Patent Application
20230058039
The present invention is directed, in general, to the field of cartridges for containing a cosmetic product, and to the field of dispensers for using said cartridges for dispensing and using said cosmetic product. The cosmetic product that can be contained in a cartridge of the present invention can be any product that is safe to use for cosmetic and/or personal hygiene purposes, and for example can comprise any of a fragrance, a cologne, an aroma, an oil, an essence, a cream, a lotion, a foam, a gel, a sunscreen, a shampoo, a conditioner, a colorant or dye that is safe to apply on the human body, any type of a dispersion or a liquid used for caring for the appearance and/or smell of the skin and/or hair of the user such as a dispersion comprising solid organic and/or inorganic particles and a liquid, and combinations thereof. Preferably, the cosmetic product is an aroma or a fragrance or a cologne that is safe to apply for cosmetic purposes on the skin or hair of humans and/or animals.
There are known dispensers of cosmetic products that are configured to receive capsules that contain cosmetic substances and to be used for applying said substances on the skin and/or hair. PCT patent application document WO 2018/169823 A1 describes a dispenser that is fit to receive capsules that contain cosmetic products. Therefore, WO 2018/169823 A1 does not describe cartridges that contain capsules which in turn contain cosmetic products, and therefore the dispensers mentioned in WO 2018/169823 A1 are not described therein as being configured to receive and activate cartridges that contain capsules that contain cosmetic products. This is an important difference compared to the present invention that is described further below.
Likewise, the PCT patent application document WO 2012/018999 A1 describes dispensers configured to receive in their interior a plurality of chambers containing cosmetic substances. Nevertheless, these chambers are not being described in WO 2012/018999 A1 as being cartridges that contain in their interior capsules that contain the cosmetic substances. Consequently, the present invention described further below differs significantly compared to the art described in WO 2012/018999 A1.
The prior art also comprises documents that describe dispensers which comprise one or more containers that contain cosmetic substances and said containers may be fixed inside a dispenser or may be removably attached to the latter, and the dispenser is configured to selectively activate one of the containers therein for dispensing the respective cosmetic substance. An example of such a document is the PCT patent application document WO 2017/091419 A1. It is noted that WO 2017/091419 A1 does not describe a cartridge that contains in it a capsule that contains the cosmetic substance.
Patent application document WO 2009/044099 A1 describes a cosmetic compact that comprises a lid connected to a base, a dispensing orifice and a cosmetic dispenser, wherein the cosmetic dispenser comprises a pump mechanism and an actuator, and the liquid cosmetic product is in a container attached to the pump mechanism. Likewise, patent application document WO 2004/037435 A2 describes, a liquid spray bottle that has a container, a liquid propulsion member and a spray member that comprises a nozzle.
The prior art available fails to describe a cartridge that is configured to avoid or inhibit dispensing the cosmetic product contained therein when a corresponding dispenser is not used. Therefore, the containers/chambers described in the prior art do not have a structure and corresponding elements that could ensure that the containers/chambers can be properly activated only via the use of an appropriate dispenser configured to receive and contain in its interior said container/chamber. This is a serious drawback for several reasons. The first reason is that the use of a dispenser is considered by the inventors of the present invention to be necessary, or at least be highly desirable, for ensuring/promoting that the user of the cartridge and of the cosmetic product contained therein will apply the correct amount of the cosmetic product every time the dispenser and the cartridge contained therein is activated. The second reason is that when the container/chamber can be easily activated without the use of the dispenser, then such activation can happen accidently and undesirably, and can happen for example when the cartridge is stored or transported e.g. in a user’s bag. The third reason, is that the cosmetic products contained in containers/chambers that are not designed to impede their activation without the use of a specialized apparatus such as specially configured chamber, are usually easy to be removed and/or replaced by third parties which may not have the authorization to do so by the manufacturer of the cartridge who, for the benefit of the end users, cares profoundly about the quality and good use of the cartridges and products contained therein. Such third parties may also illegitimately copy the cartridges, especially when such cartridges do not have special technical features. The present invention solves these drawbacks of the prior art.
To that end, the present invention in its first aspect concerns a cartridge to contain a cosmetic product. The cartridge is configured to be removably attached, meaning to be removably fastened on or in a dispenser that is the object of the second aspect of the invention. The dispenser when having received the cartridge is configured to be activated by the user, thusly activating the cartridge and dispensing the cosmetic product when the latter is contained in the cartridge. It is to be understood that the present invention in its first aspect concerns the cartridge even when the latter does not contain the cosmetic product. A further aspect of the present invention is a system that comprises the cartridge of the first aspect, and a dispenser of the second aspect of the invention. Further aspects of the present invention concern a method that may comprise any of manufacturing and/or assembling the cartridge and/or the parts thereof, manufacturing the dispenser and/or parts thereof, (re)filling the cartridge with the cosmetic product, attaching or fastening the cartridge on or in the dispenser, activating the dispenser thusly activating the cartridge and dispensing the cosmetic product when the cartridge is attached to on fastened in or on the dispenser and when the cartridge contains the cosmetic product.
