The present invention relates generally to cosmetics containers, and, more particularly, relates to a container system for carrying small amounts of cosmetic substances in a carry case which contains disposable cosmetics cartridges.
Cosmetics are in widespread usage and it is common for a person to carry cosmetics products with them in order to touch up or reapply the cosmetics. Some of the more commonly carried cosmetics include lipstick and lip gloss, nail polish, mascara, and eye liner. Typically these are sold individually packaged, but some manufacturers have produced container systems that include two or more types of cosmetics that are carried together. Although these systems are provided in an assortment of combinations of cosmetics, the manufacturer chooses which cosmetics to package together, in either types of cosmetics, or colors, or both. This leaves the customer unable to select a combination they want unless it is one of the combinations provided by the manufacturer. Furthermore, the customer is forced to use the packaging in which the cosmetics are provided, which is designed by the manufacturer, typically for brand recognition. Customers are not able to design their own containers or choose containers with artwork they prefer.
Therefore, a need exists to overcome the problems with the prior art as discussed above.
The invention provides a cosmetics carry system that overcomes the hereinafore-mentioned disadvantages of the heretofore-known devices and methods of this general type and that allows a user to select and change which cosmetics are carried in a carrier.
With the foregoing and other objects in view, there is provided, in accordance with some embodiments of the invention, a cosmetics carrier system that allows a user to carry different selected ones of cosmetics. The system includes a carrier having an elongated hollow body that has a first end and a second end opposite the first end. A first container retaining feature is formed at the first end, and a second container retaining feature is formed at the second end. The first and second retaining features are configured to mate with corresponding respective retaining features of a first container and a second container, respectively, that are each sized to fit in, and be retained by, the carrier at the first and second ends.
In accordance with another feature, an embodiment of the present invention includes the elongated body of the carrier having a non-circular cross section.
In accordance with a further feature of some embodiments of the present invention, the first and second retaining features comprise threads.
In accordance with a further feature of some embodiments of the present invention, the first and second retaining features comprise interference features.
There is provided, in accordance with some embodiments of the invention, a cosmetics packaging and carry container system that includes a carrier having an elongated body. The elongated body includes a first end and a second end. The first second ends are provided at opposing terminal ends of the elongated body. The carrier can further have a first cavity formed at the first end that extends into the elongated body, and a second cavity formed at the second end that extends into the elongated body. The system can further include a first retention feature at the first end, and a second retention feature at the second end. The system can further include a first container having a body portion that defines an internal volume and that is sized to fit within the first cavity, and which includes a retention feature configured to engage the first retention feature to removably retain the first container in the first cavity. The first container can further include a cap configured to close the internal volume and include an applicator attached to the cap that extends into the internal volume. The system can further include a second container having a body portion that defines an internal volume and that is sized to fit within the second cavity, and which includes a retention feature configured to engage the second retention feature to removably retain the second container in the second cavity. The second container can further include a cap which is configured to close the internal volume and which has an applicator attached to the cap that extends into the internal volume.
In accordance with a further feature of some embodiments of the present invention, the outermost surfaces of the caps of the first and second containers each measure one inch across.
In accordance with a further feature of some embodiments of the present invention, the caps of the first and second containers each include a weight.
In accordance with a further feature of some embodiments of the present invention, the internal volume of the first container and the internal volume of the second container are each limited to 0.24 ounces.
In accordance with a further feature of some embodiments of the present invention, the first retention feature and the second retention feature comprise threads.
Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as embodied in a cosmetics carry system, it is, nevertheless, not intended to be limited to the details shown because various modifications and structural changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims. Additionally, well-known elements of exemplary embodiments of the invention will not be described in detail or will be omitted so as not to obscure the relevant details of the invention.
Other features that are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in the appended claims. As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which can be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one of ordinary skill in the art to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure. Further, the terms and phrases used herein are not intended to be limiting; but rather, to provide an understandable description of the invention. While the specification concludes with claims defining the features of the invention that are regarded as novel, it is believed that the invention will be better understood from a consideration of the following description in conjunction with the drawing figures, in which like reference numerals are carried forward. The figures of the drawings are not drawn to scale.
