1. An apparatus for sanitizing a point-of-contact surface, comprising:
a housing configured to be affixed about at least a portion of said point-of-contact surface, having an interior in or through which said point-of-contact surface may be accessed and an anterior opening for access to said interior; and
one or more sources of a sanitizing agent configured to direct said sanitizing agent toward a location where at least a portion of said point-of-contact surface may be disposed.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, said housing further comprising an inner surface configured to reflect said sanitizing agent toward a location where at least a portion of said point-of-contact surface may be disposed.
3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said inner surface is substantially cylindrical.
4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a protective screen configured to separate at least one of said sources of a sanitizing agent from a central portion of said interior in or through which said point-of-contact surface may be accessed.
5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said protective screen is substantially cylindrical.
6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:
a posterior opening through which at least a portion of said point-of-contact surface may extend into said interior; and
a posterior surface configured to reflect said sanitizing agent toward a location where at least a portion of said point-of-contact surface may be disposed.
7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an anterior dome configured to reflect said sanitizing agent toward a location where at least a portion of said point-of-contact surface may be disposed.
8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising one or more attachment structures for affixing said housing about at least a portion of said point-of-contact surface.
9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of said one or more sources of a sanitizing agent is a source of germicidal ultraviolet (UV) light.
10. A system for sanitizing a point-of-contact surface, comprising:
an apparatus configured to be affixed about at least a portion of said point-of-contact surface, comprising one or more sources of a sanitizing agent and having at least a first operating state in which said apparatus directs a first amount of said sanitizing agent toward said surface and a second operating state in which said apparatus directs a second amount of said sanitizing agent toward said surface; and
a switch configured to change the operating state of said apparatus.
11. The system of claim 10, wherein said switch comprises a motion sensor.
12. The system of claim 10, wherein said switch comprises a manual switch.
13. The system of claim 10, wherein said switch comprises a remote activation system comprising:
a remote control; and
a receiver coupled with said apparatus and responsive to said remote control.
14. The system of claim 10, wherein said switch comprises a timer.
15. The system of claim 10, wherein at least one of said one or more sources of a sanitizing agent is a source of germicidal ultraviolet (UV) light.
16. A system for sanitizing a point-of-contact surface, comprising:
an apparatus comprising:
a housing configured to be affixed about at least a portion of said point-of-contact surface, having an interior in or through which said point-of-contact surface may be accessed and an anterior opening for access to said interior; and
one or more sources of a sanitizing agent;
wherein said apparatus has at least a first operating state in which said apparatus directs a first amount of said sanitizing agent toward a location where at least a portion of said point-of-contact surface may be disposed and a second operating state in which said apparatus directs a second amount of said sanitizing agent toward said location; and
a switch configured to change the operating state of said apparatus.
17. The system of claim 16, wherein said switch comprises a motion sensor.
18. The system of claim 17, wherein said switch further comprises a timer.
19. The system of claim 18, wherein at least one of said one or more sources of a sanitizing agent is a source of germicidal ultraviolet (UV) light.
20. The system of claim 19, wherein said apparatus further comprises a protective screen configured to divide said interior into a first compartment in which at least one of said one or more sources of a sanitizing agent is disposed, and a second compartment in or through which said opening device may be accessed.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. An applicator for applying a cosmetic composition comprising:
an applicator element comprising a first portion having an outer surface and a second portion having an outer surface, wherein the outer surfaces of said first and second portions are separatable from one another and capable of moving independently from one another.
2. The applicator according to claim I, wherein said applicator element is elongated along a longitudinal axis.
3. The applicator according to claim 1, wherein said first portion is capable of moving independently from said second portion along said longitudinal axis.
4. The applicator according to claim 1, wherein said applicator element has a substantially cylindrical, rectangular, obloid, conical, spherical, prismatic, or lemniscoid shape.
5. The applicator according to claim I, wherein said first andor second portions of said applicator element comprise a textured surface for holding a charge of cosmetic composition and transferring it to an integument on contact therewith.
