US3235900A

US3235900A - Roll-on cosmetic applicator

Info

Publication number: US3235900A
Application number: US177646A
Authority: US
Inventors: Edward J Klassen
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1962-03-05
Filing date: 1962-03-05
Publication date: 1966-02-22
Anticipated expiration: 1983-02-22

Description

Feb. 22, 1966 v E. J. KLASSEN 3,235,900

ROLL-0N COSMETIC APPLICATOR Filed March 5, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VENTOR. [ammo [164 4x5 Feb. 22, 1966 E. J. KLASSEN ROLL-ON COSMETIC APPLICATOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 5 1962 EDWAWO JMAssEu United States Patent 3,235,900 ROLL-ON COSMETIC APPLICATOR Edward J. Klassen, 11461 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, Calif. Filed Mar. 5, 1962, Ser. No. 177,646 9 Claims. (Cl. 15558) This application is a continuation-in-part of my copending application Serial No. 791,551, filed February 6, 1959, now abandoned, entitled Applicator for Viscous Cosmetics.

This invention relates generally to cosmetic applicators and, particularly, to an improved roll-on applicator for relatively viscous cosmetics, such as creams and pastes.

Briefly, the invention provides a cosmetic applicator having a container for the cosmetic and a cosmetic dispensing head on end of the container. This dispensing head includes a recessed applicator roller which turns in a closely conforming socket within the head and protrudes through an opening in the head.

In use, the applicator roller is rotated back and forth across the users skin, the roller turning in its socket as it rolls. As the roller turns in its socket, its recesses become filled with the cosmetic in the container, where-by the cosmetic is carried around with the roller as it turns and is deposited on the users skin.

One feature of the invention resides in a unique limit stop for the applicator roller which limits rotation of the latter to approximately one-half revolution. This permits the roller to be repeatedly stroked in one direction over the users skin, to massage into the skin a quantity of cosmetic previously applied to the skin by back and forth rolling motion of the roller, without the latter turning in its socket to deposit additional cosmetic on the skin.

In order to assure filling of the recesses in the applicator roller with cosmetic, and thereby proper dispensing of the cosmetic, means are provided for forcing the cosmetic from the container and against the recessed surface of the applicator roller. A second feature of the invention resides in a unique arrangement of the roller in its socket whereby excess cosmetic is prevented from squeezing past the roller when the cosmetic is thus forced from the container. With regard to this feature of the invention, the latter also provides a unique plunger arrangement for forcing the cosmetic from the container which effectively prevents leakage of cosmetic past the plunger, and thereby minimizes waste, and which maintains the cosmetic in the container under slight pressure following each adjustment of the plunger, whereby the applicator continues to dispense its cosmetic properly for an extended period of time following each plunger adjustment.

Other features of the invention reside in the ease and economy of manufacture and assembly of the applicator.

A general object of the invention is, therefore, to provide an improved roll-on applicator for relatively viscous cosmetics.

Another object of the invention is to provide a roll-on applicator of the character described in which rotation of the applicator roller is limited in a unique way, whereby the roller can be used to both apply cosmetic to the skin and massage the applied cosmetic into the skin without depositing additional cosmetic on the skin.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a rollon applicator of the character described having means for pressurizing the cosmetic in the container of the applica- 3,235,900 Patented Feb. 22, 1966 tor to assure proper dispensing of the cosmetic and wherein the applicator roller is arranged in a unique way to prevent squeezing of excess cosmetic past the roller.

A further object of the invention is to provide a roll-on applicator of the character described embodying a unique plunger arrangement for pressurizing the cosmetic in the container of the applicator which continues to maintain the cosmetic under slight pressure following each adjustment of the plunger, whereby the applicator continues to dispense its cosmetic properly for an extended period of time following each plunger adjustment.

Yet a further object of the invention is to provide a roll-on applicator of the character described which is relatively simple in construction, easy and economical to manufacture and assemble, minimizes waste of the cosmetic, and is otherwise ideally suited to its intended purposes.

Other objects, advantages, and features of the invention will become evident as the description proceeds.

