Cosmetic pencil cap with sharpener and waste container

Abstract

A pencil (e.g., cosmetic pencil or otherwise) with a disposable cap including a built-in sharpener which is configured to permanently capture and store shavings produced as the pencil is sharpened. The cap with permanent shavings storage prevents accidental (or even intentional) emptying or other exit of generated shavings from the permanent storage cavity in the disposable cap, which shavings may smear or otherwise damage a user's purse, pocket, clothing, or the like. The device is configured to collect such shavings during the useful life of a single pencil body, after which period any remaining short stubby portion of the pencil body, and the associated disposable cap with built in sharpener (and permanent shavings storage) is discarded.

Claims

1. A pencil device comprising: a body including: an exterior casing; and an interior pigment core surrounded by the exterior casing; wherein the body includes a first end at which the pigment core is exposed and a second opposite end; and a disposable cap that is selectively positionable so as to cover the first end of the body, the disposable cap including: a proximal end body portion having an opening; an opposite distal body portion having a storage cavity; and a built-in sharpener fixed between a distal end of the proximal end body portion and a proximal end of the opposite distal body portion; wherein the opening of the proximal end body portion communicates with the storage cavity of the opposite distal body portion, wherein the opening of the proximal end body portion is aligned with an inlet of the built-in sharpener, and the storage cavity of the opposite distal body portion is aligned with an outlet of the built-in sharpener for receiving shavings shaved from the body during sharpening, such that shavings generated by the built-in sharpener are received through the opening, and into the storage cavity, and wherein the storage cavity is sealed, for permanent storage of the shavings, preventing any exit thereof, until eventual disposal with the disposable cap with the shavings sealed therein; wherein the disposable cap further includes a biasing member coupled to a sidewall of the proximal end body portion configured to switch the disposable cap between a capping position and a sharpening position, (i) when the disposable cap is in the capping position, the first end of the body is covered by the cap, but the biasing member prevents the first end of the body from being received within the built-in sharpener of the disposable cap, so that sharpening of the first end of the body is not possible in the capping position; and (ii) when the disposable cap is in the sharpening position, the biasing member allows the first end of the body to be received within the built-in sharpener of the disposable cap, allowing a user to sharpen the first end of the body to a point; wherein the body is sharpened by rotatably twisting the body in relation to the disposable cap while the disposable cap is in the sharpening position; wherein additional pressure beyond that required to put the disposable cap in the capping position, must be applied to move from the capping position to the sharpening position; wherein upon release of such additional pressure to move to the sharpening position, the device automatically releases from the sharpening position, returning to the capping position.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the pigment core comprises a cosmetic pigment composition.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the pencil device is configured as a cosmetic eyebrow pencil, the pigment core comprising a cosmetic pigment composition.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the pigment core comprises a semi-solid cosmetic pigment composition.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein the pigment core is multi-colored.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the pigment core is solid, and is bonded to the exterior casing.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the first end is tapered to a point.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the body is cylindrical, and the disposable cap is also cylindrical, configured for receipt over the first end of the body, wherein the first end is sharpened by rotatably twisting the cylindrical body in relation to the cylindrical cap while the first end of the cylindrical body is received within the cylindrical cap.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the pigment core changes part-way through the cylindrical body, and the pigment core is exposed at both the first end and the second end so that the pigment core at the second end provides a different colored pigment as compared to the colored pigment provided at the first end.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein the device comprises two caps, one over the first end and one over the second end.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the body has a polygonal cross section.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein the storage cavity of the disposable cap is sized to hold all the shavings produced by the body throughout a lifespan of the body, the storage cavity being sealed within the disposable cap, such that emptying the storage cavity of shavings is not possible.

