Cosmetic Products Application

Abstract

A cosmetic applicator construction that includes a distributable sampling packet that is affixable to a carrier substrate, such as a mailing card or printed publication, to permit distribution of the sampling packet to an end location for use thereat by an individual user. The cosmetic applicator construction is suitable for use in the mailing of cosmetic samples in separate mailers or the provision thereof on or within a printed publication and includes a sampling packet, which is preferably a two-ply card, and an underlying release liner. The upper ply of the sampling packet includes an embossed field formed on the underside of the upper ply, disposed between the upper ply and the lower ply, and configured to hold a cosmetic sample.

Claims

1. A cosmetic applicator construction for distributing to an end location for individualized and personalized use by a user in the application of an uncontaminated sampling of a cosmetic at the end location, comprising: a card forming a first ply; a raised area forming a second ply, the raised area having a plurality of projections, the projections to define a cosmetic sample reservoir area with the projections being laterally spaced from one another and positioned relative to one another to be capable of retaining between the projections a sample of cosmetic there between in the cosmetic sample reservoir area; and a third ply positioned between the card and the raised area, the third ply affixed to the card and the second ply adjoining to the third ply wherein the raised area is orientated opposite the card.

2. The cosmetic applicator construction of claim 1 wherein the card further comprises a fold line for folding the card.

3. The cosmetic applicator construction of claim 2 wherein the card further comprises a pair of side edges with each of the side edges having a notch and the notches interlocking when the card is folded along the fold line.

4. The cosmetic applicator construction of claim 1 wherein the projections are formed by mechanical embossing or printing.

5. The cosmetic applicator construction of claim 1 wherein the card further comprises a fold line bisecting the card for folding the card in half for protecting the raised area.

6. The cosmetic applicator construction of claim 1 wherein the card is mountable upon a carrier substrate for distribution of the cosmetic applicator construction to the end location.

7. The cosmetic applicator construction of claim 1 wherein the sample of cosmetic is inserted into the raised area prior to distribution of the cosmetic applicator.

8. The cosmetic applicator construction of claim 7 wherein the projections are configured to release at least a portion of the sample of cosmetic retained therein as the raised area is being compressed and moved across a body area, such compression and movement of the raised area thus effecting personalized distribution to the body area of the sample of cosmetic retained in the raised area.

9. A cosmetic applicator construction for distributing to an end location for individualized and personalized use by a user in the application of an uncontaminated sampling of a cosmetic at the end location, comprising: a card forming a first ply; a raised area having a pair of spaced apart second plies, each of the second plies having a plurality of projections, the projections to define a cosmetic sample reservoir area with the projections being laterally spaced from one another and positioned relative to one another to be capable of retaining between the projections a sample of cosmetic there between in the cosmetic sample reservoir area; and a third ply positioned between the card and the raised area, the third ply affixed to the card and the second plies adjoining to the third ply wherein the raised area is orientated opposite the card.

10. The cosmetic applicator construction of claim 9 wherein the card further comprises a fold line for folding the card.

11. The cosmetic applicator construction of claim 10 wherein the card further comprises a pair of side edges with each of the side edges having a notch and the notches interlocking when the card is folded along the fold line.

12. The cosmetic applicator construction of claim 9 wherein the projections are formed by mechanical embossing or printing.

13. The cosmetic applicator construction of claim 9 wherein the card further comprises a fold line bisecting the card for folding the card in half for protecting the raised area on each of the second plies.

14. The cosmetic applicator construction of claim 9 wherein the card is mountable upon a carrier substrate for distribution of the cosmetic applicator construction to the end location.

15. The cosmetic applicator construction of claim 9 wherein the sample of cosmetic is inserted into the raised area prior to distribution of the cosmetic applicator.

16. The cosmetic applicator construction of claim 15 wherein the projections are configured to release at least a portion of the sample of cosmetic retained therein as the raised area is being compressed and moved across a body area, such compression and movement of the raised area thus effecting personalized distribution to the body area of the sample of cosmetic retained in the raised area.