Before the present invention is disclosed and described, it is to be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting. The terms “a” or “an,” as used herein, are defined as one or more than one. The term “plurality,” as used herein, is defined as two or more than two. The term “another,” as used herein, is defined as at least a second or more. The terms “including” and/or “having,” as used herein, are defined as comprising (i.e., open language). The term “coupled,” as used herein, is defined as connected, although not necessarily directly, and not necessarily mechanically. The term “providing” is defined herein in its broadest sense, e.g., bringing/coming into physical existence, making available, and/or supplying to someone or something, in whole or in multiple parts at once or over a period of time.
“In the description of the embodiments of the present invention, unless otherwise specified, azimuth or positional relationships indicated by terms such as “up”, “down”, “left”, “right”, “inside”, “outside”, “front”, “back”, “head”, “tail” and so on, are azimuth or positional relationships based on the drawings, which are only to facilitate description of the embodiments of the present invention and simplify the description, but not to indicate or imply that the devices or components must have a specific azimuth, or be constructed or operated in the specific azimuth, which thus cannot be understood as a limitation to the embodiments of the present invention. Furthermore, terms such as “first”, “second”, “third” and so on are only used for descriptive purposes, and cannot be construed as indicating or implying relative importance.
In the description of the embodiments of the present invention, it should be noted that, unless otherwise clearly defined and limited, terms such as “installed”, “coupled”, “connected” should be broadly interpreted, for example, it may be fixedly connected, or may be detachably connected, or integrally connected; it may be mechanically connected, or may be electrically connected; it may be directly connected, or may be indirectly connected via an intermediate medium. As used herein, the terms “about” or “approximately” apply to all numeric values, whether or not explicitly indicated. These terms generally refer to a range of numbers that one of skill in the art would consider equivalent to the recited values (i.e., having the same function or result). In many instances these terms may include numbers that are rounded to the nearest significant figure. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meanings of the above-mentioned terms in the embodiments of the present invention according to the specific circumstances
The accompanying figures, where like reference numerals refer to identical or functionally similar elements throughout the separate views and which together with the detailed description below are incorporated in and form part of the specification, serve to further illustrate various embodiments and explain various principles and advantages all in accordance with the present invention.
While the specification concludes with claims defining the features of the invention that are regarded as novel, it is believed that the invention will be better understood from a consideration of the following description in conjunction with the drawing figures, in which like reference numerals are carried forward. It is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which can be embodied in various forms.
The present invention provides a novel and efficient cosmetics carrier system that allows a user to carry different selected ones of cosmetics. The system includes a carrier having an elongated hollow body that has a first end and a second end opposite the first end. A first container retaining feature is formed at the first end, and a second container retaining feature is formed at the second end. The first and second retaining features are configured to mate with corresponding respective retaining features of a first container and a second container, respectively, that are each sized to fit in, and be retained by, the carrier at the first and second ends.
Referring now to
The carrier 102 can be designed with artwork on the outside such as images, pictures, sports logos, well known artwork, and so on. In some embodiments the carrier 102 can be provided without any outside design or artwork, allowing the user to create their own such as by painting the exterior of the carrier 102. The carrier 102 is further designed to include retention features that mate with corresponding retention features of the first and second containers 112, 116 to removably retain the containers 112, 116 (or any similarly designed containers) in the carrier 102. The containers 112, 116 are retained such that the caps 120, 124 can be placed on, and removed from the containers 112, 116 while the container 112, 116 are retained within the carrier 102, without the containers 112, 116 coming out of the carrier 102 when the caps 120, 124 are removed. However, the containers 112, 116 are not permanently retained in the carrier 102, and the containers 112, 116 can be removed by the user. Thus, a user can choose which products to carry in the carrier 102, and can choose to change containers 112, 116 for other containers that hold different products, or to replace either container 112, 116 if they become empty. When a containers 112, 116 becomes depleted of the product, the container 112, 116 can be disposed of, replaced, refilled, or filled with a different product.
The caps 120, 124 can include applicators 122, 126, respectively, for applying the cosmetic material, or other material contained in the containers 112, 116. The applicators 122, 126 can include a stem that is terminated by a brush or pad, or any other known cosmetic applicator. The caps 120, 124 can screw onto a threaded portion of the respective containers 112, 116, to close and seal the containers 112, 116 to prevent loss of the material in the containers 112, 116. Furthermore, in some embodiments, the caps 120, 124 can have an outer planar surface that is normal to an axis of the carrier 102 that is sufficient to act as a base on which to stand the system 100 so that the container oriented upwards can be accessed by the user.
