Patent Application
20060067781
The invention relates to an apparatus useful for dispensing liquid or viscous products. More particularly, the invention relates to a package useful in the dispensing of a liquid or viscous cosmetic product.
Liquid or semi-liquid cosmetic products, such as lip gloss or mascara, are often contained and dispensed from packages using a brush or foam tip applicator. Typically, a package used for dispensing the cosmetic product comprises two segments, a first segment that contains a reservoir of cosmetic material and a second segment that comprises an applicator such as a brush. In use, the two-part cosmetic package has several drawbacks. For instance, the applicator section and the reservoir section of the traditional package are fixed together, with the applicator inside the reservoir, when the applicator is not in use. Further, because the package is two parts, it requires the use of both hands when applying cosmetics.
Some present-day cosmetic packages are unitary packages that contain an internal cosmetic reservoir. A movable applicator is disposed within the package and may be moved by the user from a retracted position, where the applicator receives cosmetic from the internal reservoir, to an extended position, where the applicator projects through an opening in the package, so that cosmetic may be applied from the applicator to the user.
The unitary packages are more convenient for the user than the dual section packages, but the unitary packages of the past still suffer from drawbacks. The unitary packages usually contain somewhat complex mechanical components needed to move the applicator with respect to the reservoir in response to manipulation of the package by the user. For instance, applicators may be attached to the package by threaded or spring-loaded mechanisms. Since those mechanisms are often mass produced and poorly engineered, those mechanisms are subject to failure and breakage during use. Further, many unitary packages are not ergonomically designed and are not easily manipulated by the user.
It is desired to provide an improved unitary cosmetic package with mechanical functionality that promotes reliability and longevity of the package. It is further desired to provide an improved cosmetic package with improved ergonomics such that the package is easily manipulated by a user.
The invention is a package for dispensing a liquid or viscous product. The package comprises a tubular main body and a concentrically arranged tubular shell. The main body has upper and lower ends and a hollow interior defining a reservoir for the product. An axial opening is formed at the upper end of the main body. The tubular shell has an outer first portion disposed externally of the main body and an inner second portion disposed internally of the main body. The outer portion of the tubular shell overlaps the outer surface of the main body and is adapted to be grasped and rotated with respect to the main body.
An applicator is mounted for axial movement within the main body between a retracted position and an extended position. The applicator has an applicator tip that is positioned within the reservoir when the applicator is in the retracted position and projects from the axial opening in the main body for application of the product when the applicator is in the extended position. An advance interface cooperates with the applicator and with the tubular shell for moving the applicator axially between the retracted and extended position in response to rotation of the shell with respect to the main body.
Structural advantages are gained over previous packages by having at least part of the outer tubular shell in contact with the main body. The main body supports the tubular shell such that, when rotational force is applied by a user, the tubular shell is kept in axial alignment with the main body and applicator so that the package mechanism works smoothly. Also, operation is simplified by having the tubular shell communicate force from the user directly to the applicator without the need for intermediate parts. The tubular shell may extend along a substantial portion of the outer surface of the main body, thus providing the user with a large gripping surface for use in operating the package. The package thus has several ergonomically desirable features.
Having thus described the invention in general terms, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, and wherein:
The present inventions now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which some, but not all embodiments of the invention are shown. Indeed, these inventions may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will satisfy applicable legal requirements. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout.
A cosmetic package in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, as shown in
The tubular shell 30 is mounted for rotation relative to the main body 20, but is axially fixed with respect to the main body 20. The tubular shell 30 includes an outer portion 32 in the form of a cylindrical wall disposed externally of the main body 20 and adapted to be grasped and rotated, and an inner portion 34 disposed internally of the tubular main body 20.
At the top of the main body 20, the side walls of the upper cylindrical portion 20a turn inward to define an axial opening 26, and an integral cylindrical wall 22 extends axially inwardly into the interior of the upper cylindrical portion 20a to form an elongate axially extending passageway concentric with the side walls of the upper cylindrical portion 20a. A reservoir 40 for containing cosmetic material is thus defined within the main body 20 by the cylindrical side walls of the upper cylindrical portion 20a and the inwardly extending cylindrical wall 22 and by a liquid-tight seal 70 disposed within the main body 20.