6. The applicator according to claim 5, wherein said textured surface is independently selected from the group consisting of bristles, projections, indentations, fins, tines, velcro, teeth, grooves, sponges, foam, flocked surfaces, and smooth surfaces.
7. The applicator according to claim 6, wherein said first portion of said applicator element comprises a textured surface composed of a plurality of bristles from the surface of said applicator element.
8. The applicator according to claim 1, further comprising:
a handle fixed to said first portion of said applicator element, such that said first portion cannot move in a longitudinal direction with respect to said handle.
9. The applicator according to claim I, further comprising:
a handle fixed to said second portion of said applicator element, such that said second portion cannot move in a longitudinal direction with respect to said handle.
10. The applicator according to claim 8, wherein said handle portion comprises a cap capable of being reversibly secured to a container of cosmetic composition and further comprises a rod secured to said cap at one end thereof and secured to said first portion of said applicator element at the other end thereof.
11. The applicator according to claim 10, wherein said cap comprises a trip mechanism that actuates said second portion when said cap is engaged with said container.
12. The applicator according to claim 8, further comprising:
an actuating mechanism disposed on or in said handle portion for moving said second portion along said longitudinal axis.
13. The applicator according to claim 9, wherein said handle portion comprises a cap capable of being reversibly secured to a container of cosmetic composition and further comprises a rod secured to said cap at one end thereof and secured to said second portion of said applicator element at the other end thereof.
14. The applicator according to claim 13, wherein said cap comprises a trip mechanism that actuates said first portion when said cap is engaged with said container.
15. The applicator according to claim 9, further comprising:
an actuating mechanism disposed on or in said handle portion for moving said first portion along said longitudinal axis.
16. The applicator according to claim 1, wherein said second portion of said applicator element comprises at least a portion of the terminal end of said applicator element.
17. The applicator according to claim 1, wherein said second portion of said applicator element comprises the terminal end of said applicator element.
18. The applicator according to claim 1, wherein said first portion of said applicator element comprises a cut-away therein suitably shaped to receive said second portion of said applicator element.
19. The applicator according to claim 18, wherein said first and second portions together form a substantially uniform cross-sectional profile of said applicator element.
20. The applicator according to claim 1, wherein said second portion of said applicator element is coaxial with said first portion of said applicator element.
21. A cosmetic product comprising the applicator according to claim 8 and a container charged with a cosmetic composition to which said cap is capable of being reversibly secured, said container being configured to receive said applicator element when inserted into said container, and a wiper attached to said container for removing excess cosmetic composition from said first portion andor said second portion of said applicator element upon removal of the applicator from the reservoir.
22. A cosmetic product comprising the applicator according to claim 9 and a container charged with a cosmetic composition to which said cap is capable of being reversibly secured, said container being configured to receive said applicator element when inserted into said container, and a wiper attached to said container for removing excess cosmetic composition from said first portion andor said second portion of said applicator element upon removal of the applicator from the reservoir.
23. The cosmetic product according to claim 21, wherein said cosmetic composition is an eyelash composition, lip composition or eyelid composition.
24. The cosmetic product according to claim 21, wherein said wiper comprises an annular constriction in the opening of said container.
25. The cosmetic product according to claim 21, wherein said wiper is dimensioned to remove said cosmetic composition from said first and second applicator element portions when said applicator is removed from the container.
26. An applicator for applying a cosmetic composition comprising:
a first applicator element elongated along a longitudinal axis, said first applicator element having an outer surface, and
a second applicator element disposed within and coaxial to said first applicator element, said second applicator element having an outer surface,
wherein the outer surfaces of said first and second applicator elements are separatable from one another and capable of moving independently from one another along said longitudinal axis.
27. The applicator according to claim 25, wherein said second applicator element comprises a cosmetic pencil or a brush, which is in contact with at least one outer surface of said first applicator element when said second application element is in a fully retracted position.