Preferably, the invention in its first aspect is a cartridge for containing a cosmetic product, the cartridge having connection means and comprising:
wherein the cartridge is configured to be removably attached via the connection means to a cartridge receiving part (or a main chamber receiving part therein) of a dispenser, the dispenser being configured to be activated by a user thus actuating the dispensing mechanism. In the last sentence it is obviously meant that the dispenser is configured to be activated by a user thus actuating the dispensing mechanism when the cartridge is attached via the connection means to the cartridge receiving part of the dispenser.
Therefore, preferably and in accordance to the above, the invention in its first aspect is a cartridge for containing a cosmetic product, the cartridge having connection means and comprising:
wherein the container is displaceable with respect to both the main chamber and the dispensing mechanism, and is also configured to actuate the dispensing mechanism when being displaced with respect to the latter, and the connection means comprise a connection orifice located on the main chamber and preferably adjacent to the container, the connection orifice allowing applying on the capsule, and preferably on the container, an external mechanical force aimed at displacing the container with respect to both the main chamber and the dispensing mechanism for thusly actuating the dispensing mechanism, the external mechanical force originating from outside the main chamber and the cartridge and having a direction that passes from and through the connection orifice towards the capsule. Most preferably, the external mechanical force is being provided (performed) by a dispenser (the dispenser is not part of the cartridge), and/or the cartridge is configured to be coupled to the dispenser and receive the external mechanical force from the dispenser.
For example, when the cartridge is inserted in the cartridge receiving part of a dispenser that is according to the second aspect of the invention, the user by touching and pushing the main chamber may press the entire cartridge against a main chamber receiving part of the dispenser. In the latter case, if the main chamber receiving part may move together with the main chamber towards the direction of the force applied by the user pushing the main chamber and the chamber receiving part, then if the dispenser additionally has an actuating part that is configured to be inserted through the connection orifice inside the main chamber and press the container towards a direction that is opposite to the direction of the force applied by the user, thus essentially the actuating part applying on the dispenser an external mechanical force that is opposite to the user force and directed towards pushing the container towards the dispensing mechanism, the latter can be actuated; for this to happen the actuating part of the dispenser must be configured, e.g. shaped, as to fit and move through the connection orifice, and preferably also configured as to be adjacent to the container (thus allowing the actuating part to push the container) and to move relatively to and through the main chamber receiving part when the latter is moved by the cartridge’s main chamber that is pushed by the user.
Optionally and preferably the main chamber is configured to contain removably attached to within it the capsule. Attached can be interpreted as meaning fastened, and removably as meaning that the fastened object (e.g. the fastened capsule) can be removed and/or reattached to the entity (e.g. the main chamber) that can receive in or on it said object without these actions causing any significant or critical damage to said object and/or to said entity on/in to which the object is fastened, and preferably without said actions causing any substantial damage at all. It is pointed out that the capsule is contained inside (in the interior of) of the main chamber.
For ensuring the best positioning, containment and possible fastening of the capsule inside the main chamber, it is contemplated the optional case wherein the main chamber comprises first positioning means configured to hold fixed, and preferably removably fixed, onto them an external surface of the dispensing mechanism. Likewise, it is also contemplated the optional case wherein the main chamber comprises second positioning means configured to hold attached, and preferably removably attached, onto them an outer surface of the container. The features in each of the aforementioned last two cases, address the technical problem of how to avoid the activation of the dispensing mechanism when the user is only contacting directly with his/her hands the main chamber (and not the dispensing mechanism and/or the container of the capsule) and when the user is not using the dispenser. In a non-limiting example, if the dispensing mechanism has a cylindrical shape that projects from a side of the container, then the main chamber may comprise first positioning means which are a hollow structure of a substantially cylindrical shape adapted so that the dispensing mechanism can be inserted, at least partially, in the interior of said hollow structure being thusly fastened therein. Said hollow structure may be part of the surface on the interior of the main chamber. Likewise, in another non-limiting example, if the container has a cylindrical shape, then the main chamber may comprise second positioning means which are a hollow structure of a substantially cylindrical shape adapted so that the container can be inserted, at least partially, in the interior of said hollow structure being thusly fastened therein. Said hollow structure may be part of the surface on the interior of the main chamber. Optionally and preferably, the main chamber comprises first positioning means and second positioning means which are located with respect to each other in opposite sides in the interior of the main chamber.