13. A method for using a disposable cosmetic pencil device comprising: providing a disposable cosmetic pencil device including: a single pencil body including: an exterior casing; an interior pigment core surrounded by the exterior casing; wherein the single pencil body includes a first end at which the pigment core is exposed, and a second opposite end; a disposable cap that is selectively positionable so as to cover the first end of the body, the disposable cap including: a proximal end body portion having an opening; an opposite distal body portion having a storage cavity; and a built-in sharpener fixed between a distal end of the proximal end body portion and a proximal end of the opposite distal body portion; and wherein the opening of the proximal end body portion communicates with a storage cavity of the opposite distal body portion, wherein the opening is aligned with an inlet of the built-in sharpener and the storage cavity is aligned with an outlet of the built-in sharpener for receiving shavings shaved from the exterior casing and pigment core of the body during sharpening, such that shavings generated by the built-in sharpener are received through the opening, and into the storage cavity, wherein the storage cavity is sealed, for permanent storage of the shavings, preventing any exit thereof, until eventual disposal of the device with the shavings sealed within the storage cavity, and wherein the storage cavity is sized to hold all the shavings produced by the device throughout a lifespan of the single pencil body, after which the entire disposable cosmetic pencil device and disposable cap are disposed of; sharpening the first end of the single pencil body using the built-in sharpener of the disposable cap, generated shavings entering the sealed storage cavity in the cap, for permanent storage; and disposing of any remaining portion of the single pencil body and the disposable cap filled with shavings from sharpening the body of the cosmetic pencil device after a useful life of the single pencil body; wherein the disposable cap further includes a biasing member coupled to a sidewall of the proximal end body portion configured to switch the disposable cap between a capping position and a sharpening position, (i) when the disposable cap is in the capping position, the first end of the single pencil body is covered by the cap, but the biasing member prevents the first end of the single pencil body from being received within the built-in sharpener of the cap, so that sharpening of the first end of the single pencil body is not possible in the capping position; and (ii) when the disposable cap is in the sharpening position, the biasing member allows the first end of the single pencil body to be received within the built-in sharpener of the cap, allowing a user to sharpen the first end of the single pencil body to a point; the method further comprising applying additional pressure after achieving the capping position, to move the pencil body and cap from the capping position to the sharpening position; the method further comprising removing such additional pressure used to achieve the sharpening position, wherein upon such removal of additional pressure, the pencil body and cap automatically reverting from the sharpening position to the capping position.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) In order that the manner in which the above-recited and other advantages and objects of the invention are obtained, a more particular description of the invention briefly described above will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof which are illustrated in the appended drawings.

(2) Understanding that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are not therefore to be considered to be limiting of its scope, the invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings in which:

(3) FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an exemplary pencil device including a body and disposable cap with built-in sharpener, and storage cavity for permanent storage of shavings.

(4) FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the pencil and cap of FIG. 1.

(5) FIG. 3 is an exploded view showing components that may be provided in an exemplary cap.

(6) FIG. 4 is an exploded cross-sectional view showing the components of FIG. 3.

(7) FIG. 5 is an assembled cross-sectional view of the assembly of FIG. 4.

(8) FIGS. 6-7 shows how the sharpener may be configured to sharpen the pencil tip, while collecting the shavings from such sharpening in a sealed storage cavity of the cap in a manner that prevents exit of such shavings from the cap, after entry therein.

(9) FIGS. 8-9 show an embodiment of a pencil that may include caps at both ends (e.g., different colored pigments provided at each end).

(10) FIG. 10 shows how the body of the pencil device may be polygonally shaped, and yet still receivable within the sharpening cap.

(11) FIGS. 11-13 show how the cap may be configured to provide two positions, both a “capping position” where the tip is simply covered or capped, and a “sharpening position”, where the tip is advanced further into the cap, engaging with the sharpener of the cap, in which position the tip can be sharpened.

(12) FIGS. 14-16 show another configuration where the cap provides both “capping” and “sharpening” positions.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

I. Definitions

(13) Any publications, patents and patent applications cited herein, whether supra or infra, are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety to the same extent as if each individual publication, patent or patent application was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference.

(14) The term “comprising” which is synonymous with “including,” “containing,” or “characterized by,” is inclusive or open-ended and does not exclude additional, unrecited elements or method steps.

(15) The term “consisting essentially of” limits the scope of a claim to the specified materials or steps “and those that do not materially affect the basic and novel characteristic(s)” of the claimed invention.

(16) The term “consisting of” as used herein, excludes any element, step, or ingredient not specified in the claim.

