Patent Application
20060198686
1. Field of the Disclosure
The disclosure generally relates to cosmetic applicators having a multi-reservoir container with applicator tips for containing and dispensing a plurality of cosmetic masses. More particularly, the disclosure relates to dual-reservoir containers having applicator tips for combining and dispensing two separately stored cosmetic masses.
2. Brief Description of Related Technology
Cosmetic containers for storing a plurality of fluid masses take various forms, including tubes and bottles. Similarly, the provided mechanisms in which these masses are dispensed from such containers vary greatly.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 1,535,529 discloses a collapsible tube. The collapsible tube includes an inner collapsible container, an outer collapsible container, and a screw cap. In the embodiment in which material from both containers is combined prior to dispensing, the inner and outer collapsible containers are connected at the top of the collapsible tube which includes an outer threaded surface to engage the screw cap. The interiors of the inner and outer containers are connected via holes in the inner container. Upon engagement of the screw cap with the outer collapsible tube, a downwardly projecting member disposed on an inner surface of the screw cap travels into the inner collapsible tube thereby closing the opening to the inner collapsible container and closing the holes between the inner and outer containers.
In another example, U.S. Pat. No. 1,639,699 discloses an article of manufacture comprising a container and contents therefor. The article includes an inner collapsible tube having a neck piece and an outer collapsible tube also having a neck piece, wherein the neck piece of the inner collapsible tube is disposed within the neck piece of the outer collapsible tube. A gap formed between the neck portions allows for the dispensing of a mass from the outer collapsible tube, and an orifice in the neck portion of the inner tube allows for the concentric dispensing of a mass from the inner collapsible tube.
In yet another example, U.S. Pat. No. 1,698,404 discloses a multiple compartment collapsible tube. The collapsible tube includes an inner collapsible tube, an outer collapsible tube, and a cap. The outer collapsible tube includes a neck portion having a threaded outer surface that engages the cap. A neck portion of the inner tube is disposed within the neck portion of the outer tube. A plurality of capillaries is formed between the neck portions for dispensing a mass from the outer tube.
One aspect of the disclosure provides a cosmetic applicator having an applicator container and an applicator tip for storing and dispensing a plurality of cosmetic masses. The applicator container includes a first reservoir having an elongate portion that is disposed in a second reservoir having a neck portion. The applicator tip includes an outer portion that engages the neck portion, and an inner portion having an inlet and an outlet fluidly connected, by a shaft having at least one wall, to the applicator container. The elongate portion and the at least one wall of the shaft define a channel that is fluidly connected to the second reservoir.
Another aspect of the disclosure provides a cosmetic applicator including an applicator container and an applicator tip for storing and dispensing a plurality of cosmetic masses. The applicator container includes a first transparent reservoir having a first mass disposed therein, and a second transparent reservoir having a second mass disposed therein. The first reservoir is disposed in the second reservoir, and the second mass is at least translucent. The applicator tip includes a shaft having an outlet and that is fluidly connected to the applicator container. The first and second masses are disposed together in the shaft upstream from the outlet, when the first and second masses are dispensed from the applicator container.
Another aspect of the disclosure provides a cosmetic applicator including an applicator container, an applicator tip, and a cap for storing and dispensing a plurality of cosmetic masses. The applicator container includes a first reservoir having an elongate portion and a second reservoir including a neck portion. The first reservoir is disposed within the second reservoir, and the elongate portion is disposed in a shaft. The elongate portion and the shaft define a channel that is fluidly connected to the second reservoir. The applicator tip includes an outer portion that engages an inner surface of the neck portion and an inner portion that has an inlet and an outlet that are fluidly connected by the shaft. The shaft includes one or more radially extending ribs that align the elongate portion relative to the shaft, and one or more radially extending protrusions to control a depth of engagement of the elongate portion into the shaft. The cap includes a plug that seals the elongate portion and the channel, when the cap is fully engaged on the applicator tip.
Further aspects and advantages may become apparent to those skilled in the art from a review of the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the appended claims. While the invention is susceptible of embodiments in various forms, described hereinafter are specific embodiments with the understanding that the disclosure is illustrative, and is not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiments described herein.
