Cosmetic sponge

Abstract

A cosmetic applicator includes a sponge and a removable cap. The sponge has an upper portion and a lower portion and the cap fits over the upper portion. The cap may be impermeable in some examples to avoid absorbing cosmetic product to be applied, as a sponge alone would. The cap may comprise a closed cell material, silicone, and/or a gel material.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A cosmetic applicator comprising:
 a sponge including an upper portion and a lower portion; and   a removable cap configured to fit over the upper portion.   
     
     
         2 . The cosmetic applicator of  claim 1 , wherein the upper portion and the lower portion of the sponge are separated by a groove. 
     
     
         3 . The cosmetic applicator of  claim 2 , wherein the groove extends circumferentially around the sponge. 
     
     
         4 . The cosmetic applicator of  claim 2 , wherein the cap includes a lip extending inward from a bottom edge of the cap, the lip configured to be received in the groove when the cap is disposed on the sponge. 
     
     
         5 . The cosmetic applicator of  claim 1 , wherein the sponge is formed from a single piece of material. 
     
     
         6 . The cosmetic applicator of  claim 1 , wherein the upper portion and the lower portion of the sponge have different densities. 
     
     
         7 . The cosmetic applicator of  claim 1 , wherein the upper portion and the lower portion of the sponge have different porosities. 
     
     
         8 . The cosmetic applicator of  claim 1 , wherein the sponge comprises polyurethane. 
     
     
         9 . The cosmetic applicator  claim 1 , wherein the cap is a closed-cell material. 
     
     
         10 . The cosmetic applicator of  claim 1 , wherein the cap is silicone. 
     
     
         11 . The cosmetic applicator of  claim 1 , wherein the cap comprises a gel material. 
     
     
         12 . The cosmetic applicator of  claim 1 , wherein the upper portion of the sponge and the cap are conical in shape, and the lower portion of the sponge is spherical in shape. 
     
     
         13 . The cosmetic applicator of  claim 12 , wherein the lower portion of the sponge is weighted such that the cosmetic applicator remains upright, with an apex of the cap pointing upward, when the cosmetic applicator is placed on a horizontal surface. 
     
     
         14 . A cosmetic applicator comprising:
 a single piece sponge including an upper portion and a lower portion separated by a groove; and   a removable cap configured to fit over the upper portion, the cap having an inwardly extending lip configured to fit into the groove when the cap is disposed over the upper portion of the sponge.   
     
     
         15 . The cosmetic applicator of  claim 14 , wherein the sponge is polyurethane. 
     
     
         16 . The cosmetic applicator of  claim 14 , wherein the cap is a closed-cell material. 
     
     
         17 . The cosmetic applicator of  claim 14 , wherein the cap comprises a gel material. 
     
     
         18 . A cosmetic applicator comprising:
 a sponge including an upper portion and a lower portion separated by a circumferential groove, the upper and lower portions having different densities and/or porosities; and   a removable cap configured to fit over only the upper portion.   
     
     
         19 . The cosmetic applicator of  claim 18 , wherein the cap includes a lip extending inward from a bottom edge of the cap, the lip configured to be received in the groove when the cap is disposed on the sponge. 
     
     
         20 . The cosmetic applicator of  claim 18 , wherein the upper portion and the lower portion of the sponge are made of the same material.