The dispensing mechanism can for example be of a known type, with a non-limiting example being a spray head and/or nozzle. Therefore, optionally the dispensing mechanism comprises a spray nozzle. Optionally, the dispensing mechanism may additionally comprise other elements such as a conduit that is configured to allow and direct the flow of liquid from the interior of the container of the capsule to said spray head. The container can be of any shape or volume that allow it to fit in the main chamber of the cartridge. In a non-limiting example, the container is cylindrical and has an open mouth (an opening) that is capped and/or sealed by the dispensing mechanism attached onto it. The dispensing mechanism may optionally be fastened on the corresponding mouth of the container, thusly the dispensing mechanism being permanently or removably attached to the container. Optionally and preferably the dispensing mechanism is removably fastened onto said mouth of the container. Optionally a suspension mechanism, e.g. a spring, may exist at the union or joint between the container and the dispensing mechanism, so that when the latter moves and is being displaced with respect to the former, the suspension may push/act against such motion or displacement.
The fact that the cartridge comprises a main chamber that contains the capsule and the dispensing mechanism attached to the container of the capsule results to the prevention or inhibition of the activation of said dispensing mechanism when the dispenser is not used. In contrast to the prior art discussed further above which describes capsules that are not enclosed within a main chamber of a cartridge and which thusly can be directly activated, intentionally or unintentionally, by the user without the use of an appropriate dispenser, in the present invention the main chamber of the cartridge contains in its interior the capsule and the dispensing mechanism and thus prevents and/or inhibits the direct contact between the hands of the user and said capsule and dispensing mechanism. Consequently, when the cartridge is not fastened on and properly attached to the dispenser, the accidental or intentional activation of the cartridge, and the consequent accidental or unoptimized dispensing of the cosmetic product possibly contained in the cartridge, are prevented. This is an important technical effect because it addresses the technical problems of: i) how to ensure that the cosmetic product is applied in a controlled and optimized manner, ii) how to ensure that the correct amount of the cosmetic product is applied every time the cartridge is used by the user, iii) how to ensure that the force with which the cartridge is activated is well controlled, iv) how to ensure that the content of the cartridge is not released when the cartridge is stored and or transported (e.g. when the cartridge is in a luggage of the user), v) how to ensure that the cartridge is robust and the container containing the cosmetic product cannot be easily broken spilling the product, vi) how to ensure that the cartridge cannot be easily copied and/or refilled by parties that are not properly authorized and/or controlled and/or trained by the owner and/or proprietor of the present invention who cares about the latter’s good implementation, vii) how to ensure that the cartridge can be fastened/attached in or on the dispenser in an optimized way that prevents or inhibits the damaging of the cartridge’s container and the accidental spilling of the cosmetic product while ensuring the easy, simple and safe storage, transportation and use of the cartridge in combination with the dispenser. The inventors of the present invention have found that all the aforementioned problems are solved effectively when the cartridge has certain technical elements described herein. The presence of the main chamber of the cartridge contributes to solving the aforementioned problems because it inhibits the uncontrolled access to the capsule that contains the cosmetic product, and prevents the uncontrolled activation of the dispensing mechanism. As indicated further above, the dispensing mechanism is optionally and preferably part of the capsule and thus it is also optionally enclosed by the main chamber. Considering that the dispenser is configured to be activated and thusly actuate (activate) the dispensing mechanism, it can be understood that the main chamber is optionally configured to prevent the manual activation of the capsule and/or of the dispensing mechanism when the user touches directly only the main chamber i.e. when the user does not touch directly said capsule and/or said dispensing mechanism nor uses the dispenser. These functionalities are aided by the presence of the following optional technical elements.