A multi-reservoir cosmetic applicator having an applicator tip for containing and dispensing a plurality of cosmetic masses and methods of making such reservoirs and applicator tips, are disclosed herein.
Referring to
More specifically, as illustrated in
The container 22 (
The container 22 may also be constructed using mono or multi layer technology. For example, the container 22 may be constructed from one or more layers of material, such as the ones listed above. These layers may be connected or separated using a barrier layer or adhesive resin layer, such as for example, a layer of
The container 22 may be constructed from an at least translucent material or include a region that is at least translucent (e.g., a window), such that one or both of the cosmetic masses 32, 34 are viewable by the user. Alternatively, one or both of the reservoir 28 and the reservoir 30 may be constructed from an opaque material. In a preferred embodiment, at least the reservoir 30 is translucent or transparent. The terms “transparent” and “translucent” as used herein, unless otherwise specified, are intended to connote their usual dictionary definitions. Thus, a transparent substance, like glass, allows ready viewing of objects behind the substance. A translucent substance allows light to pass through, but causes the light to be so scattered that it is difficult or impossible to clearly identify objects behind the translucent substance.
The container 22 can be made by various processes, including the use of an extrusion process and an injection molding process. For example, a reservoir material can be formed into a cylinder (e.g., by extrusion), and sealed at one end (e.g., by heating and crimping) to form a tubular reservoir. Such a container tube can be spin-welded, ultrasonic welded, or otherwise bonded to a neck, preferably before sealing. In another method, an applicator tip/reservoir combination can be injection molded as a single piece. Any other suitable fabrication method is contemplated for use.
The applicator tip 24 and cap 26 (
The cosmetic masses 32, 34 may include any conceivable fluid or pasty mass, including water based, oil based and alcohol based products, and combinations of the foregoing including emulsions, colloids, and suspensions. The masses may be translucent, opaque, and may be of any color. Similarly, the masses may include glitter, or other particles. As a result, the applicator 20 and the cosmetic masses may be used for lip-gloss, cleansers, suntan lotion, acne, concealers, and may be used with many other products, for many applications.
In one exemplary embodiment, as seen in
The outer reservoir 30 includes an opening 50 disposed near a first end 52 of the outer reservoir 30 for receiving the applicator tip 24 and is crimped or otherwise sealed at the other end. The opening 50, as best seen in
The applicator tip 24, as illustrated in
As such, the applicator tip 24 may be interchanged or replaced on the container 22 with other similar configured applicator tips. For example, the applicator tip 24 may be replaced with another applicator tips having a different flow rate or a different head configuration. This interchange or replacement may occur during use or manufacture of the applicator 20.
The sleeve 68, as illustrated in
The body 66 includes an outer surface 88 that engages the sleeve 68 at a proximal end of the applicator tip 24, and that engages the applicator head 64 at a distal end of the applicator tip 24. The body 66 further includes an inner surface 90 that defines a shaft 92 extending from an inlet 94 to an outlet 96 of the applicator tip 24. The shaft 92 may include a first section 98 adjacent the outlet 96 having a smaller diameter than a second section 100 adjacent the inlet 94, such that upon engagement of the elongate portion 40 with the applicator tip 24, the first and second section 46, 48 of the elongate portion 40 correspond to or coincide with the first and second sections 98, 100, respectively of the shaft 92.
The shaft 92 and, more specifically, the first section 98 of the shaft 92, may include features such as a first set of ribs 102 extending from the inner surface 90 of the shaft 92 (
One or more grooves are created between the ribs of both the first and the second set of ribs 102, 104. As a result, when the applicator tip 24 and the elongate portion 40 are engaged, one or more channels 106 defined by the inner surface 90 of the applicator tip 24, the elongate portion 40, and the ribs 102, 104, are created for fluidly connecting the outer reservoir 30 to the outlet 96 (
The first set of ribs 102 may further include features such as stop members or protrusions 108 extending inwardly toward a center of the shaft 92, such that the distal end of the elongate portion 40 abuts the stop members 108 during engagement, thereby preventing the elongate portion 40 from further insertion into the shaft 92. The stop members 108 and/or the distal end of the elongate portion 40, once inserted into the applicator tip 24, are disposed short of the distal end of the applicator tip 24 in the shaft 92, such that a combining (e.g., mixing) area 110 defined between the distal end of the applicator tip 24 and the distal end of the elongate portion 40 and/or the stop members 108 remains (
The head 64, as illustrated in
In the embodiment of the applicator tip 24 wherein the head 64 is not integral to the body 66, the head 64 may be interchanged or replaced on the body 66 with other heads. This interchange or replacement may occur during use or manufacture of the applicator 20.