Briefly, the objects of the invention are attained by providing a roll-on applicator of the character described earlier in which the applicator roller is inserted into its socket through the inner end of the latter and the wall of the socket curves over the roller about the socket opening through which the roller protrudes. The roller is rotatably mounted in its socket by an axle or journals at the ends of the roller which are supported in the Wall of the socket and prevent pressure of the roller against the skin from forcing the roller out of the socket.

If wear occurs at the axle or journals in use, pressurizing of the cosmetic in the cosmetic container of the applicator, to urge the cosmetic into the recesses of the applicator roller, forces the roller into sealing relationship with the overlying wall of the socket to prevent squeezing of excess cosmetic past the roller. As a matter of fact, in one illustrative embodiment of the invention, the applicator roller is relatively loosely journaled in its socket so that it floats, in eflect, in the socket and is thereby urged into sealing relation with the overlying socket wall when the cosmetic is pressurized. In this case, the socket wall is longitudinally grooved in a unique way to permit initial assembly of the roller in its socket.

The applicator roller has a projecting stop engageable with stop shoulders in the socket to limit rotation of the roller so that the latter can be used to both apply cosmetic to the skin and massage the cosmetic into the skin. The stop shoulders are arranged in a unique way to permit assembly of the roller into its socket.

In one illustrative form of the invention, the cosmetic container is a flexible tube which is Simply squeezed to force the cosmetic therefrom and into the recesses in the applicator roller. In a second illustrative form of the invention, a unique manually operable plunger is provided for forcing the cosmetic from the container. This plunger is arranged so that sealing relationship between the plunger and the container wall is maintained even though the latter is tapered because of the draft required in molding of the container. The plunger also functions as a spring for maintaining the cosmetic under slight pressure following each adjustment of the plunger so that proper cosmetic dispensing action of the applicator is assured for an extended period of time following each plunger adjustment.

A better understanding of the invention may be had from the following detailed description of the two illustrative embodiments thereof taken in connection with the attached drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view, partially broken away, of one roll-on applicator according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged section taken along line 22 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a section taken along line 33 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a detail of the applicator roller removed from the applicator in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal section through a modified rollon applicator according to the invention;

FIG. 6 is a section taken along line 66 in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of the applicator in FIG. 5 with the cap removed and with parts broken away; and

FIG. 8 is a detail of a plunger diaphram removed from FIG. 5.

The roll-on applicator illustrated in FIGS. 1-4 of these drawings will be seen to comprise a container 22 which is open at one end and adapted to be filled with a quantity of a desired cosmetic. In the case of a cream or paste-type cosmetic, such as a cream or paste deodorant, the container may be in the form of a flexible tube, for example. When the cosmetic to be applied is a semisolidified substance, such as many of the so-called stick deodorants, a rigid walled container may be used, as will be seen presently.

Attached to the open end of the container 22 in any suitable manner is a cosmetic dispensing head including a socket element 24. This socket element, which may be molded from a suitable plastic, for example, is formed with an internal socket 26. One end of socket 26 opens to the interior of container 22, as shown. Rotatably fitted in the other end of socket 26 is an applicator roller 28. Applicator roller 28 is preferably molded from a suitable plastic and has a relatively close fit in the socket and has a portion of its periphery protruding through an opening 30 in the socket element. The applicator roller turns on an axis 32 and is rotatably mounted on an axle 34. The ends of this axle are press fitted in bores in a pair of raised bosses 35 on the outside of the socket element.

Applicator roller 28 has a radial stop 36, and the socket element 24 has a pair of diametrically opposed grooves or recesses 38 for receiving this stop when the roller is in the position of FIGS. 1-3, and a position wherein the roller is rotated approximately 180 from the position illustrated respectively. The end walls of these recesses form stop shoulders engageable by the stop 36 on the roller 28 to limit rotation of the latter to approximately 180. It will be observed that the parts are so proportioned that applicator roller 28 can be inserted into the socket 26 through the inner end of the latter. The recesses 38 open toward this inner end of the socket to permit the roller to be thus inserted through the inner end of the socket and to then enable the roller stop 36 to rotate from one stop shoulder 40 to the other. The recesses 38 should also be open at their ends, of course, to facilitate removal of the molded socket element from the mold cavity.

The surface of applicator roller 28 is recessed in such a way as to form a series of raised, circumferentially spaced ribs 42 on the roller and disposed in planes containing the roller axis 32.

