# US 10,477,945 B2 · Gel cosmetic applicator > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,477,945 B2 - Document ID: US10477945B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/902,450 - Filed: 2018-02-22 - Published: 2018-06-28 - Granted: 2019-11-19 - Earliest claimed: 2014-02-25 - Assignees: Hct Group Holdings Limited - Applicants: Hct Group Holdings Limited - Inventors: Denis Pierre Maurin; Nicholas Gardner; Armando Villarreal - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10477945B2 ## CPC - A45D 40/262: {using a brush or the like} - A45D 34/04: Appliances specially adapted for applying liquid, e.g. using roller or ball - A45D 34/042: {using a brush or the like} - A45D 40/26: Appliances specially adapted for applying pasty paint, e.g. using roller, using a ball - A45D 2200/1009: Applicators comprising a pad, tissue, sponge, or the like - A45D: HAIRDRESSING OR SHAVING EQUIPMENT (wigs, toupees or the like A41G3/00, A41G5/00; hairdressers' chairs A47C1/04; hair cutting appliances, razors B26B); EQUIPMENT FOR COSMETICS OR COSMETIC TREATMENTS, e.g. FOR MANICURING OR PEDICURING ## Abstract Cosmetics packaging and applicators including a gel based tip are described. Gel applicators may or may not be provided with a through-hole. In various embodiments, the gel may be a stand-alone gel or may be encapsulated in a membrane. The gel applicator provides a soft feel and may have cooling effect as well. In some embodiments, the applicator is mounted to a platform or a hollow insert and coupled to a container housing the cosmetics product. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A cosmetic applicator comprising: an applicator body formed from a first material encapsulated by a second material, wherein the first material is a gel material, the applicator body defining an application surface for applying cosmetics, wherein the gel material has a hardness of 90 or less on a Shore 000 scale; and an insert including a first end disposed within the gel material and a second end extending out of the gel material, the second end configured for coupling to a product reservoir. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The cosmetic applicator of claim 1, wherein the gel material has a hardness of 10 or less on the Shore 000 scale. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The cosmetic applicator of claim 2, wherein the gel material has a hardness 1 or less on the Shore 000 scale. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The cosmetic applicator of claim 1, wherein the applicator body defines a through hole. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The cosmetic applicator of claim 1, wherein the second material is thermoplastic, metal, foam, or a gel of different hardness than the first material. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The cosmetic applicator of claim 1, wherein the applicator body is a flow-through applicator. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The cosmetic applicator of claim 1, further comprising a housing including a product reservoir, the housing coupled to the second end of the insert. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The cosmetic applicator of claim 7, wherein the housing is a bottle, tottle, tube, container, or click pen. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The cosmetic applicator of claim 1, wherein the first end of the insert includes a flange configured to provide a snap fit or friction fit to connect the insert to the applicator body. ### Claim 10 A cosmetic applicator comprising: a product reservoir; an applicator body formed from a first material encapsulated by a second material, wherein the first material is a gel material, the applicator body defining an application surface for applying cosmetics, wherein the gel material has a hardness of 90 or less on a Shore 000 scale; and an insert including a first end disposed within the applicator body and a second end coupling the applicator body to the product reservoir. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The cosmetic applicator of claim 10, wherein the insert couples to the product reservoir with a snap-fit, adhesive fit, friction fit, or threaded connection. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The cosmetic applicator of claim 10, wherein the applicator body defines a product pathway extending at least partway between the product reservoir and the application surface. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The cosmetic applicator of claim 12, wherein the product pathway extends only a portion of the way between the product reservoir and the application surface. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The cosmetic applicator of claim 12, wherein the insert defines at least a portion of the product pathway. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The cosmetic applicator of claim 10, wherein the insert and the product reservoir are co-molded as a single integral piece. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The cosmetic applicator of claim 10, wherein the gel material has a hardness of 10 or less on the Shore 000 scale. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The cosmetic applicator of claim 16, wherein the gel material has a hardness 1 or less on the Shore 000 scale. ### Claim 18 (depends on 10) The cosmetic applicator of claim 10, wherein the first end of the insert includes a flange configured to provide a snap fit or friction fit to connect the insert to the applicator body. ### Claim 19 (depends on 10) The cosmetic applicator of claim 10, wherein the second material is thermoplastic, metal, foam, or a gel of different hardness than the first material. ### Claim 20 (depends on 10) The cosmetic applicator of claim 10, wherein the second material is a membrane.