The present invention relates to a face painting device.
Face paints are traditionally supplied in pots containing a single coloured face paint or in pallets containing a number of different coloured face paints. These paints are typically applied to the face using a brush, sponge or simply a finger.
During international or national sporting competitions such as the Olympic games, FIFA World Cup™ or FA Cup, it is common for supporters to paint their faces in their national or club colours, often in the form of a number of different coloured stripes. For traders selling merchandise relating to the sporting event, this practice means stocking a wide variety of coloured face paints to cover the different requirements of the supporters of the various nations/clubs taking part. For supporters, the fact that different coloured face paints are usually sold individually means having to buy a number of different face paints.
According to the present invention there is provided a face painting device comprising a housing having a plurality of adjacent channels, characterized in that each channel is open at opposite ends of the housing, and each channel containing a plurality of blocks each supporting a solid coloured face paint, one of the paints in each channel being exposed at one end of the housing, wherein each block supporting an exposed paint can be removed and inserted into a channel at the other end of the housing thereby exposing the paint of a successive block.
The present invention provides the user with a simple and fun way of applying face paint to their face. Also, the fact that a number of different face paints can be applied at one time improves the speed and accuracy with which coloured stripes can be applied to the user's face compared with traditional methods of application.
The ability of the device to house a variety of different coloured face paints and for the exposed colours to be changed means that supporters only have to buy one item rather than purchase a number of different coloured face paints. It also provides traders with a single device that meets all their customers' requirements and therefore removes the need for them to stock a wide variety of face paints.
The face painting device may have any number of channels, and each channel may have any number of blocks. However, preferably the device comprises three channels each containing three blocks.
Preferably, the device further comprises a removable lid covering the exposed paints at the one end of the housing when the device is not in use, the lid being configured to fit on to the other end of the housing when the device is in use.
Each block may have a hollow at one end into which the exposed part of the solid face paint of an adjacent block can slot.
An example of a face painting device in accordance with the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Referring to
Referring to
The blocks of face paint 50 may all be coloured differently giving a total of nine different colours. Alternatively, a reduced number of colours may be chosen. The variety of colours will depend on the requirements of the user. For example, a device 10 intended for universal use (i.e. by supporters of a number of different clubs/countries) may contain nine different colours, whereas a device intended for use by a supporter of a specific club/country may only contain that club/country's colours.
The exposed face paint 50 in each channel 90 can be changed by pulling out the block 40 nearest the top of the housing 20 and slotting it, face paint first, into the bottom of the same channel 90, thereby pushing the next coloured face paint 50 forward for use. This process can be repeated until the desired colour is exposed. In this way, each channel 90 acts very much like a multicoloured "push pencil" which contains different coloured segments which the user can swap around using a similar process. The present invention, however, has the added benefit of multiple channels 90 allowing blocks 40, which are identical, to be interchanged between channels.
The structure of the blocks 40 is shown in more detail in
Each block 40 is substantially rectangular and hollow with an open top end 100 and an open bottom end 110. The lower part of the block of face paint 50 is held in the top of the block 40 via an interface fit, an interlock between the two or via adhesive. Tabs 120 protrude from the upper surface of each block 40.
Referring again to
The tabs 120 of one block make contact with the bottom surface of an adjacent block 40 placed above ensuring that the face paint 50 of one block 40 does not push against the bottom surface of another block 40 in the same channel 90 when the colour of the exposed paint 50 in that channel is changed.
In use, the lid 30 is removed from the top part 60 of the housing 20 and placed on the bottom part 70 of the housing 20 exposing three face paints 50. The colour of the exposed face paints 50 can be changed using the procedure previously described. The user can then simply paint three coloured stripes onto their face by holding the bottom of the device 10 in one hand and applying the exposed paints to the face in a downward motion. When the user has finished painting their face, the lid 30 should ideally be re-fitted to the top part 60 of the housing 20 to protect the exposed paints 50 from damage.
The removable lid 30 may be designed to receive and hold a number of blocks 40 positioned side-on-side as shown in
The blocks 40 are held in the lid via a friction fit, via clips, or via any other suitable means. For example, the inside of the lid 30 could contain lugs which fit tightly into the hollows in the bottom of the blocks 40, thereby securing the blocks to the lid 30.
This list of references cited by the applicant is for the reader's convenience only. It does not form part of the European patent document. Even though great care has been taken in compiling the references, errors or omissions cannot be excluded and the EPO disclaims all liability in this regard.