The wall of socket 26, about the opening 30, curves over and is disposed in sealing relation to the applicator roller 28, as shown. The clearance between the curved wall of socket 26 and the surface of the applicator roller, that is the surfaces of the ribs 42, is made sufiicient (on the order of .002 inch) to permit free rotation of the roller and yet prevent cosmetic from squeezing past the roller when the container or tube 22 is compressed. Free rotation of the roller, of course, requires some clearance between the roller and its axle 34. In use, the tube 22 is compressed to force cosmetic therefrom and into contact with the inwardly facing surface of the roller. The resulting pressure of the cosmetic against the roller urges the latter toward the overlying curved wall of the socket 26 to the extent permitted by the slight clearance required between the roller and its axle. This, in turn, decreases the clearance between the roller and socket wall, thereby even more effectively preventing the cosmetic from squeezing past the roller. If any wear occurs between the roller and its axle in use of the applicator, this floating movement of the roller is increased with the result that the roller is urged into more intimate sealing relation with the socket wall as the applicator continues to be used. The ribs 42 on the applicator roller are also spaced so that at least one rib is always aligned with the spherically curved surface of the socket 26 in every angular position of the applicator roller, as is obviously the case in the illustrative applicator, so as to prevent leakage of cosmetic substance past the roller.

Ribs 42, which are on the order of .030 inch high, define therebetween recesses 44 in the surface of the applicator roller. It will be obvious that recesses may be formed in the surface of the applicator roller in other ways, such as by merely forming a plurality of pockets 46 in the surface of the roller, as shown in FIG. 4.

The applicator is completed by a removable cap 48. This cap is removably fixed to the socket element 24 in any convenient way and serves to enclose the exposed portion of the applicator roller when not in use.

In use of the applicator, the applicator roller 28 is first rolled back and forth over the users skin in much the same manner as a conventional roll-on applicator. Simultaneously, the tube 22 is sequeezed slightly to force the cosmetic within the tube into the recesses 44 in the ap plicator roller. As the applicator is moved back and forth in this way, the recesses are filled with cosmetic and are rotated into contact with the skin, the cosmetic within the recesses being deposited on the skin. After a desired quantity of the cosmetic has been applied in this way, the back and forth rolling motion of the applicator roller is discontinued and it is continuously stroked on the skin in one direction.

This action causes the applicator roller to turn to one limit of rotation, after which it remains stationary in its socket and serves to massage the cosmetic into the skin. Since the applicator roller does not turn in its socket, no additional cosmetic is applied to the skin.

It is evident that the same action may be obtained without the stop means 36, 38 by first rolling the applicator roller back and forth over the skin, as described, and then stroking the applicator against the skin in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation 32 of the roller. The applicator roller, of course, will not rotate when stroked against the skin in this latter direction, so that cosmetic may be massaged into the skin without applying any additional cosmetic to the skin.

Reference is now made to FIGS. 58 illustrating a roll-on applicator including a cosmetic container 102 and a cosmetic dispenser 104. on one end of the container. The other end of the container is open and flared slightly to receive a rotatable tapered disc 106. Disc 106 is rotatably retained in the end of the container by a bead 108 on the disc fitting in a groove 110 in the container. Formed on the disc is an exteriorly accessible, serrated rim 112 by which the disc may be turned.

Rigid on thedisc 106 and extending coaxially through the container 102 is a lead screw 114. A diaphragm 116 is threaded on this lead screw. As shown best in FIG. 8, diaphragm 116 comprises a polygonal center portion 118, from the edges of which extend teeth integral with the center portion. The diaphragm has a V groove 122 along the sides of its center portion 118.

Container 102 and diaphragm 116 comprise a molded plastic material, such as polyethylene plastic. The thickness of the diaphragm is somewhat greater than the wall thickness of the container. Also, the center portion 118 of the diaphragm and the individual teeth 120 thereon is cup shaped. The center portion of the diaphragm are, therefore, somewhat stiffer and more rigid than the container. The reduced diaphragm thicknessat the apex of the V groove 122 in the diaphragm, however, forms, in effect, hinge means for the diaphragm teeth 120. The elasticity of the diaphragm material yieldably urges the teeth against the inner surface of the container wall, thereby causing the points of the teeth to bite slightly into the container Wall.

