Intellectual Property Holding Co.

Maybelline, Inc.

Maybelline Intermediate Corp.

Doug M Lund

John M Ford

Tammye L Byars

John F McAllister

Bernard M O'Brien

Stephen J Morgan

J Richard Cox

Nicolas D Pattison

The invention comprises a transparent, molded undercap which fits over the open end of a lipstick type case from which a lipstick or other similar waxy mass is propelled and which engages the shoulder of the case normally engaged by the lipstick cap when it is in place. The undercap is sized to fit snuggly within the lipstick cap yet permit the cap to be removed while the undercap remains in place over the lipstick. Preferably, the open end of the undercap has a size and shape which is substantially identical to that of the cap so as to form an even closure with the lipstick case whereby a tamper indicating or resistant means, such as an adhesive tape or a shrink band, may be applied across the juncture between the undercap and the case to secure the undercap in place and seal the lipstick. In this manner, the lipstick cap may be removed from the lipstick case to view the lipstick while the undercap remains in place to protect the lipstick. When the lipstick case has a polygonal cross section, molding the undercap to fit the lipstick case also serves to prevent actuation of the propelling mechanism, even when the lipstick cap is removed, since it resists the relative rotation of the lipstick case and the lipstick tube which normally actuates the propelling mechanism. Alternatively, the case and undercap may be provided with other means, such as cooperating detents, whereby actuation of the propelling mechanism is prevented.

Protective undercap and method

Bottle

An improved applicator for soft materials includes a cartridge section and a relatively rotatable body section, the soft material being contained within the cartridge section and a plunger being provided to advance the soft material. The improvement resides in providing an assembly within the applicator body to prevent the inadvertent separation of the cartridge section from the body section. In a preferred embodiment, this assembly comprises a clutch means between the rotatable body section and the plunger whereby rotation of the body is transmitted to the plunger to advance and retract the plunger and associated soft material, the clutch means being designed so as to disengage before the plunger is retracted to the point at which it would forcibly separate the cartridge from the body.

Applicator for soft materials

Growing community of inventors

Memphis, TN, United States of America

Doug M Lund