Mascara Applicator

Abstract

Implementations described herein provide an apparatus and a method for applying mascara with a mascara applicator assembly. The mascara applicator assembly has a body. The body has an inner volume configured to accept mascara product. A stem is coupled to the body. The stem has a passage and one or more apertures. The one or more apertures extend through the stem and into the passage. A brush is disposed on a distal end of the stem and has a dispensing region and an application region. The dispensing region has bristle fibers arranged in an orientation different than the bristle fibers disposed in the application region.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A mascara applicator assembly, comprising:
 a base including a body having an inner volume configured to accept mascara product;   a stem coupled to the body, the stem having a passage and one or more apertures, the one or more apertures extending through the stem and into the passage;   a brush disposed on a distal end of the stem and having a dispensing region and an application region, said dispensing region being positioned to receive product exiting the apertures; and   a cap comprising a cleaner configured to engage the brush when the cap is disposed on the body, the cleaner comprising a wiper sealing pad,   wherein the cap is keyed with the base to align the cleaner therein with the brush so that the cleaner properly engages the brush and the wiper sealing pad aligns with the apertures thereby cleaning and sealing the apertures.   
     
     
         2 . The mascara applicator assembly of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a mascara product container disposed in the inner volume of the body, the mascara product container having a valve; and 
 an actuator operable to cause the valve to change between open and closed states. 
 
     
     
         3 . The mascara applicator assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the actuator is operable to displace the mascara product container relative to the body. 
     
     
         4 . The mascara applicator assembly according to any one of  claims 1 - 3 , wherein the cleaner further comprises one or more of the following elements selected from: a wiper having one or more wiper blades, one or more waste chambers and a pin. 
     
     
         5 . The mascara applicator assembly according to any one of  claims 1 - 4 , wherein the cleaner comprises a wiper having one or more wiper blades, one or more waste chambers, and said wiper sealing pad. 
     
     
         6 . The mascara applicator assembly according to any one of  claims 1 - 5 , wherein the dispensing region having bristle fibers arranged in an orientation different than the bristle fibers disposed in the application region. 
     
     
         7 . The mascara applicator assembly according to any one of  claims 1 - 6 , wherein the brush further comprises:
 a brush core disposed on the stem;   a first row of bristle fibers extending from the brush core having first tips, the first row of bristle fibers defining one side of the dispensing region; and   a second row of bristle fibers extending from the brush core having second tips, the second row of bristle fibers defining another side of the dispensing region, wherein apertures formed through the stem are aligned between the first row of bristle fibers and the second row of bristle fibers.   
     
     
         8 . The mascara applicator assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the first tips of the first row of bristle fibers and the second tips of the second row of bristle fibers converge. 
     
     
         9 . The mascara applicator assembly according to  claim 7  or  8 , wherein the first row of bristle fibers is parallel with the second row of bristle fibers. 
     
     
         10 . The mascara applicator assembly according to any one of  claims 1 - 9 , wherein the stem comprises a plurality of apertures. 
     
     
         11 . The mascara applicator assembly of  claim 10 , wherein a diameter of a first aperture of the plurality of apertures formed through the stem is different than a diameter of a second aperture of the plurality of apertures. 
     
     
         12 . A method for applying mascara comprising:
 dispensing mascara product from a container disposed in a base of a mascara applicator assembly;   flowing the mascara product through one or more apertures formed in the mascara applicator assembly into a dispensing region defined in a mascara brush;   expanding the mascara product to foam in the dispensing region of the mascara brush; and   moving the foamed mascara product to an application portion of the mascara brush;   keying a cap comprising a cleaner therein with the base to align the cap with the mascara brush so that the cleaner properly engages the mascara brush and a wiper sealing pad aligns with the apertures thereby cleaning and sealing the apertures.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising:
 capturing the foaming mascara leaving the apertures with a first row of brush bristles and a second row of brush bristles flanking the apertures and forming the dispensing region. 
 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12  or  13 , wherein flowing the mascara product into the dispensing region comprises:
 displacing the container to cause a valve coupled to the container to release a dose of mascara product. 
 
     
     
         15 . The method according to any one of  claims 12 - 14  further comprising:
 inserting a pin into the stem a distance sufficient to block the apertures. 
 
     
     
         16 . A mascara applicator assembly, comprising:
 a base including a body;   a stem coupled to the body at a first end and the stem coupled to a brush at a second end, the brush having a dispensing region and an application region, said dispensing region being positioned to receive product exiting apertures;   a cap comprising:
 a cleaner configured to engage the brush when the cap is disposed on the body wherein said cleaner comprises a wiper having one or more wiper blades, one or more waste chambers, and a wiper sealing pad wherein the cap is keyed with the base to align the cleaner therein with the brush so that the cleaner properly engages the brush and the wiper sealing pad aligns with the apertures thereby cleaning and sealing the apertures. 
   
     
     
         17 . The mascara applicator assembly of  claim 16  wherein the cleaner further comprises:
 a pin.