The invention relates to a cosmetics container, in particular a mascara container, whose components are a container part, a container cap, a wiper, which is inserted into a container neck disposed on a container part, and an applicator, which is connected to the container cap and passes through the wiper with a brush rod provided with an applicator brush on its free end.
Cosmetics containers of the type mentioned above are commonly realised as material hybrids, which means that the cosmetics containers made of a plurality of components comprise components which consist of different materials. The cosmetics containers mentioned above are mostly made of material hybrids or material mixes made of aluminium and plastic, meaning an effective recycling presumes separating the materials in particular in the case when the respective material portion exceeds a certain range. Separating the materials is often time-consuming, in particular when separating the materials cannot be carried out economically means sacrificing the inferior or less valuable material to enable recycling the more valuable material portion. This can occur, for example, when cosmetics containers, which have aluminium and plastic components, are molten for recycling purposes so that the material is separated in this case by burning or gasifying the plastic portion.
An extensive recycling of a cosmetics container made of several components becomes possible using two different approaches, for example, the cosmetics container of the first approach being designed such that the individual components can be easily separated from each other, while the second approach strives for a plastic portion as small as possible to limit the non-recyclable portion of the cosmetics container to a minimum when sacrificing plastic material.
The object of the present invention is therefore to propose a cosmetics container which enables a simplified recycling of the used materials and is distinguished by a particularly high portion of recyclable materials.
To attain this object, the cosmetics container according to the invention has the features of claim 1.
According to the invention, material intersections are formed at least partially in the cosmetics container, whose wiper is made of a plastic material in contrast to at least one of the other previously mentioned components, between the different materials or components for separation purposes, the material intersections being realised as detachable form-fit, detachable substance-to-substance or detachable force-fit connections so that the cosmetics container according to the invention does not have to supplied to the recycling process as a whole unit, but instead the components can be separated before recycling takes place owing to the material intersections for the subsequent supply of the components to the different recycling methods or non-recyclable materials or materials which can only be recycled with great effort can be separated from the materials which are comparatively better suited for recycling.
The wiper can be made not only of plastic but also of a material deviating from the material used for the other components.
The cosmetics container according to the invention also makes it possible to reduce the plastic portion to a range as small possible, e.g., less than 10%, and to choose a uniform recycling method for the other components, in particular in the case when these materials consist of a uniform material, such as in particular aluminium.
In any case, the cosmetics container according to the invention consequently simplifies recycling the cosmetics container.
It is particularly advantageous if the container cap comprises a cap outer part and a cap inner part, which each comprise a sleeve part, the two sleeve parts being connected to each other via a press-fit connection, an adhesive connection or a welding connection. Differentiating between a cap outer part and a cap inner part enables using different materials, if required, for the cap outer part and the cap inner part while also forming a suitable detachable material intersection between the sleeve parts to enable an overall high portion of a recyclable material of the container cap.
If the applicator is held in the cap inner part by means of an applicator holder, an intersection, which enables separating the applicator from the container cap or the cap inner part particularly easily, can be defined by the applicator holder.
Preferably, the applicator holder comprises a connective area for being connected to the cap inner part so that separating the applicator holder and the cap inner part is also possible.
If the connective area is pressed into a receiving area of the cap inner part, a mechanical separation of the components can be carried out particularly easily by applying the corresponding separating forces.
Preferably, the applicator holder comprises a joining area having a sleeve-shaped joining end for being connected to the brush rod, so that the connection between the applicator holder and the applicator is defined for a simple material separation.
Preferably, the joining end is connected to the joining area by means of a clamp connection, so that comparatively low separation forces are sufficient for separating the applicator from the applicator holder.
It is particularly advantageous if the container part comprises a container body having the moulded-on container neck for receiving the wiper and a container bottom formed independently of the container body, so that complex container embodiments are also possible in particular with regard to its shape, without being dependent on choosing materials, which can be formed as easily as possible, such as a thermoplastic which can be processed in an injection moulding process, for producing the cosmetics container or the container part. Indeed, it is possible to choose more valuable materials, such as aluminium, for the container part, without there being any restrictions regarding the shape of the container part.
If the wiper is made of an elastically deformable plastic material such that the wiper is axially fixated in the container neck by two locking ridges, which are formed on an axial end of the wiper, one of the locking ridges abutting against an opening edge of a container opening of the container neck from the outside and the other locking ridge engaging behind a container shoulder formed in a cross over area from the container neck to the container body, the container part or at least the container neck can be made of a differing material, such as in particular aluminium, without further difficulty and without any particular effort for separating the materials as a prerequisite for a subsequent recycling method being required. Rather, the wiper and the container neck can be connected via suitable deformation of the wiper.
