The present invention relates to a cap with applicator, and more specifically to a cap with applicator for use in applying formulas. The present invention further relates to a packaging equipped with such a cap.
Various packages including a cap to which an applicator for applying formulas such as a cosmetic product is attached have been proposed. In such a packaging, when stored or not in use, at least the tip of the applicator is submerged in the formula accommodated within a container such as a bottle.
During use, first, a user removes the cap from the container. Next, the user applies the formula adhered to the applicator to a desired area by operating the cap. Such a packaging is simple, but presents a disadvantage in that the user cannot easily regulate the amount of the formula to be applied during use. In order to overcome this problem, a packaging in which the applicator is directly attached to a container such as a tube or bottle has been proposed.
This kind of packaging is easy to use; however, it presents the following disadvantages. First, dosing out only a certain amount of the formula is not user friendly as the formula often becomes overloaded on the applicator because the user cannot see the flow of the formula. Second, it is difficult to ensure the tightness in such a packaging. A large number of pieces are necessary to ensure the tightness, and this leads to increases in the manufacturing costs of the packaging. Third, in such a packaging, it is difficult to guarantee that formula which has dried out and solidified is not returned into the container such as a bottle.
Further conventional packagings for formulas are disclosed in the following documents.
FR2788501 and FR2789660 disclose a self-loading packaging including a pump and a specific chamber for loading a formula into a sponge by directly pushing the pump. FR2814444 discloses a self-loading packaging including a container and a cap equipped with an applicator on a hinge. U.S. Pat. No. 1,534,259 discloses a self-loading packaging including an applicator between a cap and a container.
FR2885779 discloses a packaging including a container to which a sponge applicator is attached and a massage tool. GB174983 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,674,903 disclose a packaging including a container and a sponge head attached to the periphery of a central tube that extends from the container. In the packagings disclosed in FR2885779, GB174983, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,674,903, the applicator is attached on the container side.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,832,060 discloses a packaging in which an applicator, i.e. a brush, is attached on a cap side. In this packaging, the brush is submerged in a formula such as a nail polish when not in use.
An object of the present invention is to provide a cap with applicator for applying formulas which has been improved to ameliorate or overcome the disadvantages of the prior art, as well as a packaging equipped with such a cap.
In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention provides a cap with applicator that is attached to a container in which a formula is accommodated. According to the present invention, the cap can plug an opening of a nozzle for discharging the formula to the outside that is provided on the container. The cap is equipped with an applicator for applying the formula, and the applicator is placed in a state in which it is isolated from the formula so that it does not contact the formula within the container when the cap is attached to the container. When this cap with applicator is used, the formula within the container is loaded onto the applicator by a user, and then the user operates the cap to apply the formula to a desired area.
Further, the present invention provides a packaging equipped with the above-described cap and a container to which the cap is attached, the container including a nozzle for discharging the formula that is accommodated therewithin to the outside.
Advantageously, the cap with applicator and the packaging according to the present invention provide a simple, easy to use, inexpensive, and hygienic solution. In further detail, according to the present invention, the user can completely regulate the amount of the formula to be loaded onto the applicator. Further, the user can load the formula on only a selected area, and this means that the present invention is user friendly. Also, according to the present invention, the applicator can be quickly washed and dried after use, and this means that the present invention is hygiene friendly. In addition, the present invention can be realized with a small number of components and can be reused in other versions, and this means that the present invention is cost effective.
The formula is preferably a fluent formula. The fluent formula is preferably a formula having a viscosity of less than or equal to 1000 Pa·s, more preferably less than or equal to 500 Pa·s, at 25° C. The fluent formula may be in a form of liquid, semi-solid, or gel at 25° C. As the fluent formula accommodated within the container, mention may be made of the following, although the fluent formula is not limited thereto: various cosmetic products including BB (blemish balm) cream, blush, concealer, lip paint, eye cream, and foundation such as liquid foundation and cream foundation; cleansing products; make up products; make up remover products; and hair products such as hair dye.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, the applicator can be attached to the cap such that is can be separated from the cap.
The container can include a collar surrounding the nozzle. In this case, when the cap is attached to the container, at least a portion of the applicator can be accommodated within a space defined by the collar. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the outer peripheral surface of the applicator fits closely to the inner peripheral surface of the collar.
The applicator can include a hole which receives at least a portion of the nozzle when the cap is attached to the container.