Optionally, the main chamber is separable into an upper part and a lower part which are configured to be removably attached to each other forming the main chamber when being attached, and allowing access to the capsule when being separated. Therefore, optionally the main chamber comprises an upper part and a lower part which are configured to be removably attached to each other forming the main chamber when being attached, and allowing access to the capsule when being separated from each other. This is a useful technical feature which allows for the dismantle of the main chamber and thus for the possible refill or repair or replacement or cleaning of the capsule and/or of the main chamber and parts thereof if and when said actions are necessary. Moreover, optionally and preferably, the main chamber has an injection orifice that is located in front of the dispensing mechanism and is configured to allow the cosmetic product to exit the main chamber and the dispensing mechanism when the latter is actuated; this is a particularly useful optional feature which allows for the good injection of the cosmetic product towards outside the cartridge, when the dispensing mechanism and the overall capsule are in the interior of the main chamber. Moreover, it is also contemplated the optional and preferable case wherein the connection means comprise a connection orifice formed on the main chamber, the connection orifice being configured to allow an actuating part of the dispenser to be inserted into the cartridge and/or to push the container towards the dispensing mechanism when the dispenser is actuated. The configuration mentioned in the previous sentence allows for the capsule and dispensing mechanism to be actuated by the use of the dispenser even when the user cannot easily contact directly with his/her hands the capsule and the dispensing mechanism when the latter two are enclosed by the main chamber. Therefore, the aforementioned technical feature in combination to the other structural elements of the cartridge contributes to the prevention of the uncontrolled or accidental activation of the cartridge and of the accidental release of the cosmetic product, especially when the cartridge is not used with the dispenser of the invention.
As can be understood from the description further above, preferably the cartridge has connection means which are adapted/configured to be attached and/or fastened on a main chamber receiving part of a dispenser, so that the cartridge as a whole is configured to be removably attached via the connection means to the main chamber receiving part of a dispenser. This allows for the cartridge and the cartridge-dispenser system to be used by the user in a facile, simple and pleasant manner. For the same reasons, optionally the connection means comprise a first magnet attached to the container and/or to the chamber and configured to attract a magnetic part of the dispenser. Preferably, the first magnet is adjacent to the connection orifice. The presence of said first magnet, in combination with some elements of the cartridge solves the technical problem of how to ensure that the cartridge, and in particular the capsule and dispensing mechanism therein, are positioned correctly in/on the main chamber receiving part of the dispenser, even when the user does not pay much attention towards inserting/positioning accurately the cartridge in the dispenser. The inventors found that once the cartridge has been inserted in the dispenser at a position at which the magnetic force between the first magnet and the dispenser is sufficiently high to result to a noticeable attraction, said attraction may lead to a further automatic adjustment of the exact position of the cartridge and/or of the capsule therein with respect to the actuating part of the dispenser, so that the cartridge can be activated by the dispenser in an optimized manner. The aforementioned automatic adjustment may happen because the cartridge tends to be positioned with respect to the dispenser so that the potential energy associated with the magnetic attraction between the two is minimized.
More generally, it is contemplated the optional case wherein the connection means comprise an outer surface of the main chamber shaped as to fit onto (e.g. fit or fit in) the main chamber receiving part of the dispenser. Therefore, the connection means may simply be a part of the main chamber shaped as to fit or be attached or be fastened or snap onto and/or into the main chamber receiving part of the dispenser. For example, if said main chamber receiving part comprises a protuberance, then the connection means may comprise a hole or recess that is shaped so as to fit on and/or around said protuberance. Similarly, in another example if said main chamber receiving part comprises a hole or recess, then the connection means may comprise a protuberance that is shaped as to fit inside said hole or recess. Similarly, in yet another example, if the connection means comprise a surface part of the main chamber wherein said surface part is flat or otherwise shaped and is of a particular size, then the main chamber receiving part of the dispenser may be shaped and/or sized similarly or identically to the aforementioned surface part of the main chamber. The configurations described in each of the aforementioned last three examples, contribute towards facilitating the good and easy use of the cartridge in combination with the dispenser.
Optionally and preferably, a cartridge according of the first aspect of the invention has a geometrical axis of symmetry that is also an axis of symmetry of each of the main chamber, the container, and the dispensing mechanism, and wherein said axis of symmetry passes through, and preferably through the center of, the connection orifice. It is to be understood that in the context of the present invention axis of symmetry (geometrical axis of symmetry) can be a line that divides an object into two equal halves, thereby creating a mirror like reflection of either side of the object. When the cartridge has the aforementioned axis of symmetry, this makes the cartridge and its use simple and aesthetically pleasing, and allows for manufacturing the cartridge and/or parts therein through relatively simple and industrially important processes such as for example injection molding, for reducing the cost and time required for assembling and manufacturing the cartridge and parts therein.
The cartridge may optionally further comprise the cosmetic product. Optionally and preferably the cosmetic product is any of a scent, a perfume, an aroma or a cologne, and preferably a liquid perfume or cologne.
