Cosmetic applicator

Abstract

A molded applicator is provided. The applicator includes a molded core having a number of application elements provided thereon. The molded core has a number of troughs and crests disposed in an alternate manner with respect to each other on two opposite sides of a longitudinal axis of the applicator. Further, the applicator head includes a number of application elements provided on a surface of each of the troughs and the crests on the molded core.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An applicator for applying a cosmetic or care product to eyelashes and/or eyebrows comprising:
 a stem having a proximal end and a distal end;   a handle attached at the proximal end of the stem and an applicator head attached at the distal end of the stem;   wherein the applicator head extends along a longitudinal axis;   wherein the applicator head comprises a molded core and a plurality of application elements are provided on the molded core;   wherein the molded core comprises at least four faces including a first face, a second face, a third face and a fourth face;   wherein the second face is opposite to the first face and the fourth face is opposite to the third face;   wherein the molded core comprises a plurality of troughs disposed alternately on the first face and the second face;   wherein the molded core includes a plurality of crests disposed alternately with respect to the plurality of troughs on each of the first face and the second face;   wherein each of the plurality of troughs on the first face has a corresponding crest on the second face of the molded core and vice versa;   wherein each of the plurality of troughs and the plurality of crests extend in the molded core in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis;   wherein each of the plurality of crests includes a flat top surface having at least four sides comprising a first side opposite and equal in length to a second side, and a third side opposite and equal in length to a fourth side;   wherein the first side is longer in length as compared to length of the third side; and   wherein the first side is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the applicator head and the third side is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the applicator head.   
     
     
         2 . The applicator according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of troughs is disposed such that the plurality of troughs does not intersect the longitudinal axis at any point along a length of the molded core. 
     
     
         3 . The applicator according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of application elements extend perpendicularly away from the longitudinal axis of the applicator head. 
     
     
         4 . The applicator according to  claim 1 , wherein the applicator head comprises at least two rows of application elements disposed in an alternating manner on the molded core. 
     
     
         5 . The applicator according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of application elements are selected from a group consisting of tines, bristles, projections, indentations and flocked surfaces. 
     
     
         6 . The applicator according to  claim 3 , wherein the plurality of application elements are disposed on the plurality of troughs and the plurality of crests. 
     
     
         7 . The applicator according to  claim 1 , wherein each of at least one adjacent crest and trough on the first face and the second face of the core comprises at least six application elements. 
     
     
         8 . The applicator according to  claim 7 , wherein the at least six application elements on the at least one adjacent crest and trough are of equal length. 
     
     
         9 . The applicator according to  claim 1 , wherein free ends of the plurality of application elements form an envelope replicating contour of the molded core. 
     
     
         10 . The applicator according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of application elements on at least one of the at least four faces of the molded core are disposed in parallel rows and extend in parallel directions. 
     
     
         11 . The applicator according to  claim 1 , wherein the third face and the fourth face are free of application elements. 
     
     
         12 . An applicator for applying a cosmetic or care product to eyelashes and/or eyebrows comprising:
 a stem having a proximal end and a distal end;   a handle attached at the proximal end of the stem and an applicator head attached at the distal end of the stem;   wherein the applicator head comprises a molded core and a plurality of application elements are provided on the molded core;   wherein the molded core comprises at least four faces including a first face, a second face, a third face and a fourth face;   wherein the second face is opposite to the first face and the fourth face is opposite to the third face;   wherein the molded core comprises a plurality of troughs disposed alternately on the first face and the second face;   wherein the molded core includes a plurality of crests disposed alternately with respect to the plurality troughs on each of the first face and the second face of the molded core;   wherein each of the plurality of troughs on the first face has a corresponding crest on the second face of the molded core and vice versa;   wherein the plurality of troughs and the plurality of crests undulate in a longitudinal direction of the molded core;   wherein the plurality of troughs and the plurality of crests extend in transverse direction of the molded core;   wherein the plurality of application elements are disposed on the first face and the second face;   wherein the third face and the fourth face are free of application elements.   
     
     
         13 . The applicator according to  claim 12 , wherein each of the plurality of troughs is disposed on the molded core such that the plurality of troughs does not intersect a central longitudinal axis of the molded core at any point along a length of the molded core. 
     
     
         14 . The applicator according to  claim 12 , wherein the plurality of application elements extend perpendicularly away from a longitudinal axis of the applicator head. 
     
     
         15 . The applicator according to  claim 12 , wherein width of the first face is equal to width of the second face and width of the third face is equal to width of the fourth face; and wherein width of the first face is more than the width of the third face. 
     
     
         16 . The applicator according to  claim 12 , wherein each of at least one adjacent crest and trough on each of the first face and the second face of the core comprises at least six application elements. 
     
     
         17 . The applicator according to  claim 16 , wherein the at least six application elements on each of the at least one adjacent crest and trough are of equal length. 
     
     
         18 . The applicator according to  claim 12 , wherein the plurality of application elements on at least one of the at least four faces of the molded core are disposed in parallel rows and extend in parallel directions. 
     
     
         19 . An applicator for applying a cosmetic or care product to eyelashes and/or eyebrows comprising:
 a stem having a proximal end and a distal end;   a handle attached at the proximal end of the stem and an applicator head attached at the distal end of the stem;   wherein the applicator head extends along a longitudinal axis;   wherein the applicator head comprises a molded core and a plurality of application elements are provided on the molded core;   wherein the molded core comprises at least four faces including a first face, a second face, a third face and a fourth face;   wherein the second face is opposite to the first face and the fourth face is opposite to the third face;   wherein width of the first face is equal to width of the second face and width of the third face is equal to width of the fourth face;   wherein width of the first face is more than the width of the third face;   wherein the molded core comprises a plurality of troughs disposed alternately on the first face and the second face;   wherein the molded core includes a plurality of crests disposed alternately with respect to the plurality troughs on each of the first face and the second face of the molded core; and   wherein each of the plurality of troughs on the first face has a corresponding crest on the second face of the molded core and vice versa;   wherein the plurality of troughs and the plurality of crests undulate in a longitudinal direction of the molded core; and   wherein the plurality of troughs and the plurality of crests extend in the molded core in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.   
     
     
         20 . The applicator according to  claim 19 , wherein each of the plurality of crests includes a flat top surface having at least four sides comprising a first side opposite and equal in length to a second side, and a third side opposite and equal in length to a fourth side; and wherein the first side is longer in length as compared to length of the third side.