(17) The terms “a,” “an,” “the” and similar referents used in the context of describing the inventive features (especially in the context of the following claims) are to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. Thus, for example, reference to a “layer” can include one, two or more layers.

(18) Numbers, percentages, ratios, or other values stated herein may include that value, and also other values that are about or approximately the stated value, as would be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art. A stated value should therefore be interpreted broadly enough to encompass values that are at least close enough to the stated value to perform a desired function or achieve a desired result, and/or values that round to the stated value. The stated values include at least the variation to be expected in a typical manufacturing process, and may include values that are within 25%, 15%, 10%, within 5%, within 1%, etc. of a stated value. As such, all numbers expressing quantities as used in the specification and claims are to be understood as being modified in all instances by the term “about”.

(19) Some ranges may be disclosed herein. Additional ranges may be defined between any values disclosed herein as being exemplary of a particular parameter. All such ranges are contemplated and within the scope of the present disclosure. Further, recitation of ranges of values herein is intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range. Unless otherwise indicated herein, each individual value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein.

II. Introduction

(20) The present invention is directed to cosmetic and other pencils that include a mechanism for sharpening the pencil tip, while preventing any need to dispose of shavings generated by such sharpening, and in a manner that prevents such generated shavings from escaping so as to stain or otherwise damage a purse, clothing, or other article that the pencil may come in contact with. For example, the invention may include a pencil with a disposable cap. The disposable cap includes a built-in sharpener which is configured to permanently capture shavings produced when the pencil is sharpened, sealing them within a permanent storage cavity, without allowing them to escape. Therefore, the cap ensures that the interior pigment or other coloring material included in shavings from the pencil cannot stain, smear or otherwise damage a user's bag, purse, pocket or the like. The built-in sharpener is particularly advantageous because the user is much less likely to forget or misplace such a sharpener, as it is not separate from the cap, but is integrated therein. Such a cap will typically remain in place over the tip of the pencil when the pencil is not in use, to protect the pencil tip. Therefore, the user will be able to sharpen the pencil whenever the need arises. In addition, because the cap is configured to capture all shavings generated by sharpening within the cap, and without any ability to empty the sharpener of such shavings, the user does not need to worry about disposing of the shavings, or worry about them inadvertently escaping from the sharpener or cap, which could otherwise result in staining or other damage to clothing, purses, or the like.

III. Exemplary Devices and Methods

(21) FIGS. 1-3 illustrate an exemplary pencil device 100 including a body 102 having an exterior casing 104 and a core (e.g., pigment or other colorant or drawing material) 106. Such material will be referred to herein as pigment 106, although it is to be understood that such term is to be construed broadly, to encompass various colorants or drawing materials (e.g., graphite, colored compositions whether including pigments or otherwise, etc.). It will be apparent that a wide variety of materials may be suitable for use as core 106, depending on contemplated use. In an embodiment, core 106 may be comprised of a cosmetic composition (e.g., an eyebrow pencil composition). Body 102 includes a first end 108a at which the pigment core 106 is exposed, and an opposite second end 108b. Device 100 is further shown as including a disposable cap 110 that is selectively positionable and removable over the first end 108a, so as to selectively cover the exposed pigment core 106. As seen in FIG. 3, cap 110 includes a sharpener 112 configured to sharpen tip 108a of pencil body 102. Cap 110 further includes an opening 114 in an interior of the cap 110, which is aligned with an outlet 116 of sharpener 112, for receiving shavings from the casing 104 and core 106 of body 102 as sharpening of end 108a occurs. As will be described in further detail below, generated shavings are received through opening 114, and into storage cavity 117, for permanent storage of such shavings, and eventual disposal with disposable cap 110. For example, cavity 117 fills with such shavings until such time as the pencil is substantially used up, e.g., at which time the cavity may be substantially filled, and the user may at that time simply discard any remaining short “stubby” portion of the pencil, along with the disposable cap 110.