The cartridge’s main chamber may comprise two chamber parts. Said two chamber parts may be configured to be removably attached to each other forming the main chamber when being attached. Said two chamber parts when are separate from each other may allow access to the capsule. The main chamber may have positioning means. Said positioning means may be for securing and/or fixing the position of the dispensing mechanism and/or of the capsule within the main chamber. Said positioning means may comprise the aforementioned first positioning means and/or second positioning means. The positioning means may comprise a top platform e.g. a top protrusion that preferably is flat or has a flat surface. The top platform may be located and/or formed on the main chamber, preferably on the main chamber’s interior that contains the capsule. Said top platform may be configured to contact and/or be attached to a top surface of the dispensing mechanism when the latter is fixed or positioned within the main chamber. Said top surface may be flat. The top platform and/or the dispensing mechanism and/or said top surface may be on/at (within) an opposite side of the main chamber with respect to the main chamber’s connection orifice. The main chamber may comprise a curved slot that may have a semicircular edge. In said curved slot there may fit a peripheral surface of the dispensing mechanism. The latter may have a cylindrical profile or shape. The main chamber may comprise one or more snap-fits. Said snap fits may be or comprise two cantilever snap fits. Preferably, the dispensing mechanism may fit in between said snap fits. Preferably the snap fits are designed/configured to retain fixed in place the dispensing mechanism. Preferably the snap fits are positioned close or around or proximally to a connection or joint of the dispensing mechanism with the capsule’s container. Preferably, any or all of said optional snap-fits, top platform and curved slot is/are formed, being protrusion(s), on the main chamber and can be considered as part(s) of the first positioning means. Moreover, the main chamber may have one or more, e.g. two, lateral bars. Said bar(s) may be attached on and/or protrude from the main chamber’s interior surface that contains/encloses (surrounds) the capsule. Said bar(s) may have the form of (an) elongated edge(s) and may fit in a corresponding optional lateral recession, i.e. a lateral channel, that may be formed on an exterior surface of the container. Said lateral channel and lateral bar(s) when present may be configured to fit/engage to each other so that the container may move and slide along the bar(s) and preferably at a fixed path that may be parallel to a length axis L that preferably is the length (longitudinal) axis of the bar(s), and/or the capsule, and/or the dispensing mechanism and/or the dispenser. Moreover, the container may comprise a bottom protrusion. The latter may be on an opposite side of the capsule compared to the dispensing mechanism and the latter’s aforementioned top surface. Said bottom protrusion when present may be configured, e.g. shaped and sized, to fit or snap in a bottom recess that may be comprised by, or be part of (e.g. be formed on), the main chamber. Said optional bottom recess may be of an interior surface of the main chamber. Said optional bottom recess when present may preferably be defined by a step on a part of the main chamber’s interior that may be in an opposite side compared to the side where the aforementioned optional top platform may be when present. The main chamber’s connection orifice may be adjacent to said bottom recess and to said bottom protrusion. In the main chamber and/or within said bottom recess there may be a bottom slot. Within the latter there may fit a part/component that preferably may be magnetic, or metallic or attractable by a magnet. Therefore, the cartridge may comprise a metallic part/component that may be configured to be magnetically attracted by a magnet that may be part the dispenser. Said metallic part may fit and/or be removably attached in the main chamber, specifically in said bottom slot when the latter exists. The metallic part may be adjacent to the container, and/or to the container’s bottom protrusion, and/or to the connection orifice. The metallic part may have an insertion orifice that on one of its sides/ends may be adjacent/proximal to, and optionally over, the connection orifice, and on its other side may be overlaid by or adjacent to the aforementioned optional bottom protrusion. Therefore, preferably when the system is operated the dispenser’s actuating part may extend through the connection orifice, and/or the bottom recess and/or the insertion orifice, and may press against said bottom protrusion pushing the container towards the dispensing mechanism. Advantageously, when the cartridge has been assembled, preferably said optional bottom slot can (e.g. may be configured to) keep said metallic part fixed and substantially immobile with respect to the main chamber. The exterior surface of the cartridge’s main chamber may have a substantially flat surface part. On the latter preferably there may be (formed) the connection orifice. Accordingly, the cartridge’s main chamber may have a cross-section profile that comprises an arc-shaped part and/or a straight-line part. Said straight line part may correspond or be on said optional flat surface part.