The outer peripheral surface of the nozzle can include screw threads, and the cap can include a portion on which screw threads that engage with the screw threads of the nozzle are formed. In this case, when the cap is attached to the container, the screw threads of the nozzle can engage with the screw threads of the cap after the portion on which screw threads are formed in the nozzle has passed the hole.
The applicator can have a circular cross-section, or non-circular cross-section including an elliptical cross-section, a substantially triangular cross-section, a substantially square cross-section, and a substantially polygonal cross-section having five or more sides. The cross-section area of the applicator can decrease from the base side thereof toward the tip side thereof along a center axis of the cap. Further, the applicator can have an application surface that is inclined relative to the center axis of the cap.
The applicator can be made of at least one material selected from rubber, soft or hard plastic, sponge, and foam. The applicator itself can be made of a solid formula. The applicator can be a brush. The applicator can include a plurality of fins with spaces formed between the fins for retaining a formula. In this case, in particular, absorbent blocks are disposed between adjacent fins in order to receive the formula and retain the formula therewithin. The applicator can be a spatula. Further, the applicator can be a delimited area of the cap.
The present application can be better understood upon a careful reading of the following explanations regarding non-limiting, representative embodiments of the present invention while referring to the attached drawings.
When stored or not in use as shown in
In the illustrated embodiment, the container 10 includes a main body 12 formed from a soft plastic, a nozzle 14 for discharging the formula within the main body 12 to the outside, and a cylindrical collar 16 that surrounds the nozzle 14 and is fixed to the main body 12.
The nozzle 14 is integrally formed on the container main body 12, and further includes screw threads 14a on its outer peripheral surface thereof. When stored or not in use as shown in
The collar 16 is formed from a plastic that is more hard than the material that forms the container main body 12. The collar 16 includes a plurality of through holes 16a. In this embodiment, the collar 16 is formed from a transparent plastic. However, the collar 16 can be formed from a semitransparent or opaque plastic, or from a metal material.
In the illustrated embodiment, the applicator 20 is formed from, for example, rubber, and is particularly realized as a “scrubber”. As can be understood from
In the illustrated embodiment, the applicator 20 has a circular cross-section. A diameter D1 (
In the illustrated embodiment, the applicator 20 is provided as a separate member from the cap 30. In other words, the applicator 20 is removably joined to the cap 30 in a clip style to be explained below. Therefore, as shown in
As can be understood from
When the cap 30 is attached to the container 10, the screw threads 14a of the nozzle 14 engage with the screw threads 32a of the boss 32 after the nozzle 14 of the container 10 has passed through the through hole 24 of the applicator 20. In the state shown in
In the illustrated embodiment, in the state shown in
When using the above-described packaging for a cleansing product, the user first twists the cap 30 to loosen it and then separates the cap 30 together with the applicator 20 which is joined thereto from the container 10. Next, the user loads a necessary amount of the cleansing product within the container 10 onto the application surface 22 of the applicator 20 by squeezing the container main body 12. Subsequently, the user operates the cap 30 to apply the cleansing product loaded onto the applicator 20 to a desired area.
In this embodiment, the cap 30 can be removed from the applicator 20. Therefore, after use, the applicator 20 can be washed by itself to remove any product remaining on the application surface 22 of the applicator 20. Thus, compared to a conventional packaging in which an applicator is directly attached to a container, the applicator is remarkably easy to wash. In particular, in such a conventional packaging, the product within the container may deteriorate due to contact with water when cleaning the applicator, but this possibility is completely eliminated in the present embodiment.
A cap with applicator 130 shown in
A cap with applicator 230 shown in
A cap with applicator 330 shown in
The above-described applicators can be realized in various forms using various materials. As an example of such materials, mention may be made of rubber, soft plastic, hard plastic, sponge, foam, and the like. Further, the applicator can be made of a combination of different materials. By using an applicator made in this way, it is possible to achieve usages such as gradation or blurred effects which were conventionally difficult to achieve.
Hereinafter, various alternative embodiments of the packaging according to the present invention will be further explained referring to
The applicator 420 is flocked across its entire surface. Therefore, the applicator 420 can be referred to as a “flocked tip”. As shown in
During use, the user first separates the container 410 and the cap 430. Next, the user loads a desired amount of the BB cream onto the application surface of the applicator 420 by pushing the side surfaces of the container 410. After use, the cap 430 is attached to the container 410. Therein, the nozzle 414 is inserted into the hole 422 of the applicator 420. Further, screw threads formed on the nozzle 414 engage with corresponding screw threads (not illustrated) on the cap side by rotating the cap 430 in a tightening direction. Finally, the collar 412 and the applicator 420 as shown in
The method of use of the packaging shown in
Similar to the embodiment shown in
In the above-described embodiments, applicators with a generally circular cross-section were explained. However, the cross-section of the applicator does not have to be circular. According to further alternative embodiments of the present invention, the applicator can have a non-circular cross-section including an elliptical cross-section, a substantially triangular cross-section, a substantially square cross-section, and a substantially polygonal cross-section having five or more sides.
