Refillable lipstick

Abstract

Disclosure herein are replaceable cartridges for lipstick products and methods of use thereof. The cartridges may include a cartridge applicator ( 106 ), a cartridge screw drive ( 204 ), and a piston ( 202 ). The cartridge applicator defines a cartridge applicator cavity ( 230 ) sized to house lipstick and a through hole ( 218 ) sized to allow the lipstick to flow from the cartridge applicator cavity onto an applicator surface of the cartridge applicator. The cartridge screw drive connects to the cartridge applicator and includes a first threaded member ( 224 ). The first threaded member extending from an applicator base into the cartridge applicator cavity. The piston defines a second threaded member ( 214 ) sized to engage the first threaded member. Rotation of the cartridge applicator in a first direction relative to the applicator base causes the piston to ascend the first threaded member and expel a portion of the lipstick through the through hole and onto the applicator surface.

1 . An applicator for applying a substance to a lip, the applicator comprising:
 a cartridge applicator that defines a cartridge applicator cavity sized to house the substance and a through hole sized to allow the substance to flow from the cartridge applicator cavity onto an applicator surface of the cartridge applicator, wherein the cartridge applicator further comprises a perforable membrane located within the through hole that separates the cartridge applicator cavity from the applicator surface;   a cartridge screw drive connected to the cartridge applicator, the cartridge screw drive including:
 an applicator base that defines a base cavity, 
 a rib protruding into the base cavity, and 
 a first threaded member extending from the applicator base into the cartridge applicator cavity; and 
   a piston that defines a second threaded member sized to engage the first threaded member,   wherein rotation of the cartridge applicator in a first direction relative to the applicator base causes the piston to ascend the first threaded member and expel a portion of the substance through the through hole and onto the applicator surface.   
     
     
         2 . The applicator of  claim 1 , wherein the substance is lipstick. 
     
     
         3 . The applicator of  claim 1 , wherein the substance is lip balm. 
     
     
         4 . The applicator of  claim 1 , wherein the cartridge applicator is made of a clear polymer. 
     
     
         5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . The applicator of  claim 1 , wherein the applicator surface is concaved. 
     
     
         7 . The applicator of  claim 1 , wherein the cartridge screw drive is a monolithic component. 
     
     
         8 . A system for applying a substance to a lip, the system comprising:
 a first base member that defines a first base cavity and a first protuberance within the first base cavity;   a second base member having a first end sized to be received with the first base cavity, the second base member defining a second base cavity and a second protuberance located on an exterior surface of the second base member, the second protuberance size to engage the first protuberance and secure the second base member to the first base member, the second base cavity sized to receive a first end of a cartridge applicator that includes the substance;   a cap that defines a cap cavity sized to receive a second end of the cartridge applicator; and   a seal located within the cap, wherein upon attachment of the cap to the first or second base members, the seal contacts an exterior surface of the cartridge applicator to form an airtight chamber around an opening in the cartridge applicator.   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the second base member defines at least one rib arranged to engage at least one corresponding rib of the cartridge applicator, wherein engagement of the at least one rib with the at least one corresponding rib fixes an applicator base of the cartridge applicator in position relative to the second base member. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein an exterior surface of the second base member defines a first mating element and an interior surface of the cap define a second mating element, engagement of the first mating element with the second mating element secures the cap to the second base element. 
     
     
         11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the cap including a cap pintel size to puncture a perforable membrane of the cartridge applicator. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 8 , further comprising the cartridge applicator. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the applicator is one of a plurality of cartridge applicators. 
     
     
         15 . A system for applying a substance to a lip, the system comprising:
 a first base member that defines a first base cavity and a first protuberance within the first base cavity;   a second base member having a first end sized to be received with the first base cavity, the second base member defining a second base cavity and a second protuberance located on an exterior surface of the second base member, the second protuberance size to engage the first protuberance and secure the second base member to the first base member;   an applicator having a first end and a second end, the applicator comprising:
 a cartridge applicator that defines a cartridge applicator cavity sized to house the substance and a through hole sized to allow the substance to flow from the cartridge applicator cavity onto an applicator surface of the cartridge applicator, 
 a perforable membrane located within the through hole that separates the cartridge applicator cavity from the applicator surface; 
 an applicator base located at the first end of the applicator and sized to be received within the second base cavity, the applicator base defining a base cavity, 
 a rib protruding into the base cavity, the rib size to engage a corresponding rib of a second base element, and 
 a first threaded member extending from the applicator base into the cartridge applicator cavity; and 
 a piston located inside the cartridge applicator and that defines a second threaded member sized to engage the first threaded member; and 
   a cap that defines a cap cavity sized to receive the second end of the applicator,   wherein rotation of the cartridge applicator in a first direction relative to the applicator base causes the piston to ascend the first threaded member and expel a portion of the substance through the through hole and onto the applicator surface.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the substance is lipstick. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the substance is lip balm. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the cartridge applicator is made of a clear polymer. 
     
     
         19 . (Canceled) 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the applicator surface is concaved. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the cartridge applicator is a monolithic component. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the second base member defines at least one rib arranged to engage at least one corresponding rib of the applicator, wherein engagement of the at least one rib with the at least one corresponding rib fixes an applicator base of the applicator in position relative to the second base member. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein an exterior surface of the second base member defines a first mating element and an interior surface of the cap define a second mating element, engagement of the first mating element with the second mating element secures the cap to the second base element. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 15 , further comprising a seal located within the cap, wherein upon attachment of the cap to the first or second base members, the seal contacts an exterior surface of the applicator to form an airtight chamber around an opening in the applicator. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the cap including a cap pintel size to puncture a perforable membrane of the applicator. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 15 , further comprising a plurality of applicators, the applicator being one of the plurality of applicators.