Dual cosmetic product applicator

Abstract

An applicator arrangement ( 18 ) for a cosmetic product ( 12 ), comprising: a stem ( 20 ); first and second applicator elements ( 24, 26 ), fitted to the stem ( 20 ); and a sleeve ( 32 ) adapted to accommodates the stem ( 20 ), the sleeve being movable with respect to the stem ( 20 ) between a first position, in which the second applicator element ( 26 ) is shielded by the sleeve ( 32 ), and a second position, in which the second applicator element ( 26 ) is revealed so that both the first applicator element ( 24 ) and the second applicator element ( 26 ) are accessible.

1 . An applicator arrangement ( 18 ) for a cosmetic product ( 12 ), comprising:
 a stem ( 20 );   first and second applicator elements ( 24 ,  26 ), fitted to the stem ( 20 ); and   a sleeve ( 32 ) adapted to accommodates the stem ( 20 ), the sleeve being movable with respect to the stem ( 20 ) between a first position, in which the second applicator element ( 26 ) is shielded by the sleeve ( 32 ), and a second position, in which the second applicator element ( 26 ) is revealed so that both the first applicator element ( 24 ) and the second applicator element ( 26 ) are accessible.   
     
     
         2 . The applicator arrangement ( 18 ) of  claim 1 , further comprising a handle ( 34 ) fitted to the sleeve ( 32 ) so that the sleeve ( 32 ) and the handle ( 34 ) are jointly movable with respect to the stem ( 20 ), and that pulling the handle ( 34 ) reveals the second applicator element ( 26 ). 
     
     
         3 . The applicator arrangement ( 18 ) of  claim 1 , wherein the stem ( 20 ) includes a first end ( 22 ) that terminates in an abutment tip element ( 40 ). 
     
     
         4 . The applicator arrangement ( 18 ) of  claim 3 , wherein the sleeve ( 32 ) is adapted to abut against the abutment tip element ( 40 ) in the first position. 
     
     
         5 . The applicator arrangement ( 18 ) of  claim 1 , wherein the first applicator element ( 24 ) comprising an application surface ( 29 ) and the second applicator element ( 26 ) comprising a comb ( 30 ) that is shielded by the sleeve ( 32 ) in the second position. 
     
     
         6 . The applicator arrangement ( 18 ) of  claim 5 , wherein the application surface ( 29 ) is constituted by an external surface of an end ( 22 ) of the stem ( 20 ) and the comb ( 30 ) is made of plastic material. 
     
     
         7 . The applicator arrangement ( 18 )  claim 1 , wherein the sleeve ( 32 ) comprises a cut-out ( 36 ) which is in register with the first applicator element ( 24 ) when the sleeve ( 32 ) is in the first position so as to reveal the first applicator element ( 24 ). 
     
     
         8 . The applicator arrangement ( 18 ) of  claim 1 , further comprising a stopper formation ( 48 , 49 ) adapted to limit the movement of the sleeve ( 32 ) along the stem ( 20 ). 
     
     
         9 . An applicator ( 10 ) for a cosmetic product ( 12 ), comprising:
 a container ( 14 ) for storing the cosmetic product ( 12 ), and   an applicator arrangement ( 18 ) in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the applicator arrangement ( 18 ) is removably secured to the container ( 14 ) so that:
 when the applicator arrangement ( 18 ) is secured to the container ( 14 ), the sleeve is in the first position wherein the first applicator element ( 24 ) extends into the container ( 14 ) so as to be exposed to, and thereby receive, cosmetic product ( 12 ) and the second applicator element is shielded from the cosmetic product ( 12 ), and 
 when the applicator arrangement ( 18 ) is removed from the container ( 14 ), the sleeve is in the second position, so that the second applicator element ( 26 ) is revealed and both the first applicator element ( 24 ) and the second applicator element ( 26 ) are accessible. 
   
     
     
         10 . The applicator ( 10 ) of  claim 9 , wherein the container ( 14 ) further comprises an opening ( 16 ) and a wiper element ( 38 ) secured to the opening ( 16 ), adapted to slidingly accommodate the sleeve ( 32 ). 
     
     
         11 . The applicator ( 10 ) of  claim 10 , wherein the wiper element ( 38 ) comprises a first end ( 38   a ) secured to the opening ( 12 ) and a second end ( 38   b ), opposed to the first end ( 38   a ), and adapted to scrape excess cosmetic product ( 12 ) from the sleeve ( 32 ) and the first applicator element ( 24 ) as they slide past the second end ( 38   b ) of the wiper element ( 38 ). 
     
     
         12 . The applicator ( 10 ) of  claim 11 , wherein the second end ( 38   b ) of the wiper element ( 38 ) is tapered. 
     
     
         13 . The applicator ( 10 ) according to  claim 10 , wherein:
 the stem ( 20 ) of the applicator arrangement ( 18 ) includes a first end ( 22 ) that terminates in an abutment tip element ( 40 ), and   the wiper element ( 38 ) further comprises an inner protrusion ( 38   c ) adapted to cooperate with the abutment tip element ( 40 ) as the applicator arrangement ( 18 ) is being removed from the container ( 14 ) in order for the sleeve ( 32 ) to pass from the first position to the second position.   
     
     
         14 . The applicator according to  claim 9 , wherein the applicator arrangement ( 18 ) further comprises a handle ( 34 ) fitted to the sleeve ( 32 ) so that the sleeve ( 32 ) and handle ( 34 ) are movable with respect to the stem ( 20 ), and wherein the handle ( 34 ) and the container ( 14 ) include formations adapted to prevent the handle ( 34 ) from rotating about the container ( 14 ) when the application arrangement ( 18 ) is secured to the container ( 14 ). 
     
     
         15 . The applicator ( 10 ) according to  claim 14 , wherein the container ( 14 ) further comprises an opening ( 16 ) and a neck ( 46 ), wherein the neck ( 46 ) is proximate the opening ( 2 ), and wherein the handle ( 34 ) is secured to the neck ( 46 ) of the container ( 14 ) by a releasable snap fit arrangement. 
     
     
         16 . The applicator ( 10 ) according  claim 9 , wherein the container ( 12 ) comprises an opening ( 16 ) and a handle ( 34 ) connected to the sleeve ( 32 ), and pulling the handle ( 34 ) with respect to the container ( 14 ) sequentially causes:
 the applicator arrangement ( 18 ) to slide through the opening ( 16 ) of the container ( 14 ),   the sleeve ( 32 ) to slide along the stem ( 20 ), and   the stem ( 20 ) to slide through the opening ( 16 ) of the container ( 14 ).