Cosmetics container and applicator for one hand operation

A cosmetic container comprising:

• A) an elongated inner body including an end plug at its lower end, the elongated inner body and end plug defining a reservoir for receiving cosmetics and an opening at the upper end of the inner body;
• B) a resilient wiper mounted to the upper end of the inner body and defining a wiper opening from the reservoir, said wiper having an upwardly extending peripheral rim surrounding the wiper opening;
• C) an outer body fitted over the inner body and defining a passage providing access to and from the reservoir and wiper opening, the portion of the outer body surrounding and defining the passage positioned juxtaposed the rim of the flexible wiper;
• D) an applicator slidably mounted in the reservoir for movement between a first mascara loading position within the reservoir and a second use position with the distal end of the applicator extending outwardly through the wiper and passage;
• E) drive means for moving the applicator between its first and second positions, the drive means including a drive belt cable, one end of said drive belt cable being connected to the applicator and the other end of the drive belt cable being connected to one end of a drive belt cover strip, a cover at the other, distal end of the drive belt cover strip said drive belt cover strip being supported in a guide path between the inner body and outer body, and a knob secured to one of the drive belt cable or drive belt cover strip and extending through a slot in the outer body for manual manipulation in a sliding manner;
• F) an end cap on the outer body, the end cap of the outer body and the end plug of the inner body together defining a U-turn guide path at the lower end of the container for directing the drive belt cable into the reservoir, and the end plug of the inner body sealingly passing the drive cable into the reservoir for connection therein to the applicator;
• whereby sliding the knob upwardly simultaneously retracts the applicator from its extended use position and slides the cover to a sealing position between the wiper and the portion of the outer body defining the passage, and sliding the knob downwardly simultaneously withdraws the cover from its sealing position and propels the applicator from the reservoir.