(22) Cap 110 is specifically configured to not allow emptying of the shavings contents of storage cavity 117, but to rather accumulate and hold such shavings throughout the life of the disposable pencil and cap device 100, allowing the entire item to be thrown out once the cavity is substantially filled and the pencil has been substantially used up. In particular, there is no ability to somehow access cavity 117 and empty its contents, for reuse of the disposable cap. For example, reuse of existing sharpeners beyond use with a single pencil necessitates the ability to empty any storage container associated with such sharpeners, or to otherwise allow exit of shavings from the sharpener from the overall sharpening device, for disposal of such shavings. Such emptying or exit necessarily poses a risk of such shavings inadvertently spilling within a purse, pocket, or the like, staining or otherwise damaging such items. The present configurations thus eliminate or minimize the risk of such by providing for permanent storage of the generated shavings throughout the useful life of the pencil and cap, which are both disposed of after the useful life of a single pencil.

(23) In FIG. 3, the storage cavity 117 is shown at the distal end of the cap 110, and is shown as being transparent or translucent, e.g., so as to allow a user to easily see how much of cavity 117 has been filled, versus how much remains empty still. In another embodiment, this portion of the cap 110 could alternatively be opaque.

(24) FIG. 3 further illustrates an elastomeric sealing valve 118, e.g., which may be formed of a suitable elastomeric material (e.g., silicone, a thermoplastic elastomer, rubber, or the like). Valve 118 is further shown as including a pinpoint opening 120 centered in valve 118, e.g., aligned with the longitudinal axis of the overall device 100 and body 102, so that the point of core 106 aligns with opening 120 when body 102 is pressed into cap 110. Such opening 120 may not actually present any actual opening (e.g., it may not include any actual measurable opening), due to the elastomeric nature of the material used for construction of the valve 118. In other words, such a pinpoint opening may simply present a cut or opening through the material of such valve, but because of the elastomeric characteristics of such material, the opening is biased closed, unless and until such time as the pencil tip is inserted therein. Upon insertion of such pencil tip 108a therein, the material is able to flex aside, allowing the pencil body to enter therein, for sharpening, as shown in FIGS. 6-7. Even with pencil tip 108a inserted in such opening 120, the interior of cap 110 is still closed (i.e., there is no gap between such an inserted pencil tip 108a and the valve 118).

(25) While FIG. 3 shows the cap 110 exploded in perspective view, FIGS. 4 and 5 show the same cap structures in cross-section, exploded (FIG. 4) and assembled (FIG. 5). The cap 110 may also include a proximal end body portion 122, opposite distal body portion 128, defining storage cavity 117, for receiving a portion of body 102 adjacent to end 108a. In the illustrated configuration, proximal end body portion 122 may include an opening (e.g., at the distal end thereof) 124 into which one-way sealing valve 118 is inserted and seated against an internal shoulder 126 during assembly. Opening 124 may extend entirely through proximal end body portion 122, as shown, allowing insertion of the pencil body 102 through the opposite (proximal) end of such opening 124, allowing the end 108a of such pencil to approach and contact point 120 of valve 118. The distal body portion 128 which defines internal storage cavity 117 may also include a neck 130 configured for receipt into opening 124, which neck also is adjacent to an internal shoulder 132 (FIG. 5) against which a base of sharpener 112 may be seated. The sharpener 112 and one-way sealing valve 118 could be secured in the assembled configuration in any suitable manner, e.g., using an adhesive, friction fit, etc.

(26) FIG. 6 shows that as force is applied pressing the pencil body 102 (see force arrows) into the open proximal end of cap 110 (into open proximal end body portion 122, through the proximal end of opening 124), the core 106 of pencil body 102 contacts the sealing valve 118, centered at initially closed opening 120, so that upon application is continued pressure, the initially closed opening 120 expands, dilating outward, so as to accommodate passage of a portion of distal tip 108a (e.g., at least the tip of core 106) therethrough. As shown in FIG. 7, by rotating pencil body 102 in such condition, the blade of sharpener 112 shaves material from the distal tip (e.g., core 106 and/or surrounding casing 104). Because the opening 116 at the bottom of the base of sharpener 112 is open and aligned with storage cavity 117, shavings 134 fall though opening 116 as they are generated at sharpener 112. As shown in FIG. 7, such shavings 134 accumulate within storage cavity 117, and are not able to exit or otherwise escape therefrom, because of one-way sealing valve 118, which automatically closes once pencil tip 108a is removed therefrom. An additional benefit of such a configuration is that as the pencil body 102 is withdrawn from sealing valve 118, the freshly sharpened tip 108a is wiped clean of shaving dust and debris, which materials fall through the opening, and into storage container 117.

