Retractable cosmetic implement with multiple positions

Abstract

A retractable cosmetic implement may be movable between multiple different use positions. In one example, the cosmetic implement may include a housing elongated along a longitudinal axis, a multi-stop positioning mechanism disposed within the housing and a cosmetic element. By actuating the positioning mechanism, the cosmetic element may move through an opening to a partially extended position and/or a fully extended position from a retracted position. The cosmetic element may have a material characteristic, such as a density of bristles, affected by its position relative to a rim of the opening.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A cosmetic implement, comprising:
 a housing extending a length along a longitudinal axis;   a cosmetic element disposed at a first end of the housing;   an actuator disposed at a second end of the housing;   a multi-stop positioning mechanism disposed at least partially in the housing with a shaft extending along the longitudinal axis inside the housing and coupled to the cosmetic implement, the multi-stop positioning mechanism configured to at least partially translate a longitudinal force of the actuator to a rotational force; and   wherein the multi-stop positioning mechanism is configured to move the cosmetic element between a plurality of longitudinal positions.   
     
     
         2 . The cosmetic implement of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of longitudinal positions include at least a position of the cosmetic element inside the housing, outside the housing, and partially outside the housing. 
     
     
         3 . The cosmetic implement of  claim 1 , wherein a density of the cosmetic element is dependent, at least in part, upon a position of the cosmetic element relative to the housing. 
     
     
         4 . The cosmetic implement of  claim 1 , wherein the cosmetic element comprises a plurality of bristles. 
     
     
         5 . The cosmetic implement of  claim 1 , wherein the cosmetic element comprises a flocking. 
     
     
         6 . The cosmetic implement of  claim 1 , wherein the cosmetic element comprises a silicone member. 
     
     
         7 . The cosmetic implement of  claim 1 , wherein the cosmetic element comprises a sponge. 
     
     
         8 . The cosmetic implement of  claim 1 , wherein the multi-stop positioning mechanism comprises a disk having a top surface and a plurality of peaks extending from the top surface, the plurality of peaks configured to engage a plurality of points extending from a bottom surface of the actuator. 
     
     
         9 . The cosmetic implement of  claim 1 , wherein the multi-stop positioning mechanism comprises a disk having a side wall extending between a top surface and a bottom surface, the disk further comprising a plurality of channels formed in said side wall and configured to engage a plurality of channels disposed on an internal surface of the housing. 
     
     
         10 . A cosmetic implement, comprising:
 a housing extending a length along a longitudinal axis;   a cosmetic element disposed at a first end of the housing;   an actuator disposed at a second end of the housing; and   a multi-stop positioning mechanism configured to engage the actuator, the multi-stop positioning mechanism disposed at least partially in the housing with a shaft extending along the longitudinal axis inside the housing and coupled to the cosmetic implement, the multi-stop positioning mechanism configured to at least partially translate a longitudinal force of the actuator to a rotation force configured to move the cosmetic element between a plurality of indexed positions corresponding at least to a first position inside the housing, a second position partially outside the housing, and a third position outside the housing.   
     
     
         11 . The cosmetic implement of  claim 10 , wherein the cosmetic element comprises a plurality of natural bristles, a plurality of synthetic bristles, a flocking, a silicone member, or a sponge. 
     
     
         12 . The cosmetic implement of  claim 10 , wherein the housing comprises a first chamber configured to house at least a portion of the multi-stop positioning mechanism and a second chamber configured to house the cosmetic element. 
     
     
         13 . The cosmetic implement of  claim 12 , wherein the first chamber and second chamber are separated by a partition. 
     
     
         14 . The cosmetic implement of  claim 10 , wherein the multi-stop positioning mechanism comprises a disk having a top surface and a plurality of peaks extending from the top surface, the plurality of peaks configured to engage a plurality of points extending from a bottom surface of the actuator. 
     
     
         15 . The cosmetic implement of  claim 14 , wherein the bottom surface of the actuator further comprises a sloped surface extending from each of the plurality of points. 
     
     
         16 . The cosmetic implement of  claim 10 , wherein the actuator comprises a push-button. 
     
     
         17 . A retractable cosmetic implement comprising:
 a positioning mechanism including a disk coupled to a first end of a shaft and a ferrule coupled to a second end of the shaft, the positioning mechanism configured to translate a longitudinal force applied to an actuator to a rotational movement of the disk;   a housing enclosing the positioning mechanism, the housing having an opening proximal to the second end of the shaft;   a cosmetic element coupled to the ferrule that moves longitudinally through the opening in response to the rotational movement of the disk.   
     
     
         18 . The retractable cosmetic implement of  claim 17 , wherein the actuator includes a bottom surface engaging a plurality of teeth on a top surface of the disk. 
     
     
         19 . The retractable cosmetic implement of  claim 17 , wherein the opening of the housing is configured to at least partially compact the cosmetic element when the cosmetic element is partially extended through the opening. 
     
     
         20 . The retractable cosmetic implement of  claim 17 , wherein the applicator comprises:
 a plurality of natural bristles, a plurality of synthetic bristles, a flocking, a silicone member, or a sponge.