Seating on the upper side of the diaphragm 116 is a resilient plunger 124. This plunger preferably comprises a plastic sponge material, such as a polyurethane foam plastic. Plunger 124 is proportioned to be slightly compressed when it occupies its solid line position of FIG. 5 in the lower end of the container 102 so that the plunger is disposed in sealing relation to the container Wall. Screw 114 passes through and is threadedly engaged with the plunger, as shown.

The resilient contact, discussed above, of the points of the diaphragm teeth 120 with the wall of container 102 is effective to restrain the diaphragm 116 against rotation in the container when the screw 114 is rotated by turning the end disc 106. The frictional contact of the plunger 124 with the container wall and the diaphragm further restrains the diaphragm, as well as the plunger itself, against rotation in the container. Accordingly, the diaphragm 116 and plunger 124 can be advanced toward the dispensing head 104 by rotation of the end disc 106 in the appropriate direction. As will be seen, this upward movement of the plunger forces the cosmetic C from the container 102 into the dispensing head. As will also be seen, the back pressure of the cosmetic on the plunger urges the latter into more intimate sealing relation with the container wall.

In order to facilitate removal of the container 102 from its mold cavity following molding of the container, the latter must have draft. Accordingly, the wall of the container is slightly tapered, as shown. As a result, the diaphragm teeth 102 are bent downwardly and the plunger 124 is placed under slightly increasing radial compression as the diaphragm and plunger approach the upper end of the container. The plunger and diaphragm are thereby more effectively restrained against rotation and the plunger is urged into more intimate sealing relation with the container wall.

The dispensing head 104 is similar to that in the previous applicator and comprises a socket element 126 which is illustratively molded integrally with the container 102. Within a socket 128 in this socket element is an applicator roller 130. Roller 130 is molded from a relatively hard plastic, such as polystyrene plastic. Socket'128 is proportioned to receive the roller through its lower end. The socket wall curves over the roller about the opening 132 in the socket element through which the roller protrudes.

Roller 130 is molded in two halves 130a and 1301) have interfitting annular lips 134, 136 and interfitting hubs 138, 140. The two halves of the roller have interfitting recess and projection means 142 which locate the two halves in a predetermined angular position when they are assembled. After assembly, the two halves of the roller may be cemented together.

At the ends of the applicator roller 130 are axle journals 144 which are rotatably supported in journal bores 146 in the socket element 104. The roller journals 144 have a relatively loose fit in the journal bores 146, as shown, so that the roller can float slightly in the socket 128 in the axial direction of the latter.

Formed in the wall of the socket element 126 are grooves 150 which open at their upper end to the journal bores 146, respectively, and open at their lower end through the lower end of the socket element. As shown best in FIG. 6, grooves 150 taper inwardly as they approach their respective journal bores 146 and to a width which is somewhat less than the diameter of the respective bores. When assembling the applicator roller 130 in its socket 128, the roller is inserted through the lower end of the container to a position in which its journals 144 engage in the lower ends of the tapered grooves Pressure is then exerted on the roller to force its journals through the grooves into the journal bores 146. The walls of the grooves 150, being of a relatively resilient plastic, yield under the pressure of the roller journals thereagainst to permit the journals to be forced through the grooves. When the journals snap into the journal bores, the groove Walls return to their normal positions behind the journals, thereby confining the latter in the journal bores. As an added precaution against the roller journals being forced out of their journal bores by pressure on the exposed portion of the applicator roller, the upper end of the screw 114 is spaced just slightly from the roller to act as a stop for the roller.