17. A cosmetic applicator construction for distributing to an end location for individualized and personalized use by a user in the application of an uncontaminated sampling of a cosmetic at the end location, comprising: a card forming a first ply; a raised area forming a second ply, the raised area having a plurality of projections forming a pattern of a shape of a lip, the projections to define a cosmetic sample reservoir area with the projections being laterally spaced from one another and positioned relative to one another to be capable of retaining between the projections a sample of cosmetic there between in the cosmetic sample reservoir area; and a third ply positioned between the card and the raised area, the third ply affixed to the card and the second ply adjoining to the third ply wherein the raised area is orientated opposite the card.

18. The cosmetic applicator construction of claim 17 wherein the card further comprises a fold line for folding the card.

19. The cosmetic applicator construction of claim 18 wherein the card further comprises a pair of side edges with each of the side edges having a notch and the notches interlocking when the card is folded along the fold line

20. The cosmetic applicator construction of claim 17 wherein the projections are formed by mechanical embossing or printing, with the printing including one of silk screen, offset, rotogravure, flexography, or deposition, with the flexography including the usage of one of conventional inks, offset inks, flexographic inks, ultraviolet cured inks, and thermographic heat set inks, and wherein the deposition includes one of thermal forming, vacuum forming, casting, heat treatment, electrostatic treatment, spraying, extruding, adhesives, and cohesives.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0035] In referring to the drawings:

[0036] FIG. 1 shows a plan view of an alternate embodiment of the cosmetic products applicator constructed in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure;

[0037] FIG. 2 shows an isometric view of the partially folded applicator of the alternate embodiment;

[0038] FIG. 3 describes an end view of an alternate embodiment of the present disclosure while in flat form;

[0039] FIG. 4 shows an exploded view of the dual plies of the sampling packet of the present disclosure;

[0040] FIG. 5 shows a top view of the present disclosure, with the projections shown in phantom in the view;

[0041] FIG. 6 illustrates a sectional view of the sample packet and release liner ready for mailing;

[0042] FIG. 7 describes an enlarged sectional view of the top ply including the placement of a cosmetic sample within the bosses; and

[0043] FIG. 8 portrays an alternate embodiment having visible printing or advertisements upon the plies.

[0044] The same reference numerals refer to the same parts throughout the various figures.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0045] The present art overcomes the prior art limitations by providing an applicator construction for cosmetic products that allows multiple consecutive samples to be placed upon a single applicator portion for personalized use by an individual. Turning to FIG. 1, an alternate embodiment of the applicator portion 1 for cosmetic products has a single ply 2 of material generally rectangular in shape. The ply 2 has scoring with a center fold line 4 and a mechanically embossed lip contour pattern 3. Upon the longitudinal axis, the applicator portion 1 has a centered fold 4 that generally divides the applicator portion of the present disclosure into halves. As a means to secure the applicator portion 1 when closed, the card 2 has one or more notches 6 upon one or more edges. A die cuts the notches 6 to interlock when one half folds upon the other.

[0046] Generally centered, an embossed pattern 3 rises from the ply 2. The pattern 3 has the appearance of a pair of lips in a smooth field. In the alternate embodiment, the pattern 3 has a plurality of raised bosses, or dots, in a grid shaped to mimic lips. The dots occupy approximately 25% of the surface area of the ply 2. In an alternate embodiment, the pattern 3 has a series of parallel lines at a diagonal to the longitudinal axis. The pattern 3 rises from the ply 2 somewhat less than three thicknesses of the ply 2, approximately 3 mils in height.

