Granted Patent B1

US 12,268,291 · App. 18/976,716 · Granted Apr 8, 2025

Inventors: Elaine S. Ritchey (Kittanning, PA); Kenneth K. Ritchey (Kittanning, PA)

A45D40/267A46B9/021A46B2200/1053

Abstract

Claims (43)

1. An applicator for applying mascara, comprising:

a brush having a brush body with a first end and an opposed second end with an array of bristles between the first end and the second end, and a wand attachment point;

a wand having a lid end affixed to a lid and a brush end affixed to the wand attachment point of the brush;

wherein the wand is attached to the brush body such that the brush has an angle measuring between approximately 80 to 135 degrees as measured from the wand when the brush is in a use position;

wherein the first end is a first outermost end of the brush body and the opposed second end is a second outermost end of the brush body;

wherein the wand attachment point is either between the first end and the opposed second end of the brush body, or at either the first end or the opposed second end of the brush body;

wherein the first end is further comprised of a first eyelash tool and the opposed second end is further comprised of a second eyelash tool;

wherein the first eyelash tool is an eyelash separating tool having a pointed end made of a resilient, non-absorbent, and flexible material adapted to separate lashes coated with mascara;

wherein the first eyelash tool is not a bristle; and

wherein a position of the wand in relationship to the first end and the opposed second end does not obstruct the first eyelash tool and the second eyelash tool.

2. The applicator in claim 1 , wherein the opposed second end is further comprised of either a ball-like array of bristles or a plurality of bristles projecting away from the opposed second end.

3. The applicator in claim 1 , further comprising a container having a rectangular lateral cross section.

4. The applicator in claim 1 , wherein the wand attachment point of the brush is a center of the brush body.

5. The applicator in claim 1 , wherein the brush is one of pivotably or foldably affixed to the wand.

6. The applicator in claim 5 , wherein the wand is hingeably affixed to the brush.

7. The applicator in claim 1 , wherein the wand attachment point of the brush is to either a right side or a left side of a center of the brush body.

8. The applicator in claim 1 , wherein the brush is rotatably affixed to the wand.

9. The applicator in claim 1 , wherein the applicator is T-shaped.

10. The applicator in claim 1 , wherein the applicator is L-shaped or hockey stick shaped.

11. A mascara container adapted for use with the applicator in claim 1 , comprising:

a container body having a rectangular opening;

an interior space having a rectangular cross-section accessed through the rectangular opening; and

a plurality of finger-like cleaning elements arranged on opposed sides of the rectangular opening and wherein the plurality of finger-like cleaning elements is spaced apart relationship such that the rectangular opening is partially closed and a center of the rectangular opening is unobstructed.

12. The mascara container in claim 11 , further comprising a window formed into the container body, wherein the interior space is visible through the window.

13. The mascara container in claim 11 , wherein the cleaning elements are removably affixed to the rectangular opening.

14. The mascara container in claim 11 , wherein the cleaning elements are made of silicone.

15. A method of applying a quantity of mascara to a user's first set of eyelashes and second set of eyelashes using a mascara applicator with a wand and a brush, with the brush angled between approximately 80 degrees and 135 degrees from the wand, the brush further having a tip end and a ball end, the tip end being made of a resilient, flexible and non-absorbent material for use as an eyelash separator, and a mascara container housing a quantity of mascara, the method comprising the steps of:

removing the applicator from the mascara container with a user's dominant hand;

positioning the dominant hand and the applicator on either a left side or a right side of a user's nose near the first set of eyelashes to be coated;

holding the applicator such that the wand is either approximately vertical and perpendicular to or below the first set of lashes to be coated;

moving the applicator and brush up and down to coat the first set of eyelashes;

rotating the brush so the tip end faces the first set of lashes;

orienting the tip end between individual lashes that are stuck together;

combing the tip end between the individual lashes that are stuck together to separate them;

positioning the dominant hand and the applicator to an opposite side of the user's nose near the second set of eyelashes to be coated; and

repeating the steps of holding, moving, rotating, orienting, and combing until the second set of eyelashes are coated.

16. The method in claim 15 , further comprising the steps of:

coating a plurality of eyelashes closest to the user's nose using the ball end of the brush;

before or after the step of moving.

17. The method in claim 15 , wherein the mascara container further comprises a rectangular opening with cleaning elements positioned on opposed sides of the opening, and the method further comprises the step of:

redistributing mascara product on the brush by moving the brush against the cleaning elements;

after the step of removing and before the first step of positioning.

18. The method in claim 15 , wherein the first step of positioning is further comprised of positioning either the ball end of the tip end closest to the user's nose.

Continuity (2)

References Cited (17)