Applicator roller 130 is provided with recesses 152 which define circumferentially extending ribs 154 on the roller. As shown best in FIG. 5, the ribs 154 at the two ends of the roller are disposed in sealing relation with the curving end walls of the socket 128. Recesses 152 also define ribs 156 on the applicator roller, in planes containing the axis of the roller, which are disposed in sealing relation to the curving side walls of the socket 128. Since the applicator roller 130 can float slightly in the socket 128, the pressure of the cosmetic C against the roller created by advancing of the plunger 124 toward the dispensing head forces the

roller ribs

154, 156 into sealing contact with the socket walls to prevent the cosmetic from squeezing past the roller. Effective sealing contact of the roller ribs with the socket walls is assured by the fact that the material of the applicator roller is relatively hard while the material of the socket element 126 is relatively resilient, so that the socket walls form fit themselves, as it were, to the applicator roller when the latter is forced against the walls by the pressure of the cosmetic C on the roller, thereby further preventing the cosmetic from squeezing past the roller. In order to lend rigidly to the socket element below the upper curving Walls of its socket 128, the lower, relatively thin walls of the element are formed with interal reinforcing ribs 158 (FIG. 7).

As in the earlier applicator, the applicator roller 130 is formed with a projecting stop 160 which is engageable with stop shoulders 162 in the socket element 126 to limit rotation of the roller.

When not in use, the dispensing head 104 is covered by a flexible plastic cap 164 having a lower internal bead 166 which snaps into an external annular groove 168 in the socket element 126.

In use of the applicator just described, the cap 164 is removed and the disc 106 is turned through a few degrees to force the cosmetic C from the container 102 into socket 128 below the applicator roller 130. The recesses 152 in the roller thereby become filled with cosmetic. The roller is urged into sealing contact with the socket walls by the pressure of the fluid so that no cosmetic squeezes past the roller. The back pressure of the cosmetic on the plunger 124 also compresses the latter, thereby urging the plunger into effective sealing contact with the wall of container 102 to prevent cosmetic from squeezing past the plunger.

The applicator roller is then rolled back and forth over the users skin to apply a quantity of cosmetic to the skin, as in the earlier form of the invention. After the desired quantity of cosmetic has been applied, it is massaged into the skin by repeatedly stroking the roller in one direction over the skin, the roller stop means 160, 162 then preventing the roller from turning to deposit additional" cosmetic.

The aforede'scribed compression of the plunger 124 resulting from turning of the plunger-adjusting disc 106 to force the cosmetic C from the container 102 and against the applicator roller 130 maintains the cosmetic in the applicator under slight pressure and in contact with the applicator roller during several successive uses of the applicator. Thus, each adjustment of the plungeradjusting disc 106 conditions the applicator for several uses. Accordingly, the disc need not be readjusted each time the applicator is used. It is evident from FIG. that plunger 124 may continue to be thus periodically adjusted until it is finally forced against and into substantially conforming relation to the exposed inner half of the applicator roller 130. Accordingly, substantially all of the cosmetic may be dispensed from the container 102.

It will be apparent, therefore, that cosmetic applicators have been described and illustrated which are fully capable of attaining the several objects preliminarily set forth.

While certain preferred embodiments of the invention have been disclosed, numerous modifications in the design and arrangements of parts of the invention are possible within the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. For use in a roll-on cosmetic applicator:

a r-oll-on cosmetic dispensing head having a central passage which opens at one end through one end of said head and terminates at its other end in a curved socket opening to the exterior of said head through a reduced opening in the other end of the head,

an applicator roller within said socket having coaxial journals at opposite ends thereof rotatably fitted in journal recesses in the wall of said head to rotatably support the roller in the socket,

the wall portion of said head about said reduced opening curving over said roller in sealing relation to the surface of the roller and said roller protruding through said opening for rolling contact with the users skin,

said roller having recesses in its surface,

said head having internal, axially extending and tapered grooves opening at their narrow ends to said journal recesses, respectively, and at their wide ends through said one end of said head,

said passage being larger in cross-section than said roller throughout the entire length of the passage from said one end thereof to said socket, whereby said roller is insertable into said socket through said one end of said passage, and

said head comprising a relatively resilient plastic and the width of the narrow ends of said grooves being slightly less than the diameter of said roller journals, whereby the latter may be forced through said grooves into said journal recesses by pressure exerted on said roller and the walls of the narrow ends of thegrooves close behind said journals to retain the latter in said journal recesses.