An applicator 50 is provided within the package having an applicator tip 50a that can be moved axially outwardly as described more fully below from a retracted storage position within the reservoir 40 as shown in
Referring to the lower end of the package 14, the bottom of the lower cylindrical portion 20b is open-ended to facilitate connection of the main body with the tubular shell 30, which is connected to the main body 20 at the bottom of the lower cylindrical portion 20b. The tubular shell 30 is mounted for rotation relative to the main body 20, but is axially fixed with respect to the main body 20. The tubular shell 30 includes an outer portion 32 in the form of a cylindrical wall disposed externally of the main body 20 and adapted to be grasped and rotated, and an inner portion 34 disposed internally of the main body 20. As used with regard to the relationship of the tubular shell and main body, “external” means overlapping at least a region of the outer surface of the cylindrical main body 20 while “internal” means adjacent to the inner surface of the cylindrical main body 20. At least a portion of the external tubular shell 30 is in flush contact with the outer surface of the lower end 14 of the main body. The outer diameter of the inner tubular shell portion 32 preferably rests flush against the internal diameter of the main body 20. The inner portion 34, more particularly, is cylindrical and has an outside diameter corresponding to the inside diameter of the lower portion 20b of the tubular main body so that the inner portion 34 can be received within the lower portion 20b. The outer portion 32 and the inner portion 34 are joined to a solid bottom 35 of the shell 30 and are spaced apart from one another to provide an annular recess for receiving the lowermost part of the lower portion 20b of the main body.
The main body 20 and tubular shell 30 may be connected in a suitable manner allowing the two parts to be concentrically arranged and rotatably connected to one another. An example of such a connection is the snap-fit ridge and groove arrangement 38 shown in
The applicator 50 is mounted for axial movement within the main body 20 so that the applicator 50 may be moved between a retracted position and an extended position. The applicator 50 comprises an applicator tip 50a, an elongate axially extending shank 50b of a non-circular cross-section, and a base member 50c. The applicator tip 50a is typically a pliable material capable of absorbing cosmetic material, such as a foam, sponge, fabric, or brush. The applicator shank 50b is connected at its upper end to the applicator tip 50a and at its lower end to the base member 50c. The base member 50c has an enlarged configuration so that at least a portion of its outer peripheral surface engages the internal surface of the inner portion 34 of the tubular shell. A helical advance interface 80 is provided at this location to convert a rotational movement of the outer portion 32 of the shell into an axial movement of the applicator 50. As shown, the inner surface of the inner tubular shell 34 is inscribed with at least one helical thread or channel 82. The base member 50c of the applicator 50 terminates radially into at least one lug 84 which is received by a correspondingly located thread or channel 82. Thus, rotation of the tubular shell with respect to the applicator translates into axial movement of the applicator 50. It is preferred that two or more lugs be spaced apart from one another about the base member 50c and further preferred that the periphery of the base member 50c immediately adjacent each lug 84 mate flush with the internal surface of the inner tubular shell 34 so that the applicator body 50b is stabilized radially during operation of the package.
A liquid-tight seal 70 is fixed within the main body 20 separating the reservoir 40 from the internal volume of the lower end 14 of the main body. An aperture 72 is formed in the seal 70 and extends axially therethrough. The aperture 72 has a non-circular geometric cross-section that corresponds to the non-circular cross-section of the applicator shank 50b and thereby prevents product present in the reservoir 40 from passing through the aperture 72. The applicator shank 50b can move axially through the aperture 72 but because of the non-circular cross-section of the shank 50b, it does not rotate. Exemplary geometries include oval or square. The seal 70 may be secured in place within the main body 20 by any suitable arrangement. In the embodiment shown, the dimensional tolerances provide for a snap fit, and lugs and corresponding recesses, indicated at 74, on the outer periphery of the seal 70 and the inner surface of the body 20, hold the seal 70 securely in place.
In the retracted storage position shown in
As mentioned, the tubular shell 30 of this embodiment has an outer portion 32 that resides radially outside and an inner portion 34 that resides radially inside of the lower portion 20b of the main body. The outer portion 32 of the shell 30 rests flush against but is not fixedly bonded to the outer surface of the lower body 20b. The cross-sections of both the lower body 20b and the outer tubular shell 32 are such that the lower body 20b and outer tubular shell 32 may be rotated with respect to one another while maintaining a flush correspondence. The inner tubular shell 34 preferably rests flush against the inside surface of the lower body 20b.
Referring to
According to the embodiments above, the tubular shell 30′ is a unitary component. Referring to
Further according to the embodiment of
The helical advance interface 80″ of the embodiment of
Many modifications and other embodiments of the inventions set forth herein will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which these inventions pertain having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings. Therefore, it is to be understood that the inventions are not to be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed and that modifications and other embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. Although specific terms are employed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.