The cap 26, as illustrated in
The above exemplary embodiments may be varied to achieve and/or create additional or alternative features. For example, the first and second reservoirs need not be concentrically arranged, but could be parallel to each other, in series, etc. Similarly, the container 22 and/or the reservoirs are not limited to being constructed from the materials, the relative sizes, or the shapes disclosed herein. For example, the container 22 and/or the reservoirs may be constructed from glass, plastic, etc. and may be bottles having various shapes. As a result, the applicator 20 may include plungers, compressed materials, or other devices and/or structures to enable the dispensing of the cosmetic masses. The engaging or closing mechanism for connecting the cap 26 to the container 22 may also vary and need not include threads. For example, the closing mechanism may be a snap type, a lock type, or other mechanism.
The various parts or portions of the applicator 20 may be engaged or connected in different ways, including different steps and/or different sequences, as will be apparent to a person of ordinary skill in the art. Therefore, the manner of assembly described herein is only one of many possible ways to assemble the applicator 20. The inner reservoir 28 may be disposed in the outer reservoir 30, such that the shoulders 42, 56 of the respective reservoirs 28, 30 do not touch, thereby in use allowing space for the flow of the outer cosmetic mass 34. Additionally, the elongate portion 40 may be positioned to extend beyond and through a center of the neck 54 of the outer reservoir 30. The ends of the first and second reservoirs 28, 30 or the container 22 may be crimped and filled with inner and outer cosmetic masses 32, 34, respectively.
The applicator tip 24 may be engaged with the container 22, such that the outer surface 74 of the applicator tip 24 slidingly engages the inner surface 60 of the neck portion 54 until the ring 81 abuts the top 82 of the neck portion 54, and such that the elongate portion 40 is disposed in the shaft 92 of the applicator tip 24. The elongate portion 40 may be inserted into the shaft 92 such that the first section 46 of the elongate portion 40 abuts the first set of ribs 102, and such that the second section 48 of the elongate portion 40 abuts the second set of ribs 104. As a result, the inner and outer reservoirs 28, 30 are oriented relative to each other and the neck 54, and the one or more channels 106 are thus created and defined by the at least one wall of the shaft 92 and the elongate portion 40.
Furthermore, depth wise the elongate portion 40 may be inserted into the shaft 92 until the distal end of the elongate portion 40 abuts the stop members 108 and/or up to a point where the combining area 110 at the distal end of the applicator tip 24 remains. Additionally, the elongate portion 40 must be positioned relative to the applicator tip 24 to ensure that a gap remains between the shoulder 42 of the inner reservoir 28 and the proximal end of the applicator tip 24, to enable the second cosmetic mass 34 to exit the outer reservoir 30 and enter the channels 106. The head 64 of the applicator tip 24 may then be placed on the body 66 by gluing, flocking or other suitable fastening features and processes.
The cap 26 may be caused to engage the container 22 by placing the cap 26 onto the applicator tip 24 or by placing the applicator tip 24 into the cap 26. The applicator 20 may then be closed by engaging the threaded portions of the container 22 and cap 26, and rotating the container 22 and cap 26 relative to each other. The applicator 20 may be considered closed when one or more of several scenarios occur. For example, when the pentel 122 abuts the distal end of the elongate portion 40, when the first ledge 112 abuts the stepped portion 62 on the container 22, and/or when the second ledge 118 abuts a top 82 of the neck 54 of the container 22.
In operation, as seen in
The foregoing description is given for clearness of understanding only, and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom, as modifications within the scope of the invention may be apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art.