2. A roll-on cosmetic applicator comprising:

a cosmetic container,

a cosmetic dispensing head on one end of said container having a central passage which opens at one end through one end of said head to the interior of said container and terminates at its other end in a curved socket opening to the exterior of said head through a reduced opening in the other end of the head,

the wall portion of said head about said reduced opening curving over said roller in sealing relation to the surface of the roller and said roller protruding slightly through said opening for rolling contact with the users skin,

said roller having recesses in its surface which becomes filled with cosmetic from the container and carry the cosmetic to the users skin as the roller is over the skin,

said head having internal, tapered, axially extending grooves opening at their narrow end to said journal recesses, respectively, and at their wide end through said one end of said head,

said passage being larger in cross-section than said roller throughout the entire length of the passage from said one end thereof to said socket, whereby said roller is insertable into said socket through said one end of said passage,

said head comprising a relatively resilient plastic and the width of the narrow ends of said grooves being slightly less than the diameter of said roller journals, whereby the latter may be forced through said grooves into said journal recesses by pressure exerted on said roller and the walls of the narrow ends of the grooves close behind said journals to retain the latter in said journal recesses,

a plunger in said container for forcing cosmetic there from against said roller,

a rotary screw extending axially through said container and threadedly engaged with said plunger for ad vancing the latter through said container,

means for turning said screw, and

one end of said screw being located adjacent said roller to act as a stop for the roller to prevent the roller journals from being forced out of their journal recesses.

3. A roll-on cosmetic applicator comprising:

a cosmetic container,

said roller having recesses in its surface which become filled with cosmetic from the container and carry the cosmetic to the users skin as the roller is rolled over the skin,

a plunger in said container for forcing cosmetic therefrom against said roller,

a rotary screw extending axially through said container and threadedly engaged with said plunger for advancing the latter through said container,

means for turning said screw,

one end of said screw being located adjacent said roller to act as a stop for the roller to prevent the roller 9 journals from being forced out of their journal recesses,

a radially projecting stop on one end of said roller,

and

internal stop shoulders on said head at opposite sides of and facing said one end of said passage for engagement by said roller stop to limit rotation of the roller in the socket.

4. A roll-on cosmetic applicator comprising:

a cosmetic container,

a cosmetic dispensing head on one end of said container having an internal socket opening at one end to the interior of the container and at the other end to the exterior of the head through a reduced opening in the head,

an applicator roller in said socket and protruding through said reduced opening for rolling contact with the users skin,

means supporting said roller in said socket for rotation in the socket and for limited floating movement in a transverse direction of said reduced opening into sealing contact with the wall of said head about said opening,

said roller having recesses in its surface which become filled with cosmetic from the container and carry the cosmetic to the users skin as the roller turns in said socket,

a relatively soft, resiliently compliant and compressible,

sponge-like plunger in said container,

screw threaded means acting between said plunger and container and operable exteriorly of said container for moving said plunger through the container toward said roller and restraining said plunger against retrograde movement, thereby to force cosmetic from the container into said roller recesses, and

said plunger being compressed by adjustment of said screw threaded means to pressurize said cosmetic, whereby said plunger is effective to maintain said cosmetic under pressure for several successive uses of the applicator.

5. A cosmetic applicator comprising:

a cosmetic container,

a cosmetic dispensing head on one end of said container including means for dispensing cosmetic from said container onto the users skin,

a screw extending axially through said container,

exteriorly accessible means at the other end of said container for turning said screw,

a relatively rigid member within said container and threaded on said screw, said member including means which frictionally engage the container wall to prevent rotation of said member with said screw,

a relatively soft, resiliently complaint and compressible, sponge-like plunger seating on said member and disposed in sealing relation to said screw and said container wall,

said member and plunger being movable through said container toward said head to force cosmetic from the container into the head by rotation of said screw in one direction, and

said plunger being compressed by adjustment of said screw to pressurize said cosmetic, whereby said plunger is effective to maintain said cosmetic under pressure for several successive uses of the applicator.

6. A cosmetic applicator comprising:

a cosmetic container,

a screw extending axially through said container,

a member within said container and threaded on said screw, the wall of said container being flexible and 10 tapered and said member comprising a relatively rigid center portion and flexible pointed teeth about the edge of said center portion which yieldably engage said container wall to prevent rotation of said member in the container,

a resilient sponge-like plunger seating on said member and disposed in sealing relation to said screw and said container wall, and

said member and plunger being movable thnough said container toward said head to force cosmetic from the container into the head by rotation of said screw in one direction.

