Patent Application
20250160501
The present invention relates to a deodorant container and, more specifically, a deodorant container that is manufactured from entirely recyclable materials to enable curbside recycling of the entire deodorant container. The package of common deodorant sticks to control body odor and/or perspiration is mainly made of plastic products, which are not entirely recyclable by the processes utilized in curbside recycling and are not biodegradable. Previous attempts at making the deodorant containers out of recyclable materials had defects including, for example, properly advancing the deodorant material from the container and leakage of the deodorant material from the container.
A key aspect of recycling fiber materials is the requirement to pass repulpability standards, such as those set by Western Michigan University (WMU) or the Fibre Box Association. These pulpability standards ensure that paper-based products can be efficiently broken down into their original fibers during the recycling process. The repulpability standards assess whether a material can disintegrate into a pulp without leaving behind any large, unrecyclable fragments or contaminants that could hinder the recycling process.
There is a need for a deodorant container that is fully recyclable by curbside recycling, easy to use, prevents leakage of the deodorant material, can withstand repetitive usage, and overcomes deficiencies of existing deodorant container systems. More specifically, there is a need for a deodorant container that is paper based that may be recycled easily in the existing paper recycling stream. Such a deodorant container preferably is made of paper-based materials with an inner liner or a coating. But otherwise, it is entirely made of paper, cellulose, and/or other plant sourced products including all aspects of the internal mechanisms for dispensing the deodorant material from the container. The configuration of the deodorant container could be scaled to any size suitable for the intended purpose.
The present invention is directed to a deodorant container manufactured from entirely recyclable materials to enable curbside recycling of the entire container.
In one embodiment, the deodorant container has a body portion with a top end and an opposite bottom end. The top end is open and provides access to an interior cavity for storing the deodorant material. The top end can be closed with a cap to protect the contents of interior cavity. The bottom end is configured to include a dial used to operate a mechanism for dispensing the deodorant material from within the interior cavity.
The interior cavity of the container includes an elevator mechanism for advancing the deodorant material within the interior cavity towards the opening at the top end of the container for use. The elevator mechanism preferably includes a platform for holding and pushing the deodorant material to be dispensed. The platform preferably comprises a first paper oval disc, a wood oval disc, and a second paper oval disc. The platform includes a threaded aperture. A spindle is threadbly engaged via threads to the threaded aperture and operates to move the platform along the length of the spindle when the spindle is rotated via the dial.
The dial is coupled to one end of the spindle that includes the threads and is preferably made of wood or other similar easily recyclable material. The spindle includes an opening for receiving at least a portion of the dowel. When inserted into the opening, the dowel functions to hold the spindle in place when inserted from the bottom end of the container.
The materials of the deodorant containers of the present invention are not required to be separated from one another to be recycled in the mainstream. Materials used include, for example cardboard, corrugated cardboard, and cellulose with at least a portion of the materials preferably being made from postconsumer paper. The various components of the deodorant container may be coated, laminated, combined or otherwise treated with biodegradable materials to prevent absorption by the components and/or leakage of the deodorant material from the container.
These as well as still further features, objects and benefits of the invention will now become clear upon a review of the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide further understanding of the present invention disclosed in the present disclosure and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate aspects of the present invention and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the present invention. In the drawings:
Aspects of the present disclosure are best understood from the following detailed description when read with the accompanying figures. It is noted that, in accordance with the standard practice in the industry, various features are not drawn to scale. In fact, the dimensions of the various features may be arbitrarily increased or reduced for clarity of discussion.
The following disclosure provides many different embodiments, or examples, for implementing different features of the provided subject matter. Specific examples of components, concentrations, applications and arrangements are described below to simplify the present disclosure. These are, of course, merely examples and are not intended to be limiting. For example, the attachment of a first feature and a second feature in the description that follows may include embodiments in which the first feature and the second feature are attached in direct contact and may also include embodiments in which additional features may be positioned between the first feature and the second feature, such that the first feature and the second feature may not be in direct contact. In addition, the present disclosure may repeat reference numerals and/or letters in the various examples. This repetition is for the purpose of simplicity and clarity and does not in itself dictate a relationship between the various embodiments and/or configurations discussed.
