Cosmetic applicator

Abstract

The present invention relates to a cosmetic applicator comprising at least two molded applicator parts that define a portion of an applicator head. The at least two molded applicator parts have a respective first molded surface and a second molded surface defined thereon which meet at an interface defined on an outer surface of the applicator head and at least one projection is formed at the interface. The at least one projection comprises a projection from the first molded surface and a projection from the adjacent second molded surface. The cosmetic applicator of the present invention may be used for cosmetic and care applications such as on skin or on keratinous fibers in the area of mascara application, lash care, nail care, mascara removal, lip application, hair coloring and hair repair etc.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A cosmetic applicator comprising:
 a molded first applicator part having a first molded surface defined thereon;   a molded second applicator part coupled to the molded first applicator part to define at least a portion of an applicator head, the molded second applicator part having a second molded surface defined thereon, the first molded surface and the second molded surface meeting at an interface defined on an outer surface of the applicator head; and the first molded surface and the second molded surface are aligned such that the outer surface formed by the first molded surface and the second molded surface is smooth and contiguous across the interface;   at least one projection at the interface of the first molded surface and the second molded surface;   wherein the at least one projection at the interface comprises a first portion and a second portion;   wherein the first portion is a projection from the first molded surface;   wherein the second portion is a projection from the second molded surface;   wherein the projection from the first molded surface is integrally molded with the first molded surface and the projection from the second molded surface is integrally molded with the second molded surface;   wherein the first molded surface is made of a first material and the second molded surface is made of a second material; and   wherein the first material is different from the second material.   
     
     
         2 . The cosmetic applicator according to  claim 1 , wherein the first material is different from the second material in at least one physical property selected from hardness, color and texture. 
     
     
         3 . The cosmetic applicator according to  claim 1 , wherein the first material is different from the second material in at least one chemical property. 
     
     
         4 . The cosmetic applicator according to  claim 1 , wherein the cosmetic applicator further includes at least one row of projections on the outer surface of at least one of the first molded surface and the second molded surface, and wherein the at least one row of projections is integrally molded with the respective first molded surface or the second molded surface. 
     
     
         5 . The cosmetic applicator according to  claim 4 , wherein the projections of the at least one row of projections on the outer surface of at least one of the first molded surface and the second molded surface, and the at least one projection at the interface of the first molded surface and the second molded surface, differ in length. 
     
     
         6 . The cosmetic applicator according to  claim 1 , wherein the first portion and the second portion of the at least one projection at the interface of the first molded surface and the second molded surface differ from each other in at least one of length or width. 
     
     
         7 . The cosmetic applicator according to  claim 1 , wherein the first portion molded out from the first molded surface makes up 1-99% and second portion makes up for rest 99-1% of the at least one projection at the interface of the first molded surface and the second molded surface. 
     
     
         8 . The cosmetic applicator according to  claim 1 , wherein the first molded surface of the molded first applicator part and the second molded surface of the molded second applicator part are linked at a zero angle with respect to a center line of the cosmetic applicator. 
     
     
         9 . The cosmetic applicator according to  claim 1 , wherein the first molded surface of the molded first applicator part and the second molded surface of the molded second applicator part are linked at a non-zero angle with respect to a center line of the cosmetic applicator. 
     
     
         10 . The cosmetic applicator according to  claim 1 , wherein the interface have an orientation rotated about a center line extending axially through the applicator head. 
     
     
         11 . A cosmetic applicator comprising:
 a molded first applicator part having a first molded surface defined thereon;   a molded second applicator part coupled to the molded first applicator part to define at least a portion of an applicator head, the molded second applicator part having a second molded surface defined thereon, the first molded surface and the second molded surface meeting at an interface defined on an outer surface of the applicator head; and the first molded surface and the second molded surface are aligned such that the outer surface formed by the first molded surface and the second molded surface is smooth and contiguous across the interface;   a plurality of projections extending outwardly from the first molded surface and the second molded surface;   wherein the projections from the first molded surface are integrally molded with the first molded surface and the projections from the second molded surface are integrally molded with the second molded surface;   at least one projection at the interface of the first molded surface and the second molded surface;   wherein the at least one projection comprises a first portion and a second portion;   wherein the first portion is a projection from the first molded surface;   wherein the second portion is a projection from the second molded surface;   wherein the first molded surface is made of a first material and the second molded surface is made of a second material; and   wherein the first material is different from the second material.   
     
     
         12 . The cosmetic applicator according to  claim 11 , wherein the first material is different from the second material in at least one physical property selected from hardness, color and texture. 
     
     
         13 . The cosmetic applicator according to  claim 11 , wherein the projections extend outward in a direction perpendicular or non-perpendicular to the outer surface of the applicator head. 
     
     
         14 . The cosmetic applicator according to  claim 11 , wherein the cosmetic applicator is formed from the first material and the second material using double-injection molding. 
     
     
         15 . The cosmetic applicator according to  claim 14 , wherein the cosmetic applicator is formed by first making the second molded applicator part by integrally injection-molding the second molded surface and the projections on the second molded surface, and then making the first molded applicator part having the first molded surface and the projections on the first molded surface by double injection-molding process such that a part of the molded first applicator part is embedded in the molded second applicator part. 
     
     
         16 . The cosmetic applicator according to  claim 11 , wherein the projection from the first molded surface forming the first portion of the at least one projection at the interface of the first molded surface and the second molded surface is either longer or shorter in length than other projections from the first molded surface. 
     
     
         17 . The cosmetic applicator according to  claim 11 , wherein the projection from the second molded surface forming the second portion of the at least one projection at the interface of the first molded surface and the second molded surface is either longer or shorter in length than other projections from the second molded surface. 
     
     
         18 . The cosmetic applicator according to  claim 11 , wherein the molded first applicator part further comprises a base body having a hollow cavity and at least one elongated window that exposes the hollow cavity through the first molded surface. 
     
     
         19 . The cosmetic applicator according to  claim 18 , wherein the molded second applicator part further comprises a base body disposed in the hollow cavity and having the second molded surface defined thereon, the second molded surface of the base body of the molded second applicator part extending through the window of the molded first applicator part such that the first and second molded surfaces align to form the interface. 
     
     
         20 . The applicator of  claim 11 , wherein a plurality of interfaces are defined between a plurality of applicator parts defining the applicator head, the plurality of applicator parts including at least the first and second applicator parts.