The present invention in its second aspect is a dispenser adapted to be used with the cartridge of the first aspect of the invention. The dispenser is specifically adapted to receive the cartridge so that the cartridge can be removably fastened to (on/in) and/or inserted in the dispenser. For this reason, preferably the dispenser has a cartridge receiving part that is configured to be removable attached to a cartridge via connection means of the latter. Considering all of the aforementioned, the invention in its second aspect preferably is a dispenser that, has a cartridge receiving part that is configured to be removable attached to a cartridge via connection means of the latter, the cartridge being according to the first aspect of the invention, the dispenser being configured to be activated by a user thus actuating the dispensing mechanism of the cartridge and dispensing the cosmetic product. In the last sentence it is obviously meant that the dispenser is configured to be activated by a user thus actuating the dispensing mechanism when the cartridge is attached via the connection means to the cartridge receiving part of the dispenser. Preferably, the dispenser is actuated manually by the user, and most preferably, the dispenser is actuated by a user pushing against the dispenser a cartridge attached to or inserted in the dispenser' cartridge receiving part, while holding the dispenser, most preferably using only one hand.
The main chamber receiving part of the dispenser is adapted to receive and to optionally enclose, at least partially, the cartridge and more specifically the cartridge’s main chamber, with the latter two being adapted for being removable fastened/attached to the cartridge receiving part. Preferably the cartridge receiving part has a main chamber receiving part that contacts the cartridge’s main chamber. For this reason, optionally and preferably the shape of the main chamber receiving part may contour to at least a part of the cartridge’s main chamber that contacts and is attached to said main chamber receiving part. Likewise, the main chamber receiving part may optionally comprise a receiving chamber in which the entire cartridge is inserted fully or partially, and consequently the volume of the receiving chamber may optionally be equal to or larger than the volume of the cartridge or of the part of the cartridge that contacts and is attached to (e.g. attached onto or into) said receiving chamber.
The cartridge receiving part is a very important element of the dispenser, because by being in contact with the cartridge’s main chamber it affects the actuation of the cartridge via the use of the dispenser. This is evident in the herein contemplated optional and most preferable case of the second aspect of the invention wherein the dispenser comprises
It is noted that optionally the actuating part is not constantly located at the main opening nor constantly protrudes from the main chamber receiving part, but does so only during or after said relative motion e.g. the actuating part may initially be located within the opening and protrude from it and from the main chamber receiving part only during or after the occurrence of the movement/displacement of the cartridge receiving part.
Optionally, the cartridge receiving part, and specifically the actuation mechanism therein, also comprises a support structured attached to the main chamber receiving part. Moreover, optionally the main chamber receiving part, which has a side and respective surface on which the main chamber of the cartridge is to be placed, also has on said side and said surface a main opening (such as the a aforementioned main opening) that extends across two opposite sides (one of which is said side having said respective surface) of the chamber receiving part, and from said main opening the actuating part passes through and protrudes with respect to the main chamber receiving part and to the latter’s side that is to be attached to the cartridge. The latter optional case also serves as an example of how the actuating part is configured for moving relatively to and through the main chamber receiving part for thusly executing a relative motion with respect to the main chamber receiving part when the latter is being displaced between the first position and the second position.
The suspension means are preferably inside the main body, and optionally they may be fastened onto the body, and optionally they may be located inside a cavity that is comprised by said body and is configured so that the suspension means fit in its interior and can function as described above. The suspension means optionally comprise a spring (or two or more springs) located in the aforementioned optional cavities within the main body. The cavity may be configured, e,.g. it may be sized, so that the spring can be compressed and/or stretched when the actuation mechanism moves from the first position to the second position or when the actuation mechanism moves from the second position to the first position. Optionally, the longitudinal axis of the spring is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cartridge-body system, and/or is parallel to the geometrical axis along the dispensing mechanism and the container of the cartridge. Said geometrical axis along the container is preferably the symmetry axis of the cartridge mentioned further above. Also optionally and preferably, the dispenser has an axis of symmetry that is also an axis of symmetry of the optional main body, actuating part, main chamber receiving part and, in case that the dispenser comprises two cartridge receiving parts, of the two main chamber receiving parts of said two cartridge receiving parts.
The optional support structure and the suspension means are optionally located under the main chamber receiving part, under the cartridge (when such cartridge is loaded on the dispenser) and towards the center of the main body. Considering that the main chamber receiving part is removably attached to the cartridge, when the actuation mechanism moves between the first position and the second position, then the main chamber of the cartridge also moves between two corresponding positions with respect to the main body of the dispenser. It is contemplated that a simple, easy and practical way for activating the dispensing mechanism by displacing the actuation mechanism to the second position, would be to push the cartridge towards the main chamber receiving part, and thus towards the actuation mechanism. Therefore, regarding the dispenser of the second aspect of the invention it is contemplated the optional case wherein the dispenser is configured to be activated when the user pushes the cartridge (that has been attached to/loaded into the dispenser) towards the main chamber receiving part. In the previous sentence, pushing the cartridge should be best understood as meaning pushing the main chamber of the cartridge.