(27) FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate an embodiment 200 similar to the embodiment 100 already shown and described in conjunction with FIGS. 1-7, but which is shown as including two caps 110, over each of ends 108a, and 108b. FIG. 9 shows a cross-sectional view of such a configuration, showing both caps as being configured with internal sharpeners 112, and sealed storage cavities 117. It will be appreciated that in another embodiment, only one of the caps may include the built-in sharpener, storage cavity, etc., while the other cap may not necessarily include such features.

(28) FIG. 10 illustrates another embodiment 300 showing how the pencil body 102′ may have a cross-sectional shape that is other than cylindrical (e.g., any of various polygonal shapes), while still being accommodated within cap 110, for protection and/or sharpening. While not illustrated, in an embodiment, the exterior of the cap could also have a polygonal cross section (while including a cylindrical interior, to allow rotation and sharpening of the pencil body therein). For example, the cap could include a triangular exterior cross sectional shape, matching that of the illustrated pencil body 102′.

(29) FIGS. 11-13 and 14-16 illustrate how the cap may be configured to provide two distinct and different positions for the pencil body 102 receivable therein. For example, in a first position (FIGS. 11 and 12), the pencil body 102 is inserted to a first position in cap 110′, which is simply a capping position, where the first end 108a is covered by cap 110′, but in which first end 108a is not received within built-in sharpener 112, so that sharpening of first end 108a is not possible in such a capping position. A second position is also possible (FIGS. 11 and 13), e.g., by pressing pencil body 102 further into cap 110′. As shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, cap 110′ may include a biasing member 136 which provides resistance against further insertion of pencil body 102 into cap 110′, once the biasing member 136 is engaged by advancing pencil body 102. For example, in the position shown in FIG. 12, member 136 may engage against the sloped surface of the tip of pencil body 102, providing resistance against further insertion, and providing tactile “feedback” to the user that the pencil tip has in fact been inserted to the “capping position”. By continuing to apply additional insertion force, the user may press past such member 136, causing it to retract out of the path of pencil body 102, as shown in FIG. 13, to reach the sharpening position shown in FIG. 13, where engagement with sharpener 112 is provided, and the first end 108a can be sharpened as described herein. Such a biasing member 136 could include a living hinge type structure, e.g., integrally molded with cap portion 122, but which is movable about such a living hinge mechanism 138, as seen in FIGS. 11-12.

(30) FIGS. 14-16 illustrate another configuration for cap 110″, operating on a similar principle, where the member 136′ may be biased (e.g., by a pin 140 and a spring 142), so as to provide tactile and/or audible (e.g., a click) feedback to a user, when the member 136′ engages pencil body 102, but which can be pushed aside upon application of sufficient force, pressing through from the first “capping position” to the second “sharpening position”. It will be apparent that various other configurations (e.g., grooves configured to receive a détente, etc.) are also possible, which can provide two such positions (a capping position and a sharpening position) to the user. In an embodiment, engagement of the cap in either or both such positions may be accompanied by a tactile or audible (e.g., click) que, further confirming to the user that the desired position has been achieved.

(31) In an embodiment, any of the configurations shown in FIGS. 11-13 or 14-16 (or another) may include a biasing mechanism included within the pencil body or the disposable cap, so as to ensure that the cap automatically returns to the first, capping position when the additional pressure needed to move from the first to the second position has been removed. For example, in such a configuration, the user may be required to continue to push the pencil body 102 into the cap while sharpening, in order to maintain the pencil body in the sharpening position. For example, a spring or other mechanism 141 within opening 124 could engage with pencil body 102 (e.g., at first end 108a), pushing it back towards the first “capping position” as soon as the user releases pressure that was applied to advance pencil body 102 into the second “sharpening” position.

(32) The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.