Powder applicator for cosmetic use

Abstract

A powder applicator includes a reservoir for powder and a porous membrane tensioned over the reservoir. A portion of the powder is stored in the vicinity of the membrane, in a very open synthetic foam pad between the reservoir and the membrane and communicating with the reservoir.

1 . A powder applicator including:
 a reservoir for powder,   a porous membrane tensioned over said reservoir,   a storage section that stores a portion of said powder in the vicinity of said membrane, communicating with said reservoir, said storage section including a very open synthetic foam pad between said reservoir and said membrane, and   a first grid having a plurality of orifices and disposed between said reservoir and said pad, wherein:   said porous membrane is formed of a synthetic foam which is much less open than the foam forming said pad.   
   
   
       2 . The powder applicator claimed in  claim 1  wherein said first grid is domed and its concave side faces said reservoir. 
   
   
       3 . The powder applicator claimed in  claim 1  including a second grid mounted to rotate relative to said first grid between a service position in which orifices of said grids face each other and a storage position in which said orifices are offset relative to each other. 
   
   
       4 . The powder applicator claimed in  claim 3  wherein said first grid is domed and its concave side faces said reservoir and said second grid is domed and espouses the shape of said first grid. 
   
   
       5 . The powder applicator claimed in  claim 3  wherein said orifices of at least one of said grids have a section that diminishes in the direction from said reservoir toward said pad. 
   
   
       6 . The powder applicator claimed in  claim 3  including a ring with an inside edge adapted to clamp the periphery of said membrane against one of said grids. 
   
   
       7 . The powder applicator claimed in  claim 1  including a ring with an inside edge adapted to clamp the periphery of said membrane against said pad. 
   
   
       8 . The powder applicator claimed in  claim 7  wherein said membrane has a portion covering the edge of the face of said pad that faces said reservoir. 
   
   
       9 . The powder applicator claimed in  claim 7  wherein said pad has a groove receiving said inside edge of said ring. 
   
   
       10 . The powder applicator claimed in  claim 6  wherein said ring is conformed to conceal the connection region between said membrane and said reservoir. 
   
   
       11 . The powder applicator claimed in  claim 1  wherein the peripheral face of said pad is at least partly covered by an envelope made of a synthetic foam that is harder than the foam forming said pad. 
   
   
       12 . The powder applicator claimed in  claim 7 , wherein:
 the peripheral face of said pad is at least partly covered by an envelope made of a synthetic foam that is harder than the foam forming said pad, and   said envelope has a groove receiving the interior edge of said ring.   
   
   
       13 . The powder applicator claimed in  claim 9  wherein:
 the peripheral face of said pad is at least partly covered by an envelope made of a synthetic foam that is harder than the foam forming said pad, and   said envelope is interrupted at said groove.   
   
   
       14 . The powder applicator claimed in  claim 11  wherein said envelope is set back relative to the face of said pad that is against said membrane. 
   
   
       15 . The powder applicator claimed in  claim 1  wherein said pad is machined to a mushroom shape. 
   
   
       16 . The powder applicator claimed in  claim 15  wherein:
 the peripheral face of said pad is at least partly covered by an envelope made of a synthetic foam that is harder than the foam forming said pad, and   said envelope is conformed to espouse said mushroom shape of said pad.   
   
   
       17 . The powder applicator claimed in  claim 1  wherein an exterior wall of said membrane is flocked. 
   
   
       18 . The powder applicator claimed in  claim 1  wherein said membrane has pores with an average diameter of the order of 0.1 mm distributed at the rate of approximately 130 pores per centimeter. 
   
   
       19 . The powder applicator claimed in  claim 1  wherein said pad has pores with an average diameter of the order of 2 mm distributed at the rate of approximately eight pores per centimeter. 
   
   
       20 . The powder applicator claimed in  claim 1  including a ring with an inside edge adapted to clamp the periphery of said membrane against said pad and wherein said envelope has a groove receiving the interior edge of said ring. 
   
   
       21 . The powder applicator claimed in  claim 11  wherein said pad has a groove receiving said inside edge of said ring and said envelope is interrupted at said groove. 
   
   
       22 . The powder applicator of  claim 11  wherein the first grid comprises a plurality of orifices.