Regarding the dispenser of the second aspect of the invention, it is also contemplated the optional case wherein the dispenser comprises an actuating part configured to be at least partially inserted via the connection means of the cartridge into the cartridge and/or configured to push the container of the cartridge towards the latter’s dispensing mechanism when the dispenser is actuated. As described further above, the connection means of the cartridge may optionally and preferably comprise a connection orifice, and in that case when the dispenser has an actuating part, then said actuating part can be at least partially inserted in the cartridge via said connection orifice. If furthermore, the cartridge has the aforementioned optional first position means and second position means positioned in the interior of the chamber in opposite sides for respectively holding in place the dispensing mechanism and the container of the capsule as described further above, then when the user actuates the dispenser, for example by pushing the main chamber towards the main chamber receiving part, then the actuating part could push the container towards the dispensing mechanism which when moved with respect to the container can be activated/actuated (if for example the actuating mechanism comprises a spray nozzle) thusly dispensing the cosmetic product towards outside the capsule and towards outside the cartridge and the dispenser. Moreover, optionally and preferably the dispenser comprises a second magnet that is configured to attract a magnetic part of the cartridge. If the cartridge has a first magnet as mentioned further above, then obviously this first magnet may be the cartridge’s magnetic part that is attracted by the aforementioned second magnet of the dispenser. The second magnet can for example be located fixed (on)to the aforementioned optional actuating part of the dispenser.
Two additional and major technical problems that are addressed and solved by the present invention are how can a user avoid having to purchase and store large quantities of a specific cosmetic product, and how can a user frequently change the cosmetic products he/she uses without said change entailing a significant financial and/or environmental cost. The present invention solves these problems because it allows the end user to purchase and use easily cartridges that contain small amounts of cosmetic products, thusly avoiding the need for buying large bottles/containers that contain large quantities of cosmetic products. Similarly, the present invention offers the possibility to use a single device, that is the dispenser of the second aspect of the invention, to apply several, and indeed numerous, different cosmetic products contained in corresponding cartridges. Therefore, optionally and preferably the dispenser comprises a plurality of cartridge receiving parts, and for example 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or more cartridge receiving parts, each configured to be attached to a corresponding cartridge. In a non- limiting example, optionally the dispenser comprises two cartridge receiving parts, each configured to attach to a corresponding cartridge, the two cartridge receiving parts being positioned in opposite sides of the dispenser. Overall, optionally, the dispenser comprises two or more cartridge receiving part, and the suspension means are attached to the actuation mechanism of each cartridge receiving part.
The dispenser of the present invention can be easily transported and carried around by the user with or without cartridges being attached to the dispenser. Nevertheless, when the dispenser does have cartridges attached to it, it is important to avoid accidently activating them e.g. when the dispenser is transported within a bag of the user. Likewise, if the dispenser has more than one cartridges attached to it, it may be very useful to select which of the cartridges is to be activated every time the dispenser is used, and likewise to select to block one or more of the cartridges from being activated at any given time the dispenser is used. For the aforementioned reasons, it is contemplated the optional case regarding the second aspect of the invention, wherein the dispenser comprises selection means configured to be adjustable as to block and/or unblock the actuation of the dispenser, and/or as to select the cartridge receiving part and corresponding cartridge to be actuated in case the dispenser has more than one cartridge receiving parts each configured to attach (to be attached) to a corresponding cartridge.
For the aforementioned reasons, it is contemplated a dispenser according to the second aspect of the invention, wherein the dispenser comprises selection means configured to be adjustable between blocking and unblocking the displacement of the main chamber receiving part between the first position and the second position. In this case, further optionally,
Moreover, optionally the dispenser is shaped and configured so that the user can hold the body with one hand and can manually displace, using the fingers of the same hand, the main chamber receiving part from the first position towards the second position. This optional feature ensures that the dispenser is very easy and simple to use, and permits the user to execute additional actions while using the dispenser, such as holding with his/her other hand a mirror for looking where exactly to apply the cosmetic product.