The applicator 720 is made of, for example, a sponge. The applicator 720 onto which the foundation within the container 710 is loaded by a user has a substantially triangular cross-section as can be understood from
The applicator 820 includes a plurality of fins 822a to 822d. However, the number, shape, arrangement, etc. of the fins are not limited to those of the illustrated embodiment. The applicator 820 further includes blocks 824a to 824c attached between adjacent fins 822a to 822d. These blocks 824a to 824c can be made from an absorbent material, such as a sponge or the like. The hair dye is loaded onto the surface of the blocks 824a to 824c and then retained within the blocks 824a to 824c. A hole 826 for receiving a pin-shaped nozzle 814 of the container 810 is formed in the block 824b positioned in the center.
During use, the user loads a desired amount of the hair dye onto the surface of the blocks 824a to 824c disposed between the fins 822a to 822d of the applicator 820 by pushing the side surfaces of the container 810. Next, the user applies the hair dye loaded onto the applicator 820 to their own hair of the hair of another person. During storage of the packaging, the applicator 820 is in a state in which it is completely fitted to the collar 812 of the container 810 as shown in
The applicator 920 copies the shape of a general lip stick. In particular, the lip stick-shaped applicator 920 includes an application surface 922 that is inclined relative to a center axis X-X of the cap 930. As can be understood from
The applicator 1020 is in the form of a spatula made of, for example, a soft plastic. The spatula-shaped applicator 1020 includes an application surface 1022 that is inclined relative to a center axis X-X of the cap 1030 and a base surface 1024 that is orthogonal to the axis X-X. The application surface 1022 and the base surface 1024 of the applicator 1020 respectively include holes 1026 and 1028 for receiving a pin-shaped nozzle 1014 of the container 1010.
During use, as shown in
In this embodiment, the applicator 1120 includes a main body 1122 in the form of a horse shoe, and a base 1124. The main body 1122 is disposed on the base 1124 such that it inclines at an angle to a surface of the base 1124. The main body 1122 and the base 1124 are integrally made of, for example, a soft plastic. Therefore, flexible hinges 1126 are formed at two connections between the main body 1122 and the base 1124. At a free end of the main body 1122, a ridge 1122a in the “C” form is formed, the surface of which is preferably plated. This surface of the ridge 1122a acts as an application surface of the applicator 1120. Due to the existence of the flexible hinges 1126, when a force is applied to the application surface of the applicator 1120, the main body 1122 can tilt toward the base 1124. The base 1124 is joined to the cap 1130 and includes a hole 1128 for receiving a pin-shaped nozzle 1114 of the container 1110, as shown
During use, as shown in
According to a further alternative embodiment, the applicator itself can be made from a solid formula.
Further, according to another embodiment, the applicator can be protected behind a part such as a grid. According to another embodiment, the applicator can be configured to rotate or oscillate using a drive means such as a motor or without using a drive means. According to another embodiment, the applicator can have a heating or cooling function. According to another embodiment, the applicator can have a rough surface in order to obtain a good massage effect or soaking effect. According to another embodiment, the applicator can be a “multi-applicator”. According to another embodiment, the applicator can be a delimited area of the cap. According to another embodiment, the nozzle for discharging the formula can exist at a location other than the center of the container. According to another embodiment, a pin which has the size and shape corresponding to those of the opening of the nozzle for discharging the formula can be formed on the applicator or the cap. In this case, when the cap is attached to the container, this pin will enter into the opening of the nozzle, thereby plugging the opening of the nozzle.
Various embodiments of the present invention have been explained with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments. The various features of the above-described embodiments can be combined together as long as such combination is possible in principle. Various corrections, modifications, and other embodiments would be obvious to those skilled in the art. Any such corrections, modifications, and other embodiments are included within the category of the present invention.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2014-227917 | Nov 2014 | JP | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/JP2015/081912 | 11/4/2015 | WO | 00 |