[0047] Many methods can form the raised area 3, such as mechanical embossing or printing. A mechanical embosser uses a roller or flat tool with a positive image of the pattern 3. The card 2 passes under a roller or flat embossing tool which impresses the pattern 3 upon the material of the card 2. Printing forms a raised area 3 by its own methods, special inks, and deposition. In general, printing places a pattern 3 of greater height than the card 2 upon the surface of the card 2. Printing includes the methods of silkscreen, offset, rotogravure, flexography, and deposition. In particular, flexography uses conventional inks, offset inks, flexographic inks, ultraviolet cured inks, and thermographic heat set inks. The inks adhere to the surface of the card 2 and the lipstick collects between portions of the ink. Deposition places material upon the card 2 in a pattern 3. Deposition involves the methods of thermoforming, vacuum forming, casting, heat treatment, electrostatic treatment, spraying, extruding, adhesives, and cohesives.

[0048] As shown in FIG. 2, a woman utilizes the applicator portion 1 to transfer a sample of cosmetics, or lipstick, to her lips for viewing and shopping. A woman folds the ply 2 along the fold line 4 with the halves folding away from the woman. Upon the halves, the embossed pattern 3 is ready to transfer a cosmetic once in contact with lips.

[0049] A user, such as a salesperson or the woman desiring to sample the cosmetic, places cosmetic, or lipstick, upon the embossed pattern 3. The user may either drag the ply 2 across a lipstick tube or drag a lipstick tube across the ply 2. The pattern 3 retains lipstick between the dots generally at no more depth than the height of a boss or a dot, approximately three mils. With the lipstick upon the ply 2, the woman applies the sample to her lips for possible purchase. After use, the woman folds the card 2 toward her which encases the raised area 3. The woman then interlocks the notches 6 to secure the applicator 1 in a closed configuration. The applicator portion 1 can then be carried by the woman with less risk of the sample leaking from the applicator portion 1.

[0050] Turning to FIG. 3, an alternate embodiment of the applicator portion of the present disclosure has two or more sub-plies 5. The first sub-ply 5a forms the base of the applicator portion 1. The first sub-ply 5a extends for the complete width and length of the card 2. The first sub-ply 5a folds longitudinally along the line 4. Upon both sides of the fold line 4, the applicator portion 1 has a second sub-ply, formed from two sub-ply halves 5b. The second sub-ply halves 5b have less width than half of the card 2 and less length than the card 2. The second sub-ply halves 5b provide the field 3 as manufactured by the methods previously described in FIG. 1. The second sub-ply halves 5b are generally symmetrically arranged about the fold line 4.

[0051] Another version of this applicator portion may be made of material that does not feature a raised or embossed area, as previously described, but may be made of material, or exhibits a coating on a material, that renders the applicator portion or area receptive to the cosmetic sample, and which, at the same time, is relatively impervious to the cosmetic sample so that it does not absorb into or through the applicator before usage. The applicator portion will still fold over on a pre-creased, printed, or perforated line, so that it may function as the original applicator portion as described herein. Another version may include either a raised or embossed area, or a non-raised applicator area, with an overlay cover material that is removed prior to usage, to maintain a hygienic deposit area for the cosmetic sampler, when applied.

[0052] FIG. 4 now shows one preferred embodiment of the present disclosure of the cosmetic products applicator construction as it is assembled. The applicator construction 7 has an upper, or top, ply 8 above a lower, or bottom or base, ply 9, forming a sampling packet, which affixes to a release liner 10. The top ply is generally planar in extent and has a generally oval shape, a top surface 8a exposed to the user of the sampling packet of the applicator construction, and an opposite bottom surface 8b with a pattern of integral bosses, or projections 11. The projections extend away from the top ply and towards the base ply. The individual projections can have varying patterns and shapes as is known in the art. The projections can be formed by embossing, de-bossing, thermoforming, cohesives, other adhesives, printing, laminated secondary plies, and like methods.

