifiable cosmetic units which are stored in wells (16) and also includes separate applicators (14) for retrieving and discharging a cosmetic unit.

Description

COSMETIC TESTER Background of Invention

This invention relates to a novel sanitary method and apparatus to enable a person to test out a particular cosmetic before purchasing.

In view of the wide variety of cosmetics available to the user and in view of the large number of varieties and competitive makes and colors, it is exceedingly important for the user to test a particular cosmetic on the skin before purchasing. To the best of my knowledge there is no sanitary way provided for a cosmetic user to test a selected cosmetic before purchasing. Although it is common to have large displays for a particular cosmetic line at a particular counter in a department store, there is no sanitary way for the user to make a decision before purchasing.

One object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and method which will enable a cosmetic user to test a selected cosmetic, before purchasing, in an inexpensive, sanitary manner.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the description and claims which follow, taken together with the appended drawings.

Brief Description of Drawings Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of this invention.

Fig. 1A is a partial sectional view of breakaway of the front color display strip.

Fig. 2 is a partial longitudinal sectional view of an applicator used in this invention. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the plunger.

Fig. 3A is a perspective view of the i>ody portion of the applicator.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of an optional intermediate plug.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the cartridge portion of the applicator.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a disposable holder of cosmetic material.

Fig. 6A is a perspective view of a disposable holder having a sponge impregnated with cosmetic material.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a portion of Fig. 1 showing the wells in which the disposable cosmetic materials are housed.

Fig. 8 is a partial cross-sectional view of a disposable holder of cosmetic material wherein the material is covered by a removable foil.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the unit of Fig. 8 wherein the foil has been partially pulled back.

Specific Example of Invention Referring now to the drawings, the cosmetic tester 11 of this invention, as illustrated in the drawings, comprises a generally horizontal container 12 on whose top surface are a large number of elongated wells in which a large variety of trays of selected disposable cosmetic containers are positioned. Identification of the contents of the wells is shown in indicia in front of the wells. In this manner a user sees, for example, a printed color in the indicia and knows that a corresponding disposable unit will be found in the appropriate location.

The trays 30 fit into the wells of the body 12. Each tray is easily removable and replaceable with another tray. Each tray contains a selected number of wells 16 into which disposable cosmetic units are stored.

An identification strip 160 typically comprises a strip body 162 on which are imprinted the various color indicia 163 and which is covered with a transparent top film 161. These color identification strips are easily interchanged in the depression 12b on the front of the body 12 near its front curvature 12a.

Accompanying the container is a vertically- oriented panel 13 in the shape of a semi-circle with recesses 15 along its edge. In these recesses 15 are placed disposable applicators 14. By having a large number of applicators a single embodiment of this invention can accommodate a large number of customers.

Each applicator 14 comprises a hollow body 17, with inner protrusions 17a, longitudinal rod 21, a hollow sleeve 18 which snaps into the body 17, and a disposable cosmetic unit 19 which snaps into sleeve 18. Optionally, plug 22 can be inserted into sleeve 18 at 18c and its ring 22a snaps into 19 at groove 19d. Rod 21 has a handle 23 whose sleeve 23a fits tightly in body 17 but has a thinned intermediate section which permits protrusions 17a to act as a stop. Alternately, elements 17 and 18 may be combined as a single unit.

Disposable cosmetic unit 19 has a ring 19a which snaps into recess 18c on the front portion 18b of cartridge .18. The front portion of disposable unit 19 has the cosmetic 20 at its end.

In place of disposable cosmetic unit 19, disposable cosmetic unit 119 has a sponge 120 at its end which is impregnated with a liquid such as a cream or powder. Unit 119 has a rear portion 119b and an intermediate ring 119a which snaps into the same recess 18c.

In the variation illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9 disposable unit 219 has a ring 219a and a back portion 219b, wherein the ring 219a likewise snaps into the same recess 18c. Unit 219 is distinguishable in that instead of having a formed cosmetic or sponge end, it has a cylindrical end portion 221 which contains the cosmetic 220 which is in turn covered with a removable foil 222.

Center rod 21 extends through the applicator so that its end 21a contacts plug back 19b or optional plug 22. at its rim 22b which snap-fits into recesses 18c in cartridge 18. When the extension 23 is pressed inward, it acts to press cosmetic unit 19 or plug 22 so as to expel1 the disposable cosmetic material unit 19. If the applicator is then pressed into a tray in which a fresh cosmetic unit 19 is stored, the new unit 19 will snap in and push the rod 21 back until enlarged portion 23a of the rod hits against the interior protuberance 17a.

The disposable cosmetic units 19 are uniform in size and shape, as are the wells 16. The rear portion 19b of each unit 19 is engagable with the well, and there is an interior groove 19b engagable with the circular protuberance 22a in the plug 22. Sleeve 18 has a hand-manipulable portion 18a, a tapering front portion 18b which engages plug 22, and a rear portion 18c which engages the front end of hollow body 17, to circular protuberance 18d locking into the interior groove 17b.

The materials which can be used in the disposable cosmetic units 19 are of a very wide variety including substantially every form of cosmetic. Where the cosmetics may be too liguidy to normally hold their shape, they may be impregnated into a sponge of the required dimension.

Trays 30 have a plurality of wells 16 and inserts 24 whose ridges 24a seats on ridge 16a in the wells. Inserts 24 have an interior conically tapered and surfaces 24g which receive the cosmetic end 20 of disposable cosmetic units 19. The interior surface is smooth, preferably Teflon coated so that the cosmetic will not stick to the surface in filling the cosmetic units. One preferred method is to insert the units 19 without cosmetic into the inserts 24 in the wells 16. The units 19 are then filled with hot cosmetic from their open back ends 19b. When the cosmetic cools, end 20 is conical. When an applicator 14 is applied to a unit 19 it locks on to the unit, and can then be removed with the unit 19 in place.

In preparing a tray 30, with disposable cosmetic sponge unit 119, (Fig. 6a), the interior conical surface can be filled with charges of liquid, and the units 119 inserted until significant absorption of the liquid into sponge 120 has taken place. In preparing a tray 30 with disposable cosmetic units 219 (Figs . 8 , 9) , insert 24 is not used. The empty units 220 with foil 222 in place are inserted directly into the wells and filled with cosmetic from the open end 219b . When an applicator 14 engages a unit 219 at ridge 219a , the foil 222 is still in place . It is removed by the user.

Claims

1. A cosmetic testing assembly which enables a user to test a selected cosmetic material in an inexpensive and sanitary manner comprising in combination a container 12, an applicator 14, and a plurality of identifiable disposable units 19, each containing a mass of cosmetic material; said container having recesses 16 in which said units 19 are positioned; said applicator 14 having means for picking up and ejecting a said unit.

2. The assembly of Claim 1 wherein said applicator comprises elongated hollow body means 17 open at both ends, and elongated rod means 21 having externally-operable means 23 and extending in said body means 17 to abut said unit 19; said body means 17 having reversible means for attaching to said unit 19 upon actuation of said operable means.