Patent Application
20060102192
The invention relates to an effect packaging for a cosmetic, in particular a mascara unit, comprising a reservoir for the cosmetic and a lucent covering surrounding the reservoir, wherein the reservoir and covering are at least partially spaced from one another.
Such packagings are particularly manufactured from plastics. The lucent outer covering in connection with the inner reservoir arouses the optical impression of a particularly thick-walled glass reservoir, which, corresponding to a possibly different distance between the inner reservoir and the outer covering, seems to have different wall thicknesses resulting in a high-quality optical impression.
Conventionally, the manufacture of such packagings is extensive and costly, e.g. a manufacture by injection molding, a so-called insert technique, where the reservoir is blown, inserted in a mold and co-molded, or the manufacture of a compound created by ultrasound welding.
Starting from this it is an object of the invention to create a packaging unit of the above mentioned kind which can be produced quickly and cost-effectively and which offers an attractive appearance when ready.
According to the invention, this object is attained in that a centering device interacting with the bottom of the reservoir is provided at the bottom of the outer covering, and in that the reservoir and the outer covering are engageable with one another by the cooperation of a locking groove and a locking bead by an axial relative movement. By the axial movement the centering device is also brought into engagement.
Advantageously, it is further provided that at least one axial groove and a protrusion engaging with the groove are provided on the reservoir and the covering, respectively, providing for a non-rotary connection.
The embodiment according to the invention enables the reservoir and the covering each to be manufactured separately and cost-effectively, and to be joined manually or mechanically by a simple axial movement. Due to the automatic centering an exactly defined distance between covering and reservoir is set and durably kept, so that the inner wall of the covering does not rest against the outer wall of the reservoir even where only a considerably small distance is provided, and thus the desired optical effect is not impaired.
Advantageously, it is provided that the centering device is formed by a spigot at the inner side of the bottom of the covering, which spigot engages with a corresponding recess at the bottom of the reservoir.
Favorably, the spigot is concave and has longitudinal slots for producing a more durable, defined connection.
For facilitating the engagement of the spigot with the recess, the top of the spigot can be conically or roundly tapered, respectively.
Preferably, the covering is formed in one piece and can be made of glass. The minimum air gap between covering and reservoir is preferably 0.1 mm. The wall thickness of the covering can be between 0.3 and 10 mm. The reservoir may be lucent or stained and may be printed, stamped or metallized. The covering may also be metallized at least partially. The filling volume of the reservoir can be between 1 and 30 ml.
The invention will become apparent from the ensuing description of an exemplary embodiment taking in conjunction with the drawing.
In the present embodiment, the cosmetic packaging according to the invention is explained on the basis of a mascara unit 1. However, the concept according to the invention may similarly be used for e.g. lip or nail cosmetics or other products depending on a high-quality impression of the packaging.
The mascara unit 1 comprises an inner reservoir 2 for mascara liquid and an outer covering 3, both of which consist of plastic. The outer covering 3 is lucent. The reservoir 2 may be, but is not necessarily, lucent.
A neck 2′ having a tapered diameter and a male thread 4, on which the female thread 5 of the cap 6 is screwed, is formed at the top of the reservoir 2.
A stripping device 7 is inserted in the neck 2′, which overlaps the front end 8 of the neck 2′ with a collar 9 serving as a sealing.
A stem 12′ is inserted in the cap 6 by way of an annular bead 10 on the inner side of the cap 6 and a corresponding groove 22 of an applicator carrier 12, at the free lower end of which stem 12′ an applicator 13 is disposed which is stripped off by means of the stripping device 7 when the cap 6 is unscrewed and the applicator 13 is pulled out.
From
A recess 19 is disposed in one piece with the bottom 18 of the reservoir 2, the inner diameter of which corresponds to the outer diameter of the spigot 15 and has a slight undersize compared to the spigot 15, respectively.
Two opposite, axially extending and laterally protruding annexes 20 are provided at the top of the reservoir 2, which engage with corresponding slot-formed recesses 21 on the inner side of the covering 3 and thus provide for a safeguard against rotation between covering 3 and reservoir 2.
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During manufacture, the reservoir 2 and covering 3 are produced independently from one another. Subsequently, the reservoir 2 is inserted in the covering 3 from above in an axial direction until the centering device in the form of the spigot 15 engages with the recess 19 so that a centering of the reservoir 2 in relation to the covering 3 is given, wherein simultaneously lateral protrusions 20 engage with the slot-formed recesses 21 making the connection non-rotary, and wherein furthermore the protrusions 23 engage with the recesses 22 thus enabling an axial fixing.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 04023990.7 | Oct 2004 | EP | regional |
