Cosmetic applicator with sponge to absorb substance and to prevent leakage thereof
A cosmetic applicator, comprising a sponge to absorb substance and prevent leakage thereof is provided herein. The sponge having an elastic open-cell of a three-dimensional membrane structure of elastic polymer and is double over molded in combination with the rigid plastic base. The sponge has predefined density enabling to absorb the substance and skin surface having predefined thickness to prevent a spontaneous release of the substance. The substance may be squeezed out of the sponge only when applying pressure on the sponge. A Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag is integrated to the rigid plastic base to allow information related storage.
1. A cosmetic/medical applicator for storing and applying a substance, the applicator comprising:
a sponge having an elastic open-cell three-dimensional membrane structure of elastic polymer covered by a sponge skin surface defining a top surface of the sponge, where a cosmetic or medical substance is injected into the sponge such that the sponge serves as a container to include all of the substance to be used, the substance is provided in a specific amount required for a pre-determined treatment, the sponge having a shape providing a central through-hole;
a rigid base bonded to an entire bottom surface of the sponge, such that the rigid base has a shape complementary to the shape of the sponge and provides a bonding surface interfacing with the sponge, a planar bottom surface opposite the bonding surface and a central through-hole of the rigid base being aligned with the central through-hole of the sponge, wherein the rigid base is an integral part of the applicator, and the planar bottom surface is configured to abut against the medical device; and
a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag containing information regarding a cosmetic or medical treatment embedded or attached to the rigid base such that the RFID tag is positioned between the bottom surface of the sponge and the planar bottom surface of the rigid base and no portion of the RFID tag extends below the planar bottom surface of the rigid base in a direction away from the sponge,
wherein the sponge and the sponge skin surface have a predetermined density and thickness, respectively, sufficient to enable injection of the substance into the sponge while preventing a spontaneous release of the substance, such that a required amount of the substance is squeezed out only when pressure is applied to the sponge.
2. The applicator according to claim 1 , wherein the central through-hole of the sponge defines a hollow cavity to enable insertion of functional treatment components when the applicator is coupled to the medical device.
3. The applicator according to claim 1 , wherein the predefined density of the sponge is similar to absorption capacity of cosmetic or medical substances including at least one of oil and water in a range between 5 cc and 7 cc.
4. The applicator according to claim 1 wherein the density of the sponge material after the molding process is between 40 to 250 Kg/m3.
5. The applicator according to claim 1 , wherein the RFID tag is embedded during the over molding of the sponge with the rigid plastic base.
6. The applicator according to claim 1 , wherein the RFID tag is initially bonded to the rigid base.
7. The applicator according to claim 1 wherein the sponge is double over molded in combination with the rigid base.
8. The applicator according to claim 5 , wherein the bonded RFID tag and the rigid base are integrated through an over molding process in which thermoplastic elastomers are injected into a mold at predefined temperature to yield the cosmetic applicator including the sponge bonded to the rigid base and encapsulating the RFID tag.
9. The applicator according to claim 1 , wherein control on level of viscosity of the substance is enabled by pressing on different spots in the sponge.
10. The applicator according to claim 1 , wherein the information that is stored is at least one of: (i) type of treatment; (ii) expiration date of the substance; and (iii) length of treatment.
11. The applicator according to claim 1 , wherein the information that is stored is at least one of: encryption code, association code to medical device of different equipment provider, expiration date or manufacturing dates.
12. The applicator according to claim 1 , wherein the RFID tag maintains information which is updated during the treatment process.
13. The applicator according to claim 12 wherein the updated information is calculated by the RFID chip tag.
14. The applicator according to claim 12 wherein the updated information is received from a medical device associated with said applicator.