The present invention concerns a container for liquid or paste products, in particular for cosmetics, provided with an opening system apt to allow fast opening and at the same time guarantee sealing when it is not used.
It has been known for some time in the field of cosmetics the use of tools for the collection and the subsequent distribution of paste, liquid or gel-like products, apt to be distributed on the surfaces of interest. Typically, such tools consist of a container made up of a tank, apt to contain the substance to be applied, of a stem carrying at the distal end thereof an applicator, and of a closing element which normally consists of a cap kept engaged with the top of the stem-shaped element.
As is fully evident, it is necessary for the container to keep a perfect sealing to the air and to any spilling, when it is not used, so as to maintain the physical-chemical properties of the agent contained therein, and to reduce to a minimum the risk of contact with the air. For such purpose, the solution consisting of the coupling thread/screw-counterthread between the tank and the cap has been universally adopted.
However, it has been detected that the screw cap proves rather problematic to manage upon opening, because the undesired deposition on the edge of the tank neck tends to act as glue, consequently hindering cap unscrewing operations.
Moreover, for some user categories, it is particularly difficult to have to impart the necessary torsion force to the cap to open or close the container, for example because they suffer from syndromes to the upper limbs, or because they are elderly.
Finally, it has been detected that the conventional system necessarily requires the engagement of both hands and particular care, to be able to proceed to the opening and closing of the container: this may prove particularly unfavourable when the user does not have both hands free and must apply the product quickly.
The object of the present invention is therefore to propose a container which may overcome the above-said disadvantages, and which is in particular capable of offering a fast opening, possibly also with a single hand, which does not require screw engagement, nor the application of a torsion force, but which guarantees at the same time the required sealing.
Said object is achieved through a container having the features reported in claim 1, the dependant claims reporting some preferred features of the invention.
The invention will now be described with reference to the attached drawings, which show a particularly preferred embodiment, wherein:
a and 5b are the views in a longitudinal section and from above, respectively, of the cap of
a is a lateral-front view, and
b and 7c are views of details of engagement elements;
The container according to the invention is of the conventional type, generically consisting of a tank 1 and of a closing cap 2, with which a stem 3 supporting an applicator, tank 1 and the handle for such stem 3 is associated through suited retaining means.
Tank 1 consists of a cylindrical body, at the end of which a neck 4 is provided, apt to the introduction of stem 3, and to the tightening of cap 2 to tank 1. As a cover of tank 1 there is further provided a sleeve C having such a size as to allow tank 1 to fit tightly within. Sleeve C extends in height up to about halfway the neck 4, so as to allow—with the closed container—a partial overlapping of sleeve C on cap 2.
Neck 4 has on the outer surface thereof a serrated, annular base crown 5, surmounted by a series of mutually equidistant relief bodies 6, having an approximately ogival shape, on the basis of which a niche is obtained, separated from said annular crown 5 by a channel 7. Said channel 7 extends also vertically between said relief bodies 6, so much so that a continuous path is easily recognisable along the neck perimeter, wherefrom some accidental points depart to the upper part of said neck 4. As can be detected from the drawings, the axis of such bodies 6 is angled to the axis of tank 1. Preferably, the angle of said bodies 6 is not above 20°, more preferably it is equal to 14°.
The cap element 2 consists of a cylindrical cap, which carries at the top thereof, along the inner surfaces, mutually equidistant, radial partitions 8 converging towards the centre, which extend downwards along the inner lateral wall of cap 2, and a semi-toroidal retaining element 9 located about two thirds of the length of said cap element 2.
Stem 3, illustrate in section in
Finally, to guarantee the movement and the engagement of cap 2 with respect to container 1, between cap 2 and stem 3 there is arranged a rotary unit 13, as illustrated in
For stem 3 to be perfectly centred, in correspondence of the central hole of the upper disc-shaped element 14a there is provided a retaining collar 16: this, also by virtue of the particular conical shape of stem 3, has the double function of keeping axially aligned stem 3, and to maintain rotary unit 13 in engagement with head 10a, so as to offer an optimal travel of rotary unit 13 with respect to stem 3.
Guiding cap 2 to the precise introduction on neck 4, so as to further guarantee the centering of stem 3, it has been provided for the sleeve portion C externally surrounding neck 4 to act as centering element of cap 2, allowing it no transversal play.
As highlighted in
Moreover, from lower disc-shaped element 14b two appendixes 18a, 18b depart having a triangular profile, at the ends of which suitably-shaped, pin-like engagement elements 19a, 19b project internally.
As a matter of fact, as clearly illustrated in
Preferably, along the head 10a of stem 3 there is inserted a spring 20 lying between flanged element 12 and the lower surface of upper disc-shaped element 14a, so as to guarantee the fast and automatic releasing movement of cap 2 during the operation of the container, as will be better understood from the following explanation.
From the preceding description the carrying out of the container according to the invention and the operation thereof can be easily understood.
During mounting, firstly spring 20 is introduced, so that it may rest below on the upper surface of flanged element 12. Subsequently the head 10a of stem 3 is introduced through the central holes of the disc-shaped elements, in succession 14b and then 14a, causing element 12 to snap beyond element 14b, overcoming the resistance of spring 20, so that the lower surface of element 12 rests on the upper surface of element 14b. Finally, the thus resulting stem—rotary-unit assembly is introduced into cap 2 so that semi-toroidal element 17 snaps above toroidal element 9.
Once such assembly has been accomplished, stem 3—now integral with cap 2 and rotary unit 13—is introduced into tank 1, and consequently pins 19a, 19b are brought into two opposite channels 7, according to the pathway illustrated for one of the two pins in
In this condition, the tightening is obtained through the tension provided by spring 20 which at the same time pushes stem 3 downwards and the combination of cap 2 with rotary unit 13 upwards, in antagonism with neck 4.
When the user wants to apply the product, he must only push on cap 2, so that pins 19a, 19b are displaced from the balance position and are induced, due to the geometries of reliefs 5 and 6 to rise back along channel 7.
In this step the system consisting of the cap, the rotary unit and the stem frees itself from the contrast given by the elements on neck 4. The tension of spring 20 loosens until element 12 finds a new contrast on the upper surface of element 14b. In the meantime, pins 19a, 19b have got to the top of neck 4, and the user may consequently remove the application and closing system and use some of the agent contained in the tank in the most suitable way.
From the preceding description it is evident that the set object has thus been obtained, i.e. of a fast-opening container, without the presence of a screw engagement, and which guarantees at the same time the required sealing. As a matter of fact, the synergy between the particular shape of the elements provided on neck 4 and of the engagement elements associated with cap 2 guarantees the closing and the opening of the container in a fast and effective manner, according to the user's wishes.
It is furthermore evident that to the solution described above non-substantial changes may be made, accomplishing alternative embodiments, without departing from the scope of protection of the patent, which is defined by the attached claims.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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MI2011A0014 | Jan 2011 | IT | national |
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
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4383619 | Mumford et al. | May 1983 | A |
4526281 | Herr | Jul 1985 | A |
5148931 | Minh | Sep 1992 | A |
Number | Date | Country |
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195 08 836 | Sep 1996 | DE |
195 25 173 | Jan 1997 | DE |
102 29 693 | Jan 2004 | DE |
1 800 561 | Jun 2007 | EP |
Entry |
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Search Report for IT MI20110014; May 18, 2011. |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20120177432 A1 | Jul 2012 | US |