System and method for refilling cosmetic packaging with porous applicator

Abstract

A packaging, including a porous applicator, a porous reservoir in contact with the porous applicator at an interface, and a refill component. The refill component includes an insert configured to surround the porous applicator, a pintle that extends from the interface between the porous applicator and the porous reservoir through the porous applicator and towards an application surface of the porous applicator, and a deformable arm connecting the insert with the pintle, where the deformable arm is configured to deform from a first state to a second state.

1 . A packaging comprising:
 a porous applicator;   a porous reservoir in contact with the porous applicator at an interface; and   a refill component, including:
 an insert configured to surround the porous applicator 
 a pintle that extends from the interface between the porous applicator and the porous reservoir through the porous applicator and towards an application surface of the porous applicator; and 
 a deformable arm connecting the insert with the pintle, wherein the deformable arm is configured to deform from a first state to a second state. 
   
     
     
         2 . The packaging of  claim 1 , further comprising a jar configured to hold the porous reservoir, wherein the insert is configured to secure the porous applicator into the jar. 
     
     
         3 . The packaging of  claim 1 , wherein the deformable arm is a first deformable arm, and the refill system further comprises a second deformable arm. 
     
     
         4 . The packaging of  claim 3 , wherein the first deformable arm is disposed 180 degrees from the second deformable arm. 
     
     
         5 . The packaging of  claim 3 , wherein the first deformable arm and the second deformable arm are angled to form a bi-arm spring. 
     
     
         6 . The packaging of  claim 3 , wherein the refill system further comprises a third deformable arm. 
     
     
         7 . The packaging of  claim 6 , wherein the first deformable arm, the second deformable arm, and the third deformable arm are disposed equidistant from one another. 
     
     
         8 . The packaging of  claim 1 , wherein the porous applicator comprises a recess configured to hold the deformable arm, so that when deformable arm is in the first state, the deformable arm is flush with the porous applicator. 
     
     
         9 . The packaging of  claim 1 , wherein the packaging further comprises a gap between the application surface of the porous applicator and an end of the pintle. 
     
     
         10 . The packaging of  claim 1 , wherein an end of the pintle is flush with the application surface of the porous applicator. 
     
     
         11 . The packaging of  claim 1 , wherein the porous applicator and the porous reservoir are configured to transfer a formulation between the porous applicator and the porous reservoir through capillary action. 
     
     
         12 . The packaging of  claim 2 , wherein the porous reservoir forms a pocket when the porous reservoir is inside the jar. 
     
     
         13 . The packaging of  claim 1 , wherein the pintle tapers in the direction of the application surface of the porous applicator. 
     
     
         14 . A system for refilling a packaging, the system comprising:
 the packaging of  claim 1 ;   a formulation; and   a container configured to hold the formulation.   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the container is configured to apply pressure to the pintle, and wherein applying pressure to the pintle deforms the deformable arm from the first state to the second state. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein deforming the deformable arm from the first state to the second state forms a cavity in the porous reservoir, and wherein the container is further configured to allow for formulation to flow over the pintle and into the cavity. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein when the deformable arm returns to the first state, the porous reservoir is filled with the formulation. 
     
     
         18 . A method of refilling a packaging with the system of  claim 13 , wherein the method comprises:
 applying pressure to the pintle with the container holding the formulation;   deforming the deformable arm from a first state to a second state, wherein deforming the deformable arm from the first state to the second state forms a cavity in the porous reservoir,   filling the cavity with the formulation; and   removing pressure from the pintle, so that the deformable arm returns to the first state, wherein when the deformable arm returns to the first state, the formulation flows from the cavity to the porous reservoir.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the porous reservoir is located inside a jar, and the porous reservoir comprises a groove configured to accommodate the formulation. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the method further comprises transferring the formulation from the porous reservoir to the porous applicator with capillary action.