It is also particularly advantageous if the container bottom is cup-shaped and has an expanded cross section, which is formed on an opening edge of a cup wall, with respect to a cup base, the expanded cross section corresponding in size to the inner diameter of the container body or being slightly larger, so that the container bottom can be easily separated mechanically from the container by the container bottom, which is pressed into the container body for production of the container part, only having to be pushed or pulled out of the container body.
If, moreover, the container body comprises a bottom opening having an opening edge, which protrudes radially inward, the diameter of the bottom opening defined by the opening edge corresponding in size to the outer diameter of the bottom base or being slightly larger, the advantageous connection described above between the container bottom and the container body of the container part can be made possible, without bringing with it a disadvantageous aesthetic effect to the outer appearance of the container part. Indeed, the opening edge protruding inward can reduce or even compensate a ring gap, which is located between the bottom base or the cup wall of the container bottom and the wall of the container body and is required for the joining process, following the joining process via a deformation of the opening edge directed radially inward so that essentially no ring gap can be seen in the outer appearance of the container part when viewing the container bottom from below.
It is also particularly advantageous if the cap inner part is connected to the cap outer part by means of a cap insert disposed between the sleeve part of the cap inner part and the sleeve part of the cap outer part so that the cap insert constitutes a mechanical connective element between the cap inner part and the cap outer part.
If the cap inner part is designed as an applicator holder, the cap inner part can be assigned a double function so that an applicator holder becomes redundant as an autonomous component of the cosmetic container and consequently no set of problems arises regarding recycling of the applicator holder, in particular in the event if the cap inner part and the cap outer part are made of the same material, in particular aluminium.
Preferably, the cap inner part comprises a receiving opening in a bottom for an axial connective protrusion formed on the end of the brush rod, such that a projection of the connective protrusion protruding over an opening edge of the receiving opening engages behind the opening edge after deformation.
It is thus possible to connect a brush rod made of a plastic material to a cap inner part, which is made of aluminium and at the same forms the applicator holder, to each other via an ultrasonic welding method, so that only the material portion of the brush rod forming the projection of the connective protrusion has to be separated and, if applicable, sacrificed for a material separation before a recycling method.
If the container part comprises a container body, which is provided with a bottom and which comprises a receiving opening on its end opposite the bottom for receiving a container neck formed independently of the container body, another option exists for creating a container part which has an overall complex design, without necessarily having to switch to a plastic material to create a container part which is recyclable in its entirety. Indeed, it is possible to produce both the container body and the container neck from the same valuable recycling material, such as aluminium.
Preferably, the container neck is inserted in such a manner into the receiving opening by a connective end, whose outer diameter corresponds in size to the inner diameter of the container body, that a shoulder formed in the cross over area to a thread part of the container neck is disposed so as to be flush with an opening edge of the receiving opening. Thus, a container part is enabled, which is particularly advantageous with regard to a recycling method and at the same time fulfils the highest aesthetic requirements to its outer appearance.
If a wiper made of a shape-elastic plastic is inserted into the thread part of the container neck, an edge web, which protrudes radially inward on an opening edge of the thread part, engaging into a locking groove formed on the wiper and a radial edge web of the wiper, which is formed adjacent to the locking groove, axially protruding over the opening edge, separating the materials is possible particularly easily when using different materials for the container neck and the wiper, i.e., the shape-elastic plastic material for the wiper and preferably aluminium for the container part.
It is particularly advantageous regarding a simple separation of materials, if a joining end of the brush rod is connected to the applicator holder by means of a bayonet joint.
Independently of a set of problems regarding recycling, a bayonet joint between an applicator holder and an applicator for a cosmetics container, which is provided with an applicator and is realised as a mascara container, is advantageous as an applicator can be easily exchanged. This advantage of course exists independently of whether the components of the container are made of different or the same material. In the case of a mascara container, the wiper can therefore be made of any arbitrary material, as long as the wiper fulfils its function.
Preferably for this purpose, the applicator holder comprises a cup-shaped receiving part for receiving the joining end having a connective protrusion formed on a cup bottom, such that a projection of the connective protrusion, which protrudes over an opening edge of a receiving opening formed in the cap bottom of the cap inner part, engages behind the opening edge after deformation in order to be connected to the cap inner part, so that a formation can take place via an ultrasonic welding process, with the result that for separating the applicator holder from the cap inner part, merely the material projection needs to be separated.