The dispenser may comprise a main body, two actuating parts and two main chamber receiving parts. Therefore, the dispenser may be coupled to two cartridges positioned in opposite sides of the dispenser. A main chamber receiving part may optionally have a side that has the form of a receptacle for inserting in it at least a portion of the cartridge’s main chamber. Optionally, the main chamber receiving part may have a flat surface that preferably is at said optional side that has the form of a receptacle. If the main chamber of the cartridge has an exterior flat surface part, then preferably on said optional flat surface of the main chamber receiving part there may be placed the optional exterior flat surface part of the cartridge’s main chamber. A main chamber receiving part may preferably have a flat surface on which it may be placed an exterior flat surface part of a cartridge’s main chamber. On the main chamber receiving part there be a main opening through which the actuating part may pass or protrude from. Said main opening may be adjacent to the cartridge’s connection orifice. The main chamber receiving part may be or reside on a support structure. The latter may optionally comprise one or more, e.g. two, hollow cylindrically shaped structures. Each of the latter may be formed by or comprise two snap-fit protrusions. Attached to each of said optional cylindrically shaped structures there may be a corresponding cap. Advantageously, there may be a total of two caps for each cartridge receiving part, and within each of said two caps there may be, or there may be an end of, a corresponding spring that optionally is part of the dispenser. Likewise, said end of the spring may be in said optional cylindrically shaped structure. Said caps may be parts of the dispenser’s actuation mechanism. Therefore, the dispenser’s suspensions means may optionally comprise two springs which may provide suspension for one or two cartridge receiving parts of the dispenser. Each of said optional springs may preferably extend through a corresponding opening or channel that may be on a central support structure that may optionally be part of the dispenser. Preferably said central support structure may be fixed/attached within the dispenser’s main body. Preferably, on either side of said central support structure there may extend or protrude a corresponding actuating part. Preferably said actuating part may extend across a direction that is parallel to the aforementioned length axis. More preferably, said length axis may be parallel to the length (longitudinal) axis of the dispenser and/or the latter’s main body. Most preferably, said length axis L is parallel to the mentioned further above symmetry axis (axis of symmetry) of the dispenser and/or of the cartridge and/or of the dispensing mechanism and/or of the container. Said length axis preferably passes through any of said connection orifice, main opening, insertion orifice and combinations thereof. Preferably said symmetry axis (axis of symmetry) may refer to any of a reflectional symmetry, a rotational symmetry, helical symmetry and combinations thereof.
The previous and other advantages and features will be more fully understood from the following detailed description of embodiments, with reference to the attached figures, which must be considered in an illustrative and non-limiting manner, in which:
Likewise, it can be said that
It is noted that in the cartridge in
Moreover, as shown in
Moreover,
In the perspective of the cross section shown in in
In
The cartridge shown in
In an embodiment of the cartridge according to the first aspect of the invention, the main chamber has a viewing window configured to allow a user of the cartridge to view the capsule within the main chamber. The aforementioned viewing window is an optional feature that solves the technical problem of how to know: whether a cartridge is filled with a cosmetic product and/or whether the amount of the cosmetic product within the cartridge is sufficiently high for the needs of the user, and/or what is the color of the cosmetic product, even when the main chamber excluding the viewing window is made of an opaque or non-transparent material that does not allow seeing through it. This is often the case when the cartridge needs to be very durable and the main chamber therefore comprises a material that is non-transparent albeit durable. The cartridge and any part thereof can be made of one or more materials, and a non-limiting list of examples of such materials includes: a metal, a plastic, a polymer, a silicone (e.g. a polysiloxane), a glass, a crystal, an amorphous solid material, a polycrystalline solid material, and combinations thereof. Optionally and preferably, the container is made of a transparent material which comprises a transparent plastic or polymer and/or a transparent glass. Similarly, optionally the viewing window when present in the cartridge comprises a transparent plastic or polymer and/or a transparent glass.
The cartridge shown in
The cartridge shown in
As indicated by
Optionally and preferably the actuating part protrudes from an exterior side of the main chamber receiving part and of the main opening, said exterior side facing away from the center of the main body e.g. the actuating part protrudes towards a direction that is opposite or substantially opposite to the direction towards which the center of the main body is located with respect to the main chamber receiving part and/or with respect to the main opening. Preferably the actuating part 56 is fixed on the main body 51 and does not move with respect to the main body. Therefore, when main chamber receiving part moves with respect to the main body, it also moves with respect to the actuating part (i.e. the actuating part moves relatively to and with respect to the main body actuating part), thusly generating the aforementioned relative motion of the actuating part 56 with respect to the main chamber receiving part 53.
As shown in
As indicated in
A cross section of the dispenser shown in
Other preferred embodiments of a cartridge and a dispenser that may be combined together to form a corresponding system according to the present invention, are shown in
Moreover, in the systems shown in
While the foregoing is directed to embodiments of the present invention, other and further embodiments of the invention may be devised without departing from the basic scope thereof.
The scope of the present invention is defined in the following set of claims.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20382074.1 | Feb 2020 | EP | regional |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/IB2021/050182 | 1/12/2021 | WO |