7. For use in a roll-on cosmetic applicator:

a roll-on cosmetic dispensing head having a central passage which opens at one end through one end of said head and terminates at its other end in a curved socket in the other end of said head,

an applicator roller positioned in said socket and protruding through a reduced opening in said other end of said head for rolling contact with the users skin,

means rotatably mounting said roller on said head,

the wall of said head about said reduced opening curving over said roller in close proximity to the surface of the roller,

said passage being larger than said roller throughout the entire length of the passage from said one end thereof to said socket, whereby said roller is insertable into said socket through said one end of said passage,

said roller having a radially projecting stop within said socket which is rotatable with the roller across said passage from one side of the latter to the opposite side along a curved path passing between the roller axis and said one end of the passage, and

said head having internal stop shoulders at said sides of said passage and facing said one end of said passage for engagement by said roller stop to limit rotation of said roller in said socket.

8. For use in a roll-on cosmetic applicator:

a roll-on cosmetic dispensing head having a central passage opening at one end through one end of the head and terminating at its other end in a curved socket opening to the exterior of the head through a reduced opening in the other end of the head,

an applicator roller within said socket and protruding through said reduced opening for contact with the users skin,

means rotatably mounting said roller in said socket,

the wall of said head curving over said roller and being disposed in sealing relation to the surface of the roller about said reduced opening,

there being recesses in the surf-ace of said roller,

said head comprising a relatively soft, resilient material and said roller comprising a relatively hard material, and

projecting circular sealing ribs on the ends of said roller about the rotation axis thereof disposed in sealing contact with the opposing wall of said head to prevent leakage of cosmetic between the ends of the roller and the wall of said head.

9. The combination according to claim 4, wherein:

the wall portion of said dispensing head immediately surrounding said reduced opening curves over said applicator roller about the entire periphery of th reduced opening, and

the material of said dispensing head is relatively resiliently compliant and the material of said applicator roller is relatively hard, whereby said surrounding wall portion of said head yields into closely conforming sealing contact with said roller when the latter is forcibly pressed against said wall portion by the pressure of cosmetic in said container.

(References on following page) References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Cramp 15-571 Morin 222-362 X Mathieu et a1 15-558 Carlson 15-571 Philippe 222-386 Faust 15-574 Wilson et a1. 222-536 X Williams 15-571 Hambley 15-571 FOREIGN PATENTS Australia.

France.

Great Britain.

Examiners.

Claims

5. A COSMETIC APPLICATION COMPRISING: A COSMETIC CONTAINER, A COSMETIC DISPENSING HEAD ON ONE END OF SAID CONTAINER INCLUDING MEANS FOR DISPENSING COSMETIC FROM SAID CONTAINER ONTO THE USER''S SKIN, A SCREW EXTENDING AXIALLY THROUGH SAID CONTAINER, EXTERIORLY ACCESSIBLE MEANS AT THE OTHER END OF SAID CONTAINER FOR TURNING SAID SCREW, A RELATIVELY RIGID MEMBER WITHIN SAID CONTAINER AND THREADED ON SAID SCREW, SAID MEMBER INCLUDING MEANS WHICH FRICTIONALLY ENGAGE THE CONTAINER WALL TO PREVENT ROTATION OF SAID MEMBER WITH SAID SCREW, A RELATIVELY SOFT, RESILIENTLY COMPLAINT AND COMPRESSIBLE, SPONGE-LIKE PLUNGER SEATING ON SAID MEMBER AND DISPOSED IN SEALING RELATION TO SAID SCREW AND SAID CONTAINER WALL, SAID MEMBER AND PLUNGER BEING MOVABLE THROUGH SAID CONTAINER TOWARD SAID HEAD TO FORCE COSMETIC FROM THE CONTAINER INTO THE HEAD BY ROTATION OF SAID SCREW IN ONE DIRECTION, AND SAID PLUNGER BEING COMPRESSED BY ADJUSTMENT OF SAID SCREW TO PRESSURIZED SAID COSMETIC, WHEREBY SAID PLUNGER IS EFFECTIVE TO MAINTAIN SAID COSMETIC UNDER PRESSURE FOR SEVERAL SUCCESSIVE USES OF THE APPLICATOR.