Interactive mascara brush

Abstract

A mascara applicator ( 50 ) comprising: a handle end portion ( 20 ); an opposite bristle/brush end portion ( 90 ); and a button ( 30 ) positioned on the handle end portion ( 20 ) which when radially depressed causes the bristles to move with respect to the applicator ( 50 ), so that one may hold the handle end portion ( 20 ) and depress the button ( 30 ) with a single hand to apply mascara.

I claim:  
     
       1. A mascara applicator of the type having a handle end portion and an opposite bristle end portion having bristles, wherein the improvement comprises: 
       a button/slide positioned on the handle end portion which when radially  depressed causes the bristles to move with respect to the applicator, so that one may hold the handle end portion and depress the button/slide with a single hand to apply mascara.  
     
     
       2. An applicator as in  claim 1  wherein the button/slide is biased to a raised position and wherein the bristles are additionally moved when the button moves from a depressed position to a raised position. 
     
     
       3. An applicator as in claim  2   1 wherein there are two buttons/slides, which are generally opposite each other, so that the buttons/slides are depressed when said button/slides are squeezed together. 
     
     
       4. An applicator as in  claim 3  wherein the interior portions of the buttons/slides comprise a cam which contacts a cam follower end of a sliding rod configured so that when the buttons/slides are depressed the rod slides within the applicator. 
     
     
       5. An applicator as in  claim 4  wherein the bristles are configured so that said bristles move when the buttons/slides are depressed and the rod slides. 
     
     
       6. An applicator as in claim  5   3 configured so that when the buttons/slides are depressed the rod slides towards the bristle end portion of the applicator and the bristles are separated. 
     
     
       7. An applicator as in claim  6   1 wherein the bristles are arranged on an expandable sleeve. 
     
     
       8. An applicator as in  claim 4  wherein an end of the sliding rod, opposite the cam follower end portion, comprises a piston which moves a gel which causes the bristles to move. 
     
     
       9. An applicator as in claim  2   1 wherein an interior portion of the button comprises a rack which rotates a longitudinal rod carrying a pinion when the button/slide is depressed. 
     
     
       10. An applicator as in  claim 8  wherein the bristles are rotated when the rod is rotated. 
     
     
       11. An applicator as in  claim 5  configured so that when the buttons/slides are depressed the rod slides towards the handle end portion of the applicator and the bristles are squeezed together. 
     
     
       12. An applicator as in  claim 11  further comprising a third button/slide having an interior having an interior portion comprising a rack and wherein the rod carries an elongated pinion, arranged so that when the third button/slide is depressed the rod is caused to rotate. 
     
     
       13. An applicator as in proclaim  claim  12  wherein the bristles are squeezed together when the opposite buttons/slides are depressed and wherein the bristles are rotated when the third button/slide is depressed. 
     
     
       14. A mascara applicator comprising: 
       (a) a housing;  
       (b) an actuator carried by the housing and depressible transversely of the housing;  
       (c) a rod longitudinally disposed within the housing and extending therefrom;  
       (d) means interconnecting the actuator and the rod for translating transverse movement of the actuator into movement of the rod; and,  
       (e) bristles coupled to the rod. 
     
     
       15. The applicator of  claim 14  further including biasing means positioned to oppose depression of the actuator. 
     
     
       16. The applicator of  claim 15  wherein the biasing means includes a spring. 
     
     
       17. The applicator of  claim 15  wherein the biasing means bears against the housing. 
     
     
       18. The applicator of  claim 14  wherein the means for translating transverse movement of the actuator includes: 
       (a) a cam follower affixed to the rod; and,  
       (b) a cam extension affixed to the actuator and positioned to engage the cam follower up depression of the actuator causing longitudinal movement of the rod. 
     
     
       19. The applicator of  claim 14  wherein the means for translating transverse movement of the actuator includes: 
       (a) a pinion affixed to the rod; and,  
       (b) a rack extension affixed to the actuator and positioned to engage the pinion upon depression of the actuator causing rotational movement of the rod. 
     
     
       20. The applicator of  claim 14  further including an expandable sleeve affixed to the housing and engaging the rod, wherein the bristles are embedded in the expandable sleeve. 
     
     
       21. The applicator of  claim 20  further including: 
       (a) a piston within the housing and engaging the rod; and,  
       (b) a fluid within the housing and the expandable sleeve, the fluid providing communication between the piston and the expandable sleeve. 
     
     
       22. A movement mechanism in a mascara applicator having a housing, a rod disposed within the housing and extending therefrom, and bristles coupled to the rod, the movement mechanism comprising: 
       (a) an actuator carried by the housing and depressible transversely of the housing; and,  
       (b) means interconnecting the actuator and the rod for translating transverse movement of the actuator into movement of the rod. 
     
     
       23. The movement mechanism of  claim 22  further including biasing means positioned to oppose depression of the actuator. 
     
     
       24. The movement mechanism of  claim 23  wherein the biasing means includes a spring. 
     
     
       25. The movement mechanism of  claim 23  wherein the biasing means bears against the housing. 
     
     
       26. The movement mechanism of  claim 22  wherein the means for translating transverse movement of the actuator includes: 
       (a) a cam follower affixed to the rod; and,  
       (b) a cam extension affixed to the actuator and positioned to engage the cam follower upon depression of the actuator causing longitudinal movement of the rod. 
     
     
       27. The movement mechanism of  claim 22  wherein the means for translating transverse movement of the actuator includes: 
       (a) a pinion affixed to the rod; and,  
       (b) a rack extension affixed to the actuator and positioned to engage the pinion upon depression of the actuator causing rotational movement of the rod. 
     
     
       28. The movement mechanism of  claim 22  further including an expandable sleeve affixed to the housing and engaging the rod, wherein the bristles are embedded in the expandable sleeve. 
     
     
       29. The movement mechanism of  claim 28  further including: 
       (a) a piston within the housing and engaging the rod; and,  
       (b) a fluid within the housing and the expandable sleeve, the fluid providing communication between the piston and the expandable sleeve.