[0053] Beneath the top ply, the base ply 9 is generally a planar oval shape similar to that of the top ply. The base ply 9 has a top surface 9a and an opposite bottom surface 9b. The top surface 9a of the base ply receives the projections depending from the top ply. The top ply is joined to the bottom ply upon their mutual perimeter generally by heat sealing and like methods. The bottom surface 9b then has a layer of adhesive 13, as later shown in FIG. 6, preferably pressure sensitive, applied thereon for affixing the assembled plies of the applicator to the release liner 10. Though shown here as rectangular, the release liner can be of any useful shape for placing the applicator as a label upon a mail piece, magazine page, or like material. The release liner then permanently adheres to a carrier, card, magazine page, and like material. Alternatively, the release liner 10 can be removed from the bottom of the sampling packet and the sampling packet can then be directly adhered to the mail piece, magazine page, and like material by the pressure sensitive adhesive remaining on the bottom surface 9b of the bottom ply 9. In use, the top ply 8 is ultimately removed from the fixed bottom ply 9 and the top ply carries the sample of cosmetic for the consumer to use as desired.

[0054] When the top ply 8 is placed upon the bottom ply 9 to form a sampling packet and both are then affixed to the release liner 10, the applicator construction 7 appears from the top as shown in FIG. 5. The top ply and the base ply have a similar shape, with the negative image of the pattern of projections 11 being apparent in the top ply. The release liner holds the compact form of the two plies including a cosmetic sample therein.

[0055] The assembled sampling packet with attached release liner then appears in layers as shown in the sectional view of FIG. 6. The top ply 8 has a pattern where the integral projections 11 extend downwardly from the bottom surface 8b. The projections are spaced apart on two axes and retain a sample 12 of cosmetic placed or collected therein. The shaping of individual projections, surface tension of the sample, and static charge retain the sample proximate to the bottom surface 8b of the top ply until used. In the preferred embodiment, the projections are bosses or round knob like hubs. The height of the boss from the top surface 8a is enough to retain the cosmetic sample between adjacent bosses and shallow enough to avoid perception by a woman during usage. The projections then abut the top surface 9a of the bottom ply 9. The projections generally rest upon the top surface without penetrating or deflecting into it. Upon the bottom surface 9b, a layer of adhesive 13 is applied that affixes the base ply along with the top ply to the release liner.

[0056] Looking more closely at the sample 12 within the top ply 8, FIG. 7 shows cosmetic sample retained between adjacent projections 11 here shown as bosses. The sample is retained side to side by adjacent projections and retained upon the top ply against gravity by surface tension and friction with the material of the top ply. The bosses each appear as a round swelling, similar to a smooth mound or knob. The bosses contact the skin of a woman on a minimum of surface area thus avoiding an adverse perception of bosses scraping across her skin. The knob or hub like shape retains the cosmetic sample during manufacturing and transport yet readily releases the sample upon the woman's skin when the woman grips the top ply 8 and moves the bottom surface 8b with the bosses upon her skin. The cosmetic sample is generally less than 5 mils thick. The present disclosure retains the sample in the top ply during packaging and handling of the applicator by printers and eventually by end users.

[0057] FIG. 8 illustrates an alternate embodiment of the present disclosure. The top ply 8 has its top surface 8a with a pattern of projections 11 thereon. The projections extend downwardly as before. The projections leave a limited appearance of a negative image upon the top surface that permits printing 14, advertising, or other indicia to be placed thereupon. The top surface can display a message or printing visible to the user before removing the top ply for application of the cosmetic sample contained therein. With the top ply removed during usage, the top surface 9a of the bottom ply 9 is exposed upon the release liner affixed to a carrier. In this alternate embodiment, the top surface of the bottom ply can be seen by the user and thus printing 14, advertising, or other indicia can be placed there as well. This alternate embodiment provides at least two surfaces capable of receiving and then displaying printing for viewing by the end user.

[0058] From the aforementioned description, a cosmetic products applicator has been described. The applicator portion is uniquely capable of individual sampling of lipstick from bulk containers and for retaining a cosmetic in the removable top ply. The projections or bosses of the top ply do not create an adverse perception upon the skin of the woman users. The applicator may be manufactured from many materials, including but not limited to, paper, polymers, polyester, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, nylon, Teslin, Saran, ferrous and non-ferrous metal foils and their alloys, and composites.