Accordingly, the system 100 allows a user to select different cartridges (e.g. containers like containers 112, 116) to be carried in the carrier 102. The user can decide what colors/shades of cosmetic, and what types of cosmetics to place in the carrier 102. This allows the user to keep a variety of containers at home, and select different ones for going to different places, events, or activities. The carrier 102 can be personalized and reusable while the containers 112, 116 can be disposable and replaced.
To removably retain the container 304 in the carrier 302, the carrier 302 includes a threaded top collar portion 306 with threads 330. The container 304 includes a corresponding collar 316 having mating threads 318 that engage threads 330. Thus, container 304 is placed into the cavity 310 so that threads 318 meet threads 330, and then the container 304 can be turned to further engage threads 330, 318 with each other until the container is snugly secured (e.g. “finger tight”). The collar 316 can fit within a recess between the threads 330 and the outer collar 332 in some embodiments, and in some embodiments the outer collar 332 can be left out (i.e. not present). To retain the cap on container 304, cap threads 326 are provided to engage similar threads on a cap (not shown).
In general, embodiments such as those exemplified by systems 300 & 400 show that a container can be retained in a carrier by threaded engagement, and the container can further provide threads to engage and retain a cap to seal the container.
The container 610 includes an internal volume 612 in which a cosmetic or other product can be disposed. Near the top portion of the container 610, interference ridges 614, 616 are formed which protrude slightly from the outside of the container 610. As the container 610 is inserted into the cavity 604 of the carrier 602, the interference ridges meet the lip 619 of the container, and are deflected inward due to the plastic resilience of the material used to form the container 610. The container can then be further moved into the cavity 604 until the interference ridges 614, 616 enter into slots 606, 608, respectively. The outward force of the walls of the container 610, which have been deflected inwards as the ridges 614, 616 move downward past the lip 619, force the ridges 614, 616 into the slots 606, 608. A portion 620 of the outside of the container 610 lacks an ridge protrusion, and corresponds with stop gap 618, which acts to prevent the container 610 from turning in the cavity 604, such as when the cap is screwed on or off the container 610 on cap threads 622. The interference of the ridges 614, 616 against the inner wall of the carrier 602 while the ridge 614, 616 are in slots 606, 608 retains the container 610 in the cavity 604. However, a sufficient force can again overcome the interference, by pulling the container out of the carrier 602, to remove the container 610 from the carrier 602.
To insert a container into the carrier 702, the bottom of the container, which is opposite the cap, is inserted into the carrier 702, and moved further into the carrier until the ridge 708 meets the lip of the carrier 702. A slightly greater force is then used to deflect the ridges 708 inward so that the container can be moved further into to carrier 702 until the ridge 708 mates with the slot 704. Likewise, a person can grip the cap 712 to pull the container out of the carrier 702 by exerting enough force to overcome the interference of the ridge 708 with the inner wall of the carrier 702.
Accordingly, there are a variety of ways in which a disposable container or cartridge can be removably retained in a carrier. In some embodiments the container can include threads that mate with corresponding threads in the carrier. In some embodiments the container can be retained by interference. Other features to retain the container so that it can be used, and then removed by a user, will be contemplated by those skilled in the art which operate equivalently to the several examples described here. The system thereby allows a user to select which containers, and therefore which cosmetic products, are carried in the carrier, at any given time. The user can switch out containers for other container to carry different shades or different types of cosmetics, or to replace empty containers. It is contemplated that, in some embodiments, the containers can have an internal volume of about 0.24 ounces.
Accordingly the disclosed packaging and carry container system provides the benefit of allowing a user to change and/or replace containers of product in a small, carry system suitable for products such as cosmetics. A user can, for example, insert a container for lip gloss and a container for nail polish that color match, and carry the system for touchups throughout the day. The system is intended to be small, with the volumes of the containers being on the order of one quarter of an ounce, and the system having a length on the order of three inches or less and a diameter of the carrier of about half an inch or less. By making the external portion of the system a permanently kept item, the containers that fit within the carrier can be made of more disposable materials without inks or dyes. Compared to conventional cosmetics packaging systems, the disclosed system can greatly reduce the amount of waste resulting from cosmetics sales and marketing. For example, nail polish is typically sold in small glass bottles, and include a cap with an applicator. In the disclosed system the waste is lighter, more recyclable, and requires less volume to ship a given quantity of product over conventional packaging while still allowing the user to have decorative and attractive carriers.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20190313766 A1 | Oct 2019 | US |