The detailed description set forth below is intended as a description of various configurations of the present invention and is not intended to represent the only configurations in which the present invention may be practiced. Each example may be considered to be an embodiment and any reference to an “example” may be changed to “embodiment” in the present disclosure. It will be apparent, however, to those of ordinary skill in the art that the present invention is not limited to the specific details set forth herein and may be practiced without these specific details.
Referring to the Figures, an embodiment of a deodorant container 100 manufactured from entirely recyclable materials to enable curbside recycling of the entire container 100 is shown. Container 100 has a body portion 102 with a top end 104 and an opposite bottom end 106. Top end 104 is open and provides access to interior cavity 108 for storing the deodorant material D. It is appreciated that the material stored in container 100 need not be limited to a deodorant material and may include a solid or semi-solid formulation such as a deodorant, antiperspirant, foundation, sunscreen, and similar product.
Top end 104 is closeable with a removable cap 110. Bottom end 106 is configured to include a dial 112 used to operate an elevator mechanism 200 for advancing and exposing the deodorant material D from the interior cavity of the deodorant container to dispense the deodorant material D from within interior cavity 108 for application by a user. Top end 104 can be closed with a cap 110 to protect the contents of interior cavity 108.
Interior cavity 108 of container 100 preferably includes elevator mechanism 200 for advancing the deodorant material D from within interior cavity 108 towards the opening at top end 104 for use. Elevator mechanism 200 is preferably made of an assembly of components, each being fully recyclable and/or biodegradable without plastics or other materials that are either not recyclable or would prevent the curbside recycling due to the presence of contaminants such as petroleum products or other synthetics for example.
Elevator mechanism 200 preferably includes a platform 202 for holding and pushing the deodorant material D to be dispensed. It is appreciated that the material being dispensed from container 100 need not be limited to a deodorant material and may include a solid or semi-solid formulation such as a deodorant, antiperspirant, foundation, sunscreen, and similar product. Platform 202 preferably comprises multiple components fabricated from materials suitable for consumer curbside recycling. An embodiment of platform 202 includes a paper oval disc 204, a wood oval disc 206, and a paper oval disc 208. Paper oval disc 204 is preferably a cellulose paper material that is recyclable and/or biodegradable. Paper oval disc 204 is preferably treated with a natural wax, oil, or sealant to prevent absorption or seepage of the product. Similarly, paper oval disc 208 is preferably a cellulose paper material that is recyclable and/or biodegradable. Paper oval disc 208 is preferably treated with a natural wax, oil, or sealant to prevent absorption or seepage of the product. Wood oval disc 206 is preferably a rigid element made of a plant-based material such as wood. Oval disc 206 supports the deodorant material D contained within deodorant container. It is appreciated that the material supported by the oval disc need not be limited to a deodorant material and may include a solid or semi-solid formulation such as a deodorant, antiperspirant, foundation, sunscreen, and similar product.
Platform 202 includes a threaded aperture 210 configured to receive spindle 300. Spindle 300 is threadbly engaged via threads 302 to threaded aperture 210 and operates to move platform 202 along the length of spindle 300 when spindle 300 is rotated via dial 112. Spindle 300 is a preferably a rigid rod or dowel made of a plant-based material such as wood for example without plastics or other materials that are either not recyclable or would prevent the curbside recycling due to the presence of contaminants such as petroleum products or other synthetics for example. Spindle 300 is sufficiently rigid to support deodorant material D when it is filled into the container 100 and allowed to set and at least in part solidify around spindle 300. In an embodiment, spindle 300 is a wooden dowel with threads 302 square-cut and widely spaced apart to preserve the relatively smoother surface of the dowel between the troughs of the threads and to avoid sharp, leading edges that could damage the deodorant material D. Square-cut threads 302 threadably engage threaded aperture 210 of platform 202 and may engage deodorant material D resulting in the rotational advancement of platform 202 and deodorant material D from within container 100 when spindle 300 is rotated.
Dial 112 is coupled to one end of spindle 300 that includes threads 302 and is preferably made of wood or other similar easily recyclable material. Dial 112 forms the base of spindle 300 and is preferably a cellulose paper material that is recyclable and/or biodegradable. Spindle 300 includes an opening 304 for receiving at least a portion of dowel 306. When inserted into opening 304, dowel 306 functions to hold spindle 300 in place when inserted from bottom end 106 of container 100. A lower platform similar to platform 202 preferably comprises multiple components fabricated from materials suitable for consumer curbside recycling. An embodiment of lower platform includes a paper oval disc 204, a wood oval disc 206, and a paper oval disc 208. Lower platform preferably has an oval disc similar to oval disc 204 at the base of spindle 300 below the deodorant material D to maintain deodorant material D within container 100. Lower platform preferably comprises a cellulose paper material that is recyclable and/or biodegradable and is preferably treated with a natural, biodegradable wax, oil, or sealant to prevent absorption or seepage of the product.
The materials of the deodorant containers of the present invention are not required to be separated from one another to be recycled in the mainstream. Materials used include, for example cardboard, corrugated cardboard, and cellulose with at least a portion of the materials preferably being made from postconsumer paper. The various components of the deodorant container may be coated, laminated, combined or otherwise treated with biodegradable materials to prevent absorption by the components and/or leakage of the deodorant material from the container.
The container in accordance with the present invention was specifically designed to ensure the repulpability of the packaging. The selection of materials is carefully balanced to ensure that the entire package is repulpable, regardless of the type of liner used. By meeting these stringent standards, the tubular container enhances the efficiency and effectiveness of fiber recycling, supporting a more sustainable and recyclable packaging solution for cosmetic products.
The foregoing outlines features of several examples or embodiments so that those of ordinary skill in the art may better understand various aspects of the present disclosure. Those of ordinary skill in the art should appreciate that they may readily use the present disclosure as a basis for designing or modifying other processes and structures for carrying out the same purposes and/or achieving the same advantages of various examples or embodiments introduced herein. Those of ordinary skill in the art should also realise that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure, and that they may make various changes, substitutions, and alterations herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.
Although the subject matter has been described in language specific to structural features or methodological acts, it is to be understood that the subject matter of the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts described above. Rather, the specific features and acts described above are disclosed as example forms of implementing at least some of the claims.
Various operations of examples or embodiments are provided herein. The order in which some or all the operations are described should not be construed to imply that these operations are necessarily order dependent. Alternative ordering will be appreciated having the benefit of this description. Further, it will be understood that not all operations are necessarily present in each embodiment provided herein. Also, it will be understood that not all operations are necessary in some examples or embodiments.
Moreover, “exemplary” is used herein to mean serving as an example, instance, illustration, etc., and not necessarily as advantageous. As used in this application, “or” is intended to mean an inclusive “or” rather than an exclusive “or”. In addition, “a” and “an” as used in this application and the appended claims are generally be construed to mean “one or more” unless specified otherwise or clear from context to be directed to a singular form. Also, at least one of A and B and/or the like generally means A or B or both A and B. Furthermore, to the extent that “includes”, “having”, “has”, “with”, or variants thereof are used, such terms are intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprising”. Also, unless specified otherwise, “first,” “second,” or the like are not intended to imply a temporal aspect, a spatial aspect, an ordering, etc. Rather, such terms are merely used as identifiers, names, etc. for features, elements, items, etc. For example, a first element and a second element generally correspond to element A and element B or two different or two identical elements or the same element.
Also, although the disclosure has been shown and described with respect to one or more implementations, equivalent alterations and modifications will occur to others of ordinary skill in the art based upon a reading and understanding of this specification and the annexed drawings. The disclosure comprises all such modifications and alterations and is limited only by the scope of the following claims. In particular regard to the various functions performed by the above-described features (e.g., elements, resources, etc.), the terms used to describe such features are intended to correspond, unless otherwise indicated, to any features which performs the specified function of the described features (e.g., that is functionally equivalent), even though not structurally equivalent to the disclosed structure. In addition, while a particular feature of the disclosure may have been disclosed with respect to only one of several implementations, such feature may be combined with one or more other features of the other implementations as may be desired and advantageous for any given or particular application.
It is appreciated that certain features of the invention, which are, for clarity, described in the context of separate embodiments, may also be provided in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features of the invention, which are, for brevity, described in the context of a single embodiment, may also be provided separately or in any suitable sub combination.
Although the invention has been described in conjunction with specific embodiments thereof, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, it is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variations that fall within the broad scope of the disclosure.
Other embodiments of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice of the invention disclosed herein.
This application claims the benefit of priority to U.S. provisional application No. 63/599,979 filed Nov. 16, 2023; and U.S. provisional application No. 63/635,748 filed Apr. 18, 2024, both of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63635748 | Apr 2024 | US | |
| 63599979 | Nov 2023 | US |