If the joining end of the brush rod comprises two radially protruding pins, which are disposed at a distance a axially from a stop collar and serve for engaging in a locking groove each, the locking grooves each being formed in a cup wall of the applicator holder at a distance a to a cup edge, the bayonet joint can be realised using particularly little material.
Preferably, the stop collar simultaneously serves for the sealing abutment against an opening edge of an opening formed for passing the brush rod through the wiper, so that a separate seal need not be provided.
If the wiper comprises a stop collar in an axial end of a sleeve inserted into the container neck for the outer abutment against an opening edge of the container neck and comprises several fastening tabs, which are dispersed across the circumference of a sleeve edge on opposite axial ends of the sleeve and engage behind an inner shoulder, which is formed on the container neck, when deformed radially outward, a material connection between the wiper and the container neck which can be detached particularly easily can be realised.
Advantageous embodiments of the cosmetics container are described in further detail using the drawings.
As in particular
Cap inner part 286 preferably pressed into cap outer part 285 comprises a cap thread 293 formed by deformation and a receiving area 294 formed adjacent to cap bottom 287 for being connected to a connective area 295 of applicator holder 284. Connective area 295 of applicator holder 284 is preferably pressed into receiving area 294 of cap inner part 286.
For being connected to applicator 283, applicator holder 284 comprises a joining area 286, which is designed to be tapered, and has a sleeve-shaped joining end 297, which is preferably connected to a joining end 298 of applicator 283 via a clamping connection.
All components of container cap 282, i.e., cap outer part 285, cap inner part 286 and applicator holder 284, are made of metal, preferably alumminium, whereas the applicator preferably consists of a plastic material.
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For mounting container bottom 300 on container body 299, expanded cross section 303 of container bottom 300 is inserted so far into container body 299 via bottom opening 305 until a bottom wall 308 of bottom base 34 is essentially disposed so as to be flush with opening edge 307 of container body 299, as shown in
Owing to its elastic design, wiper 301 can be inserted into container body 299 via a container opening 309 formed on a container neck 308, an axial fixation of the wiper in container neck 308 being made possible by two locking ridges 314, 315, which are each formed on an axial end of wiper 301 and which, on the one hand, abut against an opening edge 310 of container opening 309 and, on the other hand, engage behind a container shoulder 311 formed in the cross over area between container neck 308 and container body 299.
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Cap inner part 325 comprises a radial edge web 332, which is opposite an opening edge 331 of a receiving opening formed for receiving cap inner part 325 in cap outer part 326, such that edge web 332 can be connected, in particular glued or soldered, to the opening edge in a flush position.
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As in particular
A wiper 352 made of a shape-elastic plastic is inserted in thread extension 349 of container neck 347, an edge web 354, which protrudes radially inward on an opening edge 353 of thread extension 349, engaging into a locking groove 355 formed on the wiper, a radial edge web 356 of wiper 352 formed adjacent to locking groove 355 axially protruding over opening edge 351. Alternatively thereto, a wiper can also be produced as an injection moulded part, which can be injected directly into a substance-to-substance connection for forming a substance-to-substance connection with container neck 347.
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Applicator holder 414 comprises a cup-shaped receiving part 416 (
To form bayonet joint 413, joining end 412 of brush rod 411 comprises two radially protruding, diametrically opposite pins 421, which, as in particular
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As in particular
A wiper 436 made of plastic is inserted inn thread part 433. Wiper 436 comprises a stop collar 439 on the upper axial end of a sleeve 438, which is inserted into container neck 431, for the outer abutment against an opening edge 440 of container neck 431. Stop collar 439 limits an opening 445 using an opening edge 444, opening 445 being formed for passing brush rod 411 through wiper 414. Sleeve 438 is provided with a plurality of fastening tabs 443 on its lower axial end, the fastening tabs 443 being dispersed across the circumference of a sleeve edge 442 and which engage behind shoulder 434, which is formed on container neck 431, when deformed radially outward and after wiper 436 has been inserted into container neck 431 for fixating wiper 436 in its position in container neck 431.
The deforming process for deforming fastening tab 443 can take place corresponding to the deforming process of connective protrusion 417 on applicator holder 414 by means of an ultrasonic welding tool. For this purpose, the deforming process (which is comparable to the deforming of connective protrusion 417, which takes place before cap inner part 405 is inserted into cap outer part 406) takes place before container neck 431 is inserted into container body 429.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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10 2020 114 652.3 